Thai king’s volunteers boost his image

Ready to serve: Thais wearing blue caps and yellow foulards taking part in a ceremony to become the king’s volunteers at the Bureau of the Royal Household in Bangkok. — Reuters

BANGKOK: From a distance, the volunteers cleaning up a clogged Bangkok waterway could be mistaken for Scouts, but the group, wearing yellow foulards and blue hats, are part of a volunteer programme started by Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66.

The “Volunteer Spirit” scheme, which officially began in 2017, has created a new army of civilians who have pledged allegiance to the king and are boosting the image of Vajiralongkorn ahead of his formal coronation at year-end.