Andrew MacGregor Marshall
@zenjournalist
·Aug 12
A fascinating note written by former prime minister written by former Sanya Dharmasakti in June 1979, while he was head of the Privy Council, details the meddling of Queen Sirikit and the rifts in the palace. 1/14
The note says Sirikit's political meddling was causing severe problems in Thailand and the royal family had become "completely divided". It says King Bhumibol had warned that Sirikit became violent when angry. The situation was getting "getting more serious every day". 2/14
According to the document, Sirikit wanted Bhumibol to abdicate on October 14, 1973, when Thailand's military dictators fled into exile after a student uprising and the country entered a period of democracy. He was persuaded not to abdicate by his advisor Vasit Dejkunjorn. 3/14
The note also mentions Sirikit's notorious affair with Narongdej Nanda-photidej, an army officer who was married with children. The relationship continued into the 1980s, when Narongdej was sent to America as a military attaché and died mysteriousluy in New York in 1985. 4/14
After his death, Sirikit had a breakdown and disappeared from public view for several months.
Sanya also discusses Vajiralongkorn in the note. He mentions Vajiralongkorn's collapsed marriage to his cousin Soamsawali, and says Sirikit described her son as a "sex maniac" 5/14
The document provides further confirmation that a major rift emerged in the royal family in the 1970s, with Bhumibol and Sirikit becoming increasingly estranged from each other amid disagreements over politics, the queen's political meddling and her affair with Narongdej. 6/14
Following Sirikit's breakdown in the 1980s, she and Bhumibol lived completely separate lives, with rival royal courts. Sirikit became notorious for holding frequent parties where members of her clique danced and drank through the night until dawn. 7/14
The leaked U.S. diplomatic cable 09BANGKOK2967 includes details of the rift between Bhumibol and Sirikit: wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/0
"Prior to mid-2008, the King and Queen had lived most of the past 20 years largely apart, joint public appearances excepted. This unpublicized reality started after the Queen disappeared from public view in 1986 for about six months to recover from emotional exhaustion..." 9/14
"Their social circles diverged sharply from then on, with very few figures spanning both camps... The Queen long maintained an active social life, with her tradition of twice weekly dinners that would start near midnight and last to dawn... " 10/14
Thais were never told the truth about these divisions in the monarchy, even though power struggles in the palace had a huge impact on Thai politics during Bhumibol's reign. 11/14
The kingdom is still facing the damage from Sirikit's extreme views and support for the 21st Infantry Regiment that spawned the careers of Prayut Chan-ocha, Prawit Wongsuwan and Anunpong Pao-chinda. 12/14
Mother's Day in Thailand was rebranded as a celebration of royalty rather than a recognition of the amazing work that most mothers do and they love and care they give their children. It's time the date was changed, there's nothing to celebrate about this ghastly aristocrat 13/14
Happy 90th birthday, your majesty 14/14
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