Following a cabinet meeting today (Oct. 25), Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced to the media that due to the passing of Queen Mother Sirikit, a national mourning period has been declared. He has personally canceled his arrangements to attend the APEC Summit in South Korea.
An announcement from the Thai Prime Minister's Office stated that the Prime Minister will serve as the chairman of the funeral preparations committee.
The PM said that because he needs to remain in the country to oversee the funeral arrangements, his officially scheduled visit to Malaysia today has also been canceled. He will travel to Malaysia early on Oct. 26 to attend the signing ceremony for a joint statement on Thailand and Cambodia's peaceful policy direction and return to Thailand immediately afterward. The Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, will represent Thailand at other ASEAN Summit meetings and the APEC.
Anutin also announced that the national mourning period begins immediately. National flags will be flown at half-mast for 30 days at all government agencies, state-owned enterprises, hospitals, schools, and state institutions; government officials and civil servants are required to wear black attire as a sign of mourning for one year; the general public is advised to follow the mourning guidelines according to their personal circumstances within 90 days. He called on all sectors to suspend or reduce entertainment activities, such as concerts, for 30 days.
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