Bangkok: Supamas Isaraphakdi, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, led the inaugural meeting of the Public Relations Committee for the Royal Cremation Ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother. The gathering took place in Meeting Room 301, Building 1, Government House, and included key figures such as the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Director-General of the Public Relations Department, representatives from government agencies, the media, and relevant associations.
According to Thai News Agency, prior to the meeting, Supamas reviewed the Cabinet’s resolution concerning the mourning procedures authorized during their October 25th assembly. It was decreed that all government offices, state enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions should lower their flags to half-mast for a 30-day period starting October 25th. Additionally, civil servants, state enterprise employees, and government officials were instructed to observe a mourning period of one year commencing from the same date. The public was encouraged to consider the appropriateness of their attire, with a request for cooperation in wearing black or polite colored mourning clothes for at least 90 days.
The government has also established a comprehensive committee structure to manage the royal cremation ceremony. This includes a main committee chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and eight supporting committees. Among these, the Public Relations Committee for the Royal Ceremony is headed by Supamas Isaraphakdi along with the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister. The responsibilities of the committees range from organizing ceremonies and constructing the royal crematorium to managing security and traffic, archiving, budget screening, and establishing a coordination center to streamline operations.
Supamas expressed hope that the meeting would foster effective integration and cooperation across all agencies involved. She emphasized the importance of developing creative and innovative content for activities that honor His Majesty, and highlighted the need for communication channels to be more accessible in today’s digital age. This approach aims to ensure that the Royal Ceremony is conducted with dignity and respect, reflecting the honor due to His Majesty.