Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit Dies at 93, Remembered for Her Devotion to Helping the Poor and Environment

Strategic Insights -

Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit, a steadfast supporter of rural development and conservation, passed away at the age of 93. She had been receiving treatment for a blood infection at a Bangkok hospital since October 17. Born into a wealthy and aristocratic family in Bangkok, Sirikit was an influential figure in her own right, despite often being overshadowed by her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively, attending ceremonies and visiting remote villages, where she would often take on the local women's problems personally.

Key Takeaways:

  • Queen Mother Sirikit was born on August 12, 1932, and was 93 years old at the time of her death.
  • She married King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950 and had four children, including current King Maha Vajiralongkorn and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn.
  • Throughout her married life, Queen Mother Sirikit and her husband traveled extensively, attending ceremonies and visiting remote villages to address domestic problems such as rural poverty and opium addiction.
  • In 1976, Queen Mother Sirikit launched the SUPPORT foundation, which trained thousands of villagers in traditional crafts, including silk-weaving and jewelry-making.
  • She also set up wildlife breeding centers, "open zoos," and hatcheries to save endangered sea turtles and launched Forest Loves Water and Little House in the Forest projects to demonstrate the economic benefits of preserving forest cover and water sources.
  • Queen Mother Sirikit believed that the monarchy was a vital institution in Thailand, saying "There are some in the universities who think the monarchy is obsolete. But I think Thailand needs an understanding monarch.

Statistics:

  • Queen Mother Sirikit passed away on [reference to the exact date of death not provided in the original text] at the age of 93.
  • She had been suffering from a blood infection since October 17.
  • The Queen Mother spent many years helping the poor and environment, particularly in the rural areas of Thailand.
  • She set up numerous royal development projects across Thailand, some initiated and directly supervised by her.

Sources:

  • "Thailand Queen Mother Obit" by The Associated Press (AP news wire)
  • Times of India
  • Bangkok Post
  • Various Thai news outlets (exact source names not mentioned in the original text)