Question: who is the current Prime Minister of Thailand?
a) Prayut Chan-o-cha
b) Abhisit Vejjajiva
c) Yingluck Shinawatra
d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
Related facts:
- Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), world’s longest reigning monarch, died on 13th October, 2016 at the age of 88.
- King Bhumibol ascended the throne on June 9, 1946, after gunshot death of his elder brother, 20-year-old King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII).
- He was born in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father, Prince Mahidol, was studying medicine.
- King Bhumibol spent much of his early life abroad, first in the United States and then in Switzerland.
- He was married to Sirikit and King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit have four children.
- Despite the monarchy’s wealth, King Bhumibol was the keen proponent of a “sufficiency economy” philosophy — known in Thai as a “just-enough economy”, which drew on Buddhist teachings.
- King Bhumibol was seen as a force for unity for the people of Thailand.
- His son and apparent heir, 63-year old Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is expected to become the new king.
- It is notable that under ‘lese-majeste’ laws criticism of the royal family is punishable and criticism of the monarchy can lead to years of jail as punishment.
Reference:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37643326
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/thailands-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-dies/article9215490.ece