Thailand National Law Day Celebrated by Judges, Lawyers, Police, Military Pattaya Business Leaders Invited

Prince Rapee (1874-1920), was a son of the well regarded King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). The Prince studied law at Christchurch College, Oxford.

Upon his return to Thailand Prince Rapee Pattanasak was appointed Minister of Justice at the tender age of 22 in the year 1896. He held this position for 14 years.

As Minister of Justice, the Prince codified the Thai legal system, established the first law school in Thailand (then called Siam), and generally instituted the concept of the current, written legal system in the Kingdom.

On August 7th of every year, the day of Prince Rapee death at the age of 46, leaders from Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard join the entire country in observance of Rapee Day in front of the life-sized statue of the prince which stands in front of each and every courthouse in Thailand.

The local statue stands in front of Pattaya Provincial Courthouse on Thappraya Road where civil and criminal cases are heard six days a week. Pattaya Provincial Court is second only to Bangkok Provincial Court for the number of cases heard each year.

This statue of Prince Rapee Pattanasak is considered a shrine where many come to pay their respects and ask for good luck before entering the court.

The ceremony was attended by three groups of Pattaya business executives and many police, military leaders and government officers.

The ceremony was led by the Chief Judge Suchart Tanitsorn.

The morning was a religious ceremony and wreaths were presented to the Prince by 24 representative groups of both private and governmental sectors.

Foreigners in Thailand received distinguished recognition.The first three wreaths to be laid were from foreign-managed firms helping all nationalities in Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard.

Chief Judge Suchart Tanitsorn spoke briefly and eloquently. Then the invited groups of business leaders, civil servants and military brass were each called one by one to show respect for Thailand National Law Day.

The private sector represented by P.A.P.P.A Co., Ltd. Law Offices led by Managing Director Drew Noyes was highly honored by being called as the first group to lay the first wreath at the feet of the statue of Prince Rapee Pattanasak.  P.A.P.P.A Co., Ltd. Senior Lawyer Ekasit Phanutnok joined him as police, judges, district attorneys, military officers, the Chief of Banglamung District, Pattaya City lawmakers and hundreds of prominent Thai public sector leaders witnessed.

The second group called was the Pattaya Times Media Co., Ltd. newspaper group. Editor Wanrapa Boonsu and Publisher Charles Premasathira of the Pattaya Times had the unique honor the lay the second wreath for the beautiful ceremony.

A newcomer on the scene was the group formed by Bangkok, Chonburi and Pattaya business leaders. One Stop Service Centers Co., Ltd.’s Managing Directors Rapeeporn Torpradit, Nataphon Panyakhananukul and Phillip Venne were honored to lay the third wreath.

The public sector of Pattaya Provincial Court judges, district attorneys, court clerks, and the mediation team ceremoniously laid wreaths group by group.

The Royal Thai Immigration Police, Tourist Police, Highway Police, Pattaya Police, Laem Chabang Police, Na Jomtien Police and Sattahip Police groups each took their turns to present wreaths at the feet of the Prince’s statue.

Members of Pattaya City Council, the Mayor Office and the Chief of Banglamung District also laid wreaths to show respect for justice in Thailand.

The commanding admiral of the Sattahip Naval Base also brought naval officers to lay a wreath at the feet of the symbol of Thai justice.

After the 24 groups laid the ceremonial wreaths there was an exhibition educating attendees about law and a display of Prince Rapee’s royal duties.

Additionally, there was a fun law question and answer competition played by local school students as well as a sports day between the court clerk’s and the attorney’s committees.