Royal Crematorium areas opened for public visits Nov 2-30

BANGKOK, October 31 (TNA) - Arrangements are being prepared to cater for throngs of people who will be allowed to visit the Royal Crematorium of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and its compound that are finely built at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground near the Grand Palace in Bangkok during November 2-30. Major General Santipong Thammapiya, Deputy Commanding General of the First Army Area Command, told journalists on October 30 that a joint command center for maintaining peace and order around the Grand Palace will apply the same screening procedures as those put in place when the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace were opened for about a year for public worships of the Royal Urn of the late and beloved Thai monarch. General Santipong said the decision was agreed at Monday's meeting of a subcommittee tasked with maintaining order and facilitating the general public who will visit the Royal Crematorium compound, chaired by he, himself, on behalf of Commanding General of the First Army Area Command Lieutenant General Kukiat Srinaka. According to the senior military officer, the general public, including the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and priests, will be allowed to visit the Royal Crematorium up to the second floor, as well as its compound cum exhibitions 14 hours daily during the nearly one-month period, from 7am to 10 pm. with each 45-minute round set to welcome about 4,000 people or about 56.000 people a day. Under the screening system for public security, the senior security officer revealed, there will be five screening points before people will be allowed to enter the Royal Crematorium compound, one of them will be specially set at Thammasat University, Tha Pra Chan Campus, for priests. The senior military officer noted that the exhibition building in the compound will also be catered for PWDs, including those with physically-impaired, and the elderly. Besides, a number of tents will be erected around Sanam Luang ceremonial ground for public rest, while international tourists will be allowed to access to the space in front of the Royal Crematorium and in the middle of Sanam Luang ceremonial ground to take photos and to pass through the nearby Grand Palace for their next visit. People who want to visit the Royal Crematorium compound are asked to be dressed in polite attire, namely long-sleeved shirts, long pants, skirts below the knee length and coarse shoes or brogue shoes. (TNA)