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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 22 OcTOber 2019
Thai king strips his consort of royal titles for disloyalty

Associated Press popularity for herself" in a
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai- manner she hoped would
land's king has stripped his lead to the king giving her
royal consort of her titles a position equal to that of
and military ranks for dis- the queen.
loyalty, accusing her of "She wasn't satisfied with
seeking to undermine the the royally bestowed posi-
position of his official wife, tion and still did everything
the country's queen, for her to be equal to the queen,"
own benefit. the statement said.
The royal command by Sineenatra's most recent
67-year-old King Maha Va- whereabouts have not
jiralongkorn, made public been publicized, leading to
Monday, came just three rumors that she had fallen
months after he granted from grace. She had previ-
34-year-old Sineenatra ously appeared openly in
Wongvajirabhakdi the con- palace-issued media.
sort title, reviving an old Just two months ago, a
palace tradition of taking a palace website released
junior wife. scores of photos of her and
Sineenatra had her title of the king, some in formal
Chao Khun Phra Sineena- settings and others in mark-
tra Bilasakalayani with- edly casual poses, such as
drawn, along with other In this undated photo posted Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Thailand Royal Office website, Thailand's taking part in flying, shoot-
royal and military titles and King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits on the thrown with his official consort Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi ing and skydiving. Others
at the royal palace.
decorations. In May, the Associated Press showed her and the king
king named longtime com- holding hands, unusually in-
panion Suthida Vajiralong- tive of royal kindness, and children by three previous tions" led her to continue to timate photos for members
korn Na Ayudhya his queen driving a rift among the marriages, all of which end- seek ways to promote her- of the royal family.
when they were married a royal servants, making mis- ed in divorce. self. However, it said, "She The last time a Thai mon-
few days before his formal understanding among the The royal command went wasn't satisfied with the roy- arch had an official con-
coronation. Vajiralongkorn people, and undermining into unusual detail in ex- ally bestowed position and sort was during the reign of
assumed the throne after the nation and the monar- plaining why the action still did everything to be King Vajiravudh, who died
the 2016 death of his father, chy." Both the 41-year-old was taken against Sineen- equal to the queen." in 1925. But consorts were
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Suthida and Sineenatra atra. It accused her of Further describing her al- more common in the 19th
who reigned for 70 years. have served as senior of- misbehaving by actively leged transgressions, it said century, when they often
Monday's command con- ficers in palace security seeking to block Suthida's she took advantage of her received their appoint-
demned Sineenatra in units. Suthida was previ- appointment as queen in position by falsely claiming ments as a way of cement-
harsh terms, concluding ously a flight attendant with order to take the position royal prerogatives to order ing alliances with regional
that her actions "are con- Thai Airways, while Sineen- herself, and said that when people around, "making power brokers when the
sidered dishonorable, lack- atra was an army nurse. she failed to block her rival, people misunderstand her kingdom was still known as
ing gratitude, unapprecia- Vajiralongkorn has seven her "ambitions and aspira- position to gain profit and Siam.q
Indonesia's losing presidential candidate to join Cabinet

By NINIEK KARMINI negotiating with Widodo's to's entry into the Cabinet
Associated Press governing coalition for was a conservative back-
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Cabinet positions following lash against Widodo's ef-
— Indonesia's opposition the divisive April election. forts to address Indonesia's
leader and losing presiden- "We have been asked to poor human rights record.
tial candidate said Mon- strengthen the Cabinet "It's a dark day for human
day that he will join his elec- in the defense area and rights and justice in Indone-
tion rival's Cabinet to help we are ready to help," sia," Harsono said.
strengthen the country's Subianto told reporters af- Nadiem Makarim, CEO
defense, signaling a calm- ter meeting with Widodo at and co-founder of ride-
ing of political tensions in the presidential palace in hailing startup company
the world's third-largest de- the capital, Jakarta. Gojek, and Erick Thohir, a
mocracy. "I will work hard to meet his former owner of the Inter
Former special forces gen- goals and expectations." Milan soccer club, also said
eral Prabowo Subianto said Subianto declined to say if following meetings with
he was asked by President he had been asked to be- Widodo on Monday that
Joko Widodo to join the come defense minister as Indonesian President Joko Widodo, right, is congratulated by the they will be part of the new
Chairman of Gerindra Party who is also his former rival in April's
Cabinet, which will be an- widely speculated by local election Prabowo Subianto during his swearing-in ceremony at Cabinet.
nounced on Wednesday. media. the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, Indonesia, the world's most
Widodo, who was sworn Subianto had initially re- 2019. populous Muslim-majority
in for his second term on fused to accept the elec- Associated Press nation, is an outpost of
Sunday, said Indonesians tion results. Subianto, linked to human to Widodo in 2014 and has democracy in a South-
should unite after the bitter He alleged massive and rights abuses during the au- now made four unsuccess- east Asian neighborhood
election campaign. systematic fraud, but his le- thoritarian rule of longtime ful bids for the presidency. of authoritarian govern-
Subianto, who is also the gal challenge was rejected President Suharto, also un- Andreas Harsono, Indone- ments and is forecast to be
founder and leader of the by the country's top court successfully challenged his sia researcher at Human among the world's biggest
Gerindra party, had been last month. presidential election loss Rights Watch, said Subian- economies by 2030.q