The United Nations was the latest international organisation to pay tribute to His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej. During a meeting last week, the UN held a moment of silence and also had a number of speakers offer kind words about the late Monarch in the General Assembly Hall.
According to the Associated Press, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remembered The King who died on 13th October after ruling the country for 70 years as a visionary and humanitarian who stabilized Thailand during times of political turmoil and tensions.
Ban also praised King Bhumibol’s commitment to sustainable development. The UN Secretary General pointed out that His Majesty was awarded the first United Nations Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
“The United Nations recognizes and pays tribute to the remarkable life that His Majesty King Bhumibol led and joins all those who loved the revered king in offering heart-felt condolences,” Ban was quoted as saying by the AP.
There were also speakers from Niger, Kuwait, Georgia, Chile, and the U.K. who all took time to offer kind words in Bhumibol’s honor. The United States also spoke as the UN host country, while a representative of Thailand was on hand to share a few thoughts as well.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power explained that the King’s parents met in the United States, which means the country has a unique bond to His Majesty The King. King Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The northeastern city has a square named for the late King and he is still remembered there by both locals and Thai people alike.
“His majesty only lived there as an infant, but his presence is still very much felt in Cambridge,” Power stated. “Walking through King Bhumibol Square, it is not uncommon to see Thai people come to pay homage.”
Image via webtv.un.org: Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pays tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly.
