Yahoo – AFP, December
29, 2015
Tongdaeng, the favourite dog of Thailand's ailing monarch has died, days after a man was arrested for allegedly making a satirical online remark about the beloved canine (AFP Photo) |
The
favourite dog of Thailand's ailing monarch has died, days after a man was
arrested under the kingdom's strict royal defamation laws for allegedly making
a satirical online remark about the beloved canine.
The dog,
called Tongdaeng (Copper), became both a household name and a publishing
sensation in Thailand after King Bhumibol Adulyadej adopted her as a stray
puppy and penned a heartfelt book about her attributes in 2002.
She was
praised for her loyalty and obedience, with the book widely interpreted at the
time as a parable about how Thais should live and remember their place within
the kingdom's rigid society.
King
Bhumibol, 88, is the world's longest-
serving monarch and is widely revered in
Thailand where his economic and social
teachings are extensively promoted
(AFP
Photo/Indranil Mukherjee)
|
"While
Khun Tongdaeng was sleeping and relaxing, she died peacefully on 26 December
2015 at 11:10pm at Klai Kangwon Palace," the statement read.
It said she
had been ill for the last few years and was just over 17 years old when she
passed away.
"Khun"
is an honorific in Thailand, roughly translating to "ma'am", and was
frequently used by officials and local media when referring to Tongdaeng.
Her death
was splashed across Thai newspapers Tuesday, with local media reporting that
the king had been informed.
The dog
regularly featured in palace photographs while the book about her outsold
bestsellers such as Harry Potter in Thailand.
A privately
funded animated film based around Tongdaeng and her attributes is currently
showing at Thai cinemas.
In his
book, Bhumibol described Tongdaeng as a "respectful dog, with proper
manners" who was "humble and knows protocol
"She
would always sit lower than the king," the book added.
Criticism
banned
King
Bhumibol, 88, has spent much of the last two years in hospital and is rarely
seen in public. But the world's longest-serving monarch remains widely revered
in Thailand where his economic and social teachings are extensively promoted.
The
monarchy is also shielded from any debate and criticism by one of the world's
harshest royal defamation laws.
A 10-metre
high sculpture of "Giant John", one of the characters of the film
"Khun Tongdaeng: The Inspirations", sits outside a shopping mall in
Bangkok,
December 9, 2015 (AFP Photo/Nicolas Asfouri)
|
Anyone
convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent, can face up to 15 years
in jail on each count.
Analysts
say uncertainty as the king's reign enters its twilight years is a major factor
in the political chaos that has beset Thailand for the much of the last decade,
as competing elites jostle for influence.
Lese
majeste prosecutions have soared since the army, which styles itself as the
champion of the monarchy, grabbed power in a coup last year.
The
boundaries for what counts as a royal insult have also expanded dramatically.
Earlier
this month Thanakorn Siripaiboon, 27, was arrested for allegedly making a
"satirical" Facebook post about the king and his dog, according to
his lawyers.
As is often
the case in lese majeste cases, the authorities did not give details on what
the post said.
Thanakorn
also faces lese majeste, sedition and computer crimes charges for clicking
"like" on a doctored photo of the king and sharing it, plus an
infographic on a growing corruption scandal engulfing the military.
Related Article:
Thai king's favourite dog dies, days after man arrested for insulting royal canine https://t.co/ksk9xNiNpS pic.twitter.com/Of7oZiqyDj
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) December 29, 2015
Related Article:
Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.
Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.
(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."
(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.
(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.
Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.
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