Page 11 - aruba-today-20190504

A11
WORLD NEWS Saturday 4 May 2019

Elaborate pageantry and ritual of Thai king's coronation

Associated Press ___
BANGKOK (AP) — The offi- MAY 4, SATURDAY, CORO-
cial coronation of Thailand's NATION DAY: In a royal
King Maha Vajiralongkorn , purification ceremony at
who is also known as Rama the Grand Palace , holy
X, involves months of rituals water is poured over the
that will culminate in three king's head. An anoint-
days of elaborate pag- ment ceremony with more
eantry, including a parade consecrated water follows.
and an appearance by the He then ascends the royal
monarch on a balcony of throne and sits beneath
the Grand Palace. The final the royal 9-tiered umbrella,
event will be a royal barge used only by the king, to
procession in October. receive the royal golden
The last coronation, of Va- plaque, royal regalia and
jiralongkorn's late father weapons of sovereignty,
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, among other symbols of
was on May 5, 1950 . Bhu- the monarchy, from the
mibol died in 2016 at age chief Brahmin — a dignitary
88 after reigning for seven whose role reflects the influ-
decades. ence of Hinduism on Thai's
___ In this Jan. 31, 2018, file photo, a full moon rises behind the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. monarchy.
PRELIMINARY RITUALS: Prep- Associated Press The king later receives
arations for the royal coro- members of the royal fam-
nation began in April with Prayers by monks at the of State, according to a I and Rama V, at statues ily, the Privy Council and
the collection and bless- Temple of the Emerald schedule released by the and memorials in Bangkok, Cabinet, among other se-
ings of water from across Buddha preceded the in- Thai government. The king and worshipped "sacred nior officials, who will pay
Thailand to be used in this scriptions of royal golden also has paid his respects beings" at locations within their respects in the Throne
weekend's ceremonies. plaques and the Royal Seal to earlier monarchs, Rama the palace. Hall. q

Vietnam woman tried in NKorean scion's killing leaves prison

KAJANG, Malaysia (AP) — Vietnamese embassy trans- havior.
The Vietnamese woman lator Maridam Yacfar told Huong was the last suspect
who was tried for the kill- reporters at the prison that in custody after the Ma-
ing of the estranged half Doan Thi Huong looked laysian attorney general's
brother of North Korea's "happy" but couldn't give stunning decision in March
leader was released from a further details. to drop the murder case
Malaysian prison and was Huong's lawyer, Hisyam Teh against her co-defendant,
planning to return home Poh Teik, said Huong went Indonesian Siti Aisyah, fol-
later Friday, her lawyer and to an immigration office lowing high-level lobby-
an embassy translator said. and will fly back to Hanoi ing from Jakarta. Huong
Doan Thi Huong's release later Friday. sought to be acquitted
likely closes the case, since Huong, 30, pleaded guilty after Aisyah was freed, but
four North Koreans named to a lesser charge of caus- prosecutors rejected her
as co-conspirators in the ing injury last month after request. Aisyah returned
2017 slaying are not in cus- prosecutors dropped the home to Indonesia.
tody. Malaysian officials murder charge against her. The two women were
never officially accused She was sentenced to 40 charged with colluding
North Korea and made it months in prison from the with the four North Koreans In this April 1, 2019, file photo, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong
clear they didn't want the day of her arrest and was to murder Kim Jong Nam leaves Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia.
trial politicized. released early for good be- with VX nerve agent.q Associated Press