BANGKOK, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Cabinet on
Wednesday requested cooperation of government agencies and entertainment venues
to suspend merry making activities for 15 days to mourn for Princess Galyani
Vadhana, in her 84, who passed away early morning.
Following the Royal Household Bureau's announcement
that the princess passed away at the Siriraj Hospital at 2:54 a.m. Wednesday
(1954 GMT, Tuesday), the PM's Office announced the 15-day mourning period.
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File photo of Thailand's late Princess
Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The
princess died at Bangkok's Siriraj hospital Jan. 2 after six months in the
hospital battling cancer. (Xinhua/RAFP Photo)
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PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan instructed
state-run television stations to air programs in honor of the princess and the
government has formed a national committee in charge of the funeral
arrangements, led by the prime minister Surayud Chulanont.
Royal Family members, court officials and cabinet
members will observe the black dress code for 100 days, Dhipavadee said,
addingthe Cabinet also sought cooperation from the public to wear black dress
for 15 days. All government offices and schools will also lower flags at half
mast in the same period.
The King Bhumibol Adulyadej had granted permission of
the traditional bathing rite for the public for Princess Galyani at Saha Thai
Samakhom Pavilion, Grand Palace.
At 3 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, the funeral
procession of the body of the princess arrived the Royal Palace from the Siriraj
Hospital. Thousands of people lined up the streets for the procession.
Meanwhile, all political parties announced suspending
political activities. The Chart Thai Party's important news conference of
attending the People Power Party coalition to form new government, which
scheduled on late Wednesday, was cancelled.
The People Power Party, which won the most seats of
the parliament during last month's general election, also cancelled its meeting
of party executives on Wednesday to mourn for Princess Galyani.
"People Power has suspended its activities, including
talks on the coalition formation, in light of the sorrowful atmosphere," party
spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said.
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Two women weep while holding a
portrait of late Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of revered
King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Bangkok's Siriraj hospital Jan. 2, 2008.
(Xinhua/RAFP Photo)
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Princess Galyani's overall condition had worsened
Tuesday with increasingly labored breathing and failing kidney functions,
according to the Royal Household Bureau's 38th statement issued late in the day.
In addition to treatment for renal failure, the
84-year-old princess had been receiving treatment for abdominal cancer at
Siriraj Hospital since June 15, 2007.
Princess Galyani Vadhana, who was born on May 6,
1923, in Edinburgh, was the elder sister to Ananda Mahidol and Bhumiphol
Adulyadej, both of whom became kings. Graduating in science and chemistry from
the University of Lausanne, she was knowledgeable in the arts, languages, and
history, and taught French language, literature and history in Bangkok's
Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities.
The princess was heavily involved in projects under
her royal patronage, especially traditional Thai arts, education, sports and
social welfare. She traveled widely within Thailand and overseas to represent
the royal family and her country on missions and was a focus of affection of the
Thai people. She had visited China for six times.
Thai Princess Galyani passes
away
BANGKOK, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's widely-respected
Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed
away at the age of 84 in Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital early Wednesday, a statement
issued by the Royal Household Bureau said.
The princess' condition worsened on Tuesday night and she
passed away at 2:54 a.m. (1954 GMT, Tuesday) on Wednesday, said the statement.
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