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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

exercised them. Furthermore, there are additional rights: the right to intervene in political conflict,

the right to be the fountain of justice, the right to pardon, and the right to guide. An example of
the right to encourage was clearly seen when His Majesty King Rama IX advised the new Prime

Minister Banharn Silpa-archa to govern the country with the same dedication he showed in his
development of Suphan Buri.

Regarding the right to warn, His Majesty King Rama IX issued warning to a number of
Prime Ministers. It might be worthwhile to ask Professor Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam to give a dedicated

lecture on the royal virtues and duties he has observed as he could provide many fascinating
examples (Please read the appendix on “His Majesty King Rama IX’s Governing Work” in the book

“Like Beaches and Seas” written by Professor Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam in 2023).
When General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was Prime Minister, a legal advisor from the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, specializing in Maritime Law, suggested that Thailand should unilaterally
announce its exclusive economic zone without consulting Vietnam. The advisor argued that

involving Vietnam could might lead to arbitration over the maritime dispute. Nevertheless,
after General Chavalit submitted the draft for the Royal announcement of Thailand’s exclusive

economic zone to His Majesty King Rama IX for his Royal signature, the King returned it and
advised General Chavalit to reconsider, he emphasized that other options should be explored.

Later, when the Prime Minister of Vietnam paid an official visit to Thailand, the issue regarding
the exclusive economic zone resolved amicably. Had the government ignored the King’s warning,

Thailand and Vietnam might have faced a long dispute over the issue.
There was another incident involving the shooting between Thai and Myanmar forces along

the border in Prachuap Khiri Khan. On December 4, His Majesty King Rama IX gave his speech
to warn both Thai government and the Thai people to carefully consider the situation in the

disputed no man’s land. He emphasized that any shooting should be limited to the disputed area
and that bullets or cannonballs should not extend beyond this zone to harm innocent parties.

Next is the right to intervene in political conflicts. Only His Majesty King Rama IX was able
to calm the October 14, 1973 uprising and the Phruetsapha Thamin event B.E. 2535 (Black May

or Bloody May 1992). No other monarch in the world could have handled these crises as he did.
Next is the right to be the Fountain of Justice. His Majesty King Rama IX received petitions

from the public seeking justice. There are 2 kinds of petitions, one requesting royal pardon for
prisoners and the other seeking royal grace to help the underserved. This tradition dates back

to King Ramkhamhaeng the Great in Sukhothai Kingdom. People in need of help would ring
a bell at the King’s palace, and this tradition has continued through Krung Rattanakosin Kingdom.

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