Long Way to be accepted.

In 1981, Amateur Radio was not officially accepted by the government for the security reason, no mater how hard the Police General Suchart P. who was the Post and Telegraph Director at that time, had tried.  

There were a lot of illegal VHF handheld radio in Thailand and he decided that he must do something, to get all the illegal radio operator to be legal. So he was thinking of forming of a Voluntary Radio Club of the PTD. Those who want to join must passed the examination and would get the call sign, started with VR followed by number. 

He had presented the idea to His Majesty the King and got a useful comment. His Majesty knew very well the importance of the radio communication and was using the radio to listen to the working of all the officers. He fixed and adjusted his station to the best by himself.

Pol. Gen Suchart was VR001 and His Majesty accepted the call sign VR009 in this amateur radio pilot project.
My examination was in 1985 and was the 5th.  My call sign was VR1359.

VR001 was a brave man who worked against the false policy.  He then was commanded by the minister to move from his position so he resigned from the civilian life.  He then became the hon. Secretary for one of His Majesty’s Non profit organization about technical training.  He is HS1BA and is 80 years old now.