His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej

His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej:A Great and Generous Monarch

Dedicated to Maj. Kham Pawngfah, who died in 1987 

It was during the dry, cold season of early 1979 that I came to learn something about the King. 

The town was Muanghaeng, later to become the seat of Wianghaeng District. But, at that time, it was still part of Chiangdao, a district under the governor of Chiangmai. 

On that day, the small town was crowded with people from the surrounding areas to welcome the King's visit, a rare opportunity of a lifetime for country people. 

Among the crowd were those of us from across the border. The Shan resistance had asked for and been given permission by the local authorities to take part in the occasion. 

Our group was led by Maj. (then Captain) Kham Pawngfah, commander of the Pang Mysoong camp, where the resistance headquartered. Normally, Gen Kornzurng, our leader, would have been at the head of the group, but he was away in Mongnai, where he was to make his temporary headquarters until 1980. 

The King arrived by helicopter in the sunny afternoon. He spent a few minutes exchanging civilities with the reception committee members, then began the usual rounds with the local populace, meeting each group at its designated spot and receiving their offerings. 

Eventually and inevitably, he came to our group. 

He was just 51 years old and loomed rather large in our eyes, but strangely enough I didn't feel that nervous. At least not as much as Kham Pawngfah, who, for better or for worse, was going to face the music in a minute. After all, he spoke Thai better than most of us, except for Zaray Muling, who has learned the language as a monk. 
The king scanned us and some thing inside him must have told him we were different from other groups. Of course, we were all clad in civilian garb, but somehow we must have stood out among the gathering, most of whom were genuine civilians. 

He received our offering - I don't remember what - then began talking to us. 

And then, just before he passed on to another group, the bombshell came. 

"Are you villagers like the others or something else?" he asked. And we all looked to Kham Pawngfah, eager to hear how he would reply. 

Without thinking our simple-looking, mustached leader stood to rigid attention like the soldier he was, and replied, "Villagers, Your Majesty". 

Convinced that his military demeanor had betrayed us all, we turned our eyes worriedly towards the King. 
The eyes behind his glasses seemed to twinkle humorously. Then, smilingly, he moved on followed by his retinue, leaving behind him the group of Shan resistance fighters in a state of immobilized shock. 

The event never failed to amuse Maj. Kham Pawngfah's audience whenever he talked about it. He would laugh along with his listeners, then his eyes would become wistful and distant. 

I for one know what was on his mind during those moments of nostalgia. 

He was thinking how fortunate he was to have gotten away so easily with his mistake. And how big the King's heart was.