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Published on October 24, 2007

The King can briefly walk and his general condition is improving to the satisfaction of doctors. His appetite has also increased, said the statement, quoting the Committee of Royal Physicians as saying. His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, the grandson of His Majesty, paid his first visit at the hospital yesterday.

Some 300 passenger vehicles yesterday began providing a free service for people travelling from Bang Khun Non intersection on Charan Sanitwong Road to Siriraj Hospital to visit His Majesty from 6am to 6pm.

Twenty Shan people from Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai and living in Ban Mai Mok Jam village, which was established on the initiative of His Majesty several years ago, signed well-wishing messages at the hospital. Sak Tha-aksorn, who led the group, said he was worried about the King's health and hoped it would improve soon.

Samak Khamkhet led a group of 60 Thai Muslims from Yala to sign messages for the King before they said a group prayer to wish for his speedy recovery. Samak said he believed that the King never mistreated Islam and loved all Thai people equally.

A group of senior citizens in Bangkok's Bueng Kum dis-trict performed a traditional dance to bless the King. They said the dance was meant to worship Lord Buddha and in-cur his blessings for a speedy recovery and protection of the King.

Ten officials from 12 media associations also paid a visit to the King at the hospital. A leader said the press confederation would hold a special television programme on November 17 to officially give respect to His Majesty on his 80th birthday.

Rabiatrat Pongpanit, chairwoman of the Happy Family Association, called on members of the public, especially celebrity figures, to dress properly when they came to the hospital to pay respects or sign messages for the King.

Dr Piyaskol Skolsattayathorn, dean of Siriraj Medical School, pleaded with thieves and pickpockets that had preyed on the crowds in the hospital compound to stop.

Police had earlier threatened to make public the names of those caught to further shame them, although the practice violated human rights.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Pongsaphat Pongcharoen said there were now 500 policemen stationed at the hospital and nearby areas to provide security and guard against crime, up from the original number of 270.

He said six suspects had been arrested, but police needed to obtain more evidence against them because the stolen items were not found on them when they were caught.

The officer said police were now preparing an operation to provide security for the King on the date he is discharged.

The Nation