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Thais pray for hospitalised king as birthday nears

As Thailand gears up to celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 82nd birthday on Saturday with fanfare, thousands of Thais are flocking daily to Siriraj Hospital to pray for the revered monarch.

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Monks chant, elderly women pray, schoolboys draw cheerful faces on get-well books. As Thailand gears up to celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 82nd birthday on Saturday with fanfare, thousands of Thais are flocking daily to Siriraj Hospital to pray for the revered monarch, who has been in hospital since Sept. 19.                                           

Dozens are camping out overnight this week, looking forward to a rare appearance on his birthday on Saturday.                                           

"It is going to a big day. I am waiting to see his face again and I think the whole country is waiting with me," said Suwana Kennamtheung, a 54-year-old housewife who has been to the hospital every day since September.                                           

Royal astrologers determined in 2007 pink was an auspicious colour for the monarch's health and well-wishers arrived in pink shoes with pink bags while some men wore tailor-made pink suits. Wearing a pink shirt with a pink wristband, Suwana prayed at the famed Temple of the Emerald Buddha for the king's health.                                          

King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, enjoys reverence rarely witnessed in modern times. Regarded by many as semi-divine, he has anchored Thailand through violent political unrest, short-lived and fractious governments and a series of military coups since he ascended to the throne in 1946.                                          

His portraits are ubiquitous -- from homes to shops to roadside billboards. At cinemas, people rise before films to pay respect as a slideshow of the king is played to a royal anthem. But his disappearance from public view -- in his longest hospital stay in recent momory -- has left his people nervous.                                           

His traditional birthday eve address has been postponed indefinitely along with an annual military parade, though he will grant an audience to royal family members, cabinet ministers, top government officials and politicians on Saturday. 

"My heart sank when I heard he would not give the speech," said Duangporn Saibumrung, who sells egg noodles at a stall near the hospital. "But I felt better when I saw that he would still appear at the palace on his birthday." 

"Like a father"                                           
It will be his first public appearance since Nov. 2, and only the third since he was admitted to hospital with fever and loss of appetite, and then treated for lung inflammation.
Last year, he failed to deliver the address because of ill health at a time when many Thais had been looking to him to issue a call for unity after anti-government protests shut down Bangkok's two main airports for a week.                                           

The country is deeply divided between those who support and oppose former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and later found guilty of corruption.

King Bhumibol, a constitutional monarch with no formal political role, is regarded as the sole unifying figure with unassailable moral authority, rarely speaking in public and usually discussing politics only indirectly at times of turmoil.                                           

"I was hoping to hear his words of wisdom, especially at a time like this. But he is a wise man. I am sure he knows when is best to talk or not talk," said Police Captain Tanet Boonkrong, who travelled from Petchaburi province to sign a get-well book. 

"He is like a father with many children. When the children are fighting, it's hard for the father to say much." The subject of his health is sensitive partly because of concerns that the eventual succession may be complicated. Public discussion of the monarchy is limited by strict lese-majeste laws that carry a penalty of up to 15 years in jail. 

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will give food to monks, participate in Buddhist rites and meet diplomats in the king's stead during the celebrations, as as he did last year.

The king underwent two minor heart bypass operations in 1995. In 1999, he had a benign tumour in his colon and non-malignant tissue was removed. He also had surgery in 2002 to remove a growth on his prostate gland.                                           

In 2006 he had an operation for a spinal problem and in 2007 he was hospitalised with a blood clot.                                           

"I hope he stays with us for ever. I am proud to be a Thai because he is my king," said Duangnapa Klatbuppa, a 31-year-old English-language tutor. "I am going to wait here until he comes out. Just being in his sight once in my lifetime would make my happiest moment."  

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