1.
MV PROCESSIN (3 SHOTS)
0.08

2.
MLV KING ON PALANQUIN
0.11

3.
MV DITTO (3 SHOTS)
0.21

4.
MLV MONKS INSIDE TEMPLE (2 SHOTS)
0.25

5.
MV KING ENTERS TEMPLE (2 SHOTS)
0.32

6.
MCU STATUE
0.37

7.
MV KING COMES OUT
0.40

8.
MV OFFICIALS CONGRATULATE KING
0.43



Initials DS/V/MR/GH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WITH BOMP AND PAGEANTRY, THAILAND'S KING PHUMIPOL ADULYADEJ, CELEBRATED HIS 36TH BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY, (DECEMBER 7).

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 34 YEARS, THE GOLDEN PALANQUIN, THE 'BHUTAN-TONG', BEARING THE KING, WAS CARRIED IN TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION WITHIN THE INNER WALLS OF OLD BANGKOK.

ROYAL GUARDS DRESSED IN RICH COSTUMES CARRYING SPEARS AND SWORDS PRECEEDED THE ROYAL PALANQUIN TO THE WAT BOWARN NIVES TEMPLE, WHERE ADULYADEJ, PAID HOMAGE TO THE BUDDHIST SUPREME PATRIARCH.

AS A GESTURE TO MARK HIS BIRTHDAY THE KING GRANTED AN AMNESTY TO SOME 15 THOUSAND CONVICTS, EXCLUDING COMMUNISTS. THE PRISONERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.