Statement by His Excellency Dr.Thaksin Shinawatra,
Prime Minister of Thailand,
at the Ceremony of the Presentation of Congratulations
to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, Bangkok,
12 June, 2006
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May it please Your Majesty,
Your Majesties,
Your Highnesses,
Your Serene Highnesses,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Distinguished Guests,

On the auspicious occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of Your Majesty's Accession to the Throne, the Government and the people of Thailand as Your Majesty's loyal subjects are unanimous in expressing their most overwhelming pride and joy at this anniversary since the occasion marks one of the most important milestones in our nation's history, Indeed, its significance cannot be lost on those outside the Kingdom as they witness an entire nation uniting in homage to its beloved Sovereign.

The second source of pride for the Government and the people of Thailand lies in the august presence of Their Majesties the Reigning Monarchs and royalty of the friendly countries of Thailand who have consented to grace our country with their presence here today. Meanwhile, numerous leaders of other friendly nations have conveyed messages of best wishes to Your Majesty and the Thai nation on this occasion. These gestures embody the friendly and brotherly relations between the Royal Families and Heads of State. They also reflect the goodwill and warm sentiments of friends and people from all corners of the world for Your Majesty and for Thailand . They represent the greatest honour that can be bestowed upon the Thai nation.

Since the birth of the Thai nation, the institution of the Monarchy has long stood alongside our Kingdom for the past 800 years. Always at the forefront is the role of the Monarch, who is the symbol of our nationhood and sovereignty. As the soul of the nation, in which all religions flourish, it is around the institution of the Monarchy where the distinct heritage, culture, unity and prosperity of our nation evolved and developed.

But throughout the past 60 years, as a Working King, Your Majesty has been to all Thais, more than a Sovereign, Throughout those 60 years, Your Majesty has devoted the time and efforts so selflessly for the benefits, happiness and the well-being of all Thais, regardless of status, ethnicity and religion.

Your Majesty has toiled alongside and shared the joys and sorrows of ordinary Thais. Your Majesty has traveled the entire Kingdom, near and far, however inaccessible, becoming the most widely traveled Monarch in Thai history, From extensive knowledge of the land and thorough understanding of the problems, Your Majesty's countless development initiatives and projects have made improvements to tens of millions of lives both in rural and urban Thailand. Your Majesty has turned the Royal Residence, the Chitralada Villa, into a living experiment ground for crops, livestock and agricultural products, Numerous Royal Projects have resulted in better farming technologies, sustainable use of water resources, flood and drought management, irrigation and environment conservation.

Your Majesty's reign is consistently marked on the one hand by Your Majesty's ceaseless "development thinking" based on Your Majesty's vast first-hand knowledge accumulated throughout the reign and, on the other hand, by Your Majesty's emphasis on the importance of moderation and "middle path" in pursuing one's life, This has been significantly reflected in Your Majesty's philosophy of "Sufficiency Economy", a new paradigm of development which had been advocated and practiced by Your Majesty long before the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis but gained prominence in its aftermath.

Providing a more balanced, holistic and sustainable development approach, the philosophy emphasizes moderation, responsible consumption, and resilience to external shocks. It involves applying moderation in all human endeavour, reducing wasteful consumption and helps enhancing the capacity of the people to better meet the challenges arising form globalization while realizing sustainable development. It is a people and community-centred model of development that also helps strengthen the moral fibre of the nation by promoting honesty and integrity.

Your Majesty has introduced "The New Theory" enabling farmers to learn how to divide up their land with optimum benefits for themselves and their community. This New Theory is a proof of how the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy can be put to practice.

Helping people to help themselves is truly the most precious hallmark of Your Majesty's development activities, Through the gracious bestowal of royal advice, both rural and urban people have been empowered to manage their own destinies, It, therefore, leaves no doubt in the mind of any Thai that Your Majesty is "Our Most Beloved Development King", which has recently been so recognized in the presentation of the world's inaugural UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Indeed, as we celebrate this anniversary, it is not the length but the accomplishment that is the true legacy of Your Majesty's reign. Your Majesty has forever been the standard bearer of hope for all the people and a positive force for progress. Time and again, the nation has drawn strength from Your Majesty's sage counsel to achieve the resolution of issues at hand. Your Majesty has inspired the people to join hands for the country's betterment. Your Majesty has achieved this through inspiration, in exercising moral force, in deep commitment to democracy, peace, justice and national harmony, This unifying role has enabled Thailand to move forward over the last 60 years, and will propel its further progress as a constructive member of the global community in the years to come.

The 60 years of such hard work and the profound concern for the well-being, peace and happiness of Your Majesty's loyal subjects and the resolute adherence to the path of righteousness that so characterizes Your Majesty's kingship, have made each and every Thai proud to be born, to live and even to die as loyal subjects in the reign of this great Monarch.

As all of us rejoice in this anniversary and the accomplishments of Your Majesty, the Government and the people of Thailand most respectfully submit their best wishes for Your Majesty's and Her Majesty the Queen's good health, long lives and happiness. While all hearts in this Kingdom rejoice jubilantly on this unprecedented and most auspicious occasion, the affection and devotion of all Your Majesty's subjects from all walks of life, as demonstrated though various celebration activities, are testimony of the union of all Thais in paying homage to Your Majesty as our Beloved King and the soul of our nation.

Under Your Majesty's benign guidance in the many more reigning years to come, the nation looks forwards to further bounty of peace, happiness and sustainable development.

On behalf of the entire Kingdom, may I humbly beg to wish "Long Live Your Majesty the King : The Great Development King of Thailand ".