The death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

[Minoa]

Update: The Palace in Thailand has announced the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the age of 88 – see here.

As with all death threads, moderators have asked users not to attack others or gloat.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thail ... 290R8?il=0

This king has been in the throne since 1946, 6 years before the Queen Elizabeth II. The news that the Thai king's condition is unstable concerns me greatly due to political tensions. According to Reuters:

Anxiety over the king's health and an eventual succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of bitter political divide in Thailand that has included two military coups and often-violent street demonstrations.

What sets Thailand apart from many European monarchies is that the punishments for insulting the monarchy (lèse-majesté laws) are very tough and heavily used.

Vajiralongkorn is the heir apparent and not only he is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, he is 64 years old and he’s widely disliked. In the Commonwealth, Prince Charles is the heir, currently aged 67, but next in line is Prince William, aged 34, followed by Prince George, aged just 3.

So how important do you think the succession issue and the health is to the current state of Thai politics, and what potential new issues Thailand could face if Bhumibol Adulyadej passes away? For me, I am personally concerned that grave tensions deep down beyond the cover of the lèse-majesté laws are very likely if King Bhumibol Adulyadej passes away, given Vajiralongkorn’s less-than-stellar reputation.

[Stellonia]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thail ... 290R8?il=0

This king has been in the throne since 1946, 6 years before the Queen Elizabeth II. The news that the Thai king's condition is unstable concerns me greatly due to political tensions. According to Reuters:

Anxiety over the king's health and an eventual succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of bitter political divide in Thailand that has included two military coups and often-violent street demonstrations.

What sets Thailand apart from many European monarchies is that the punishments for insulting the monarchy are very tough and heavily used.

I hope you're not posting from within Thailand.

Seriously, though, if I remember correctly, merely speculating about the king's health is punishable under Thailand's lèse-majesté laws.

[Navaronia]

Doesn't the military in Thailand have more power then the Royal Family? His death will be in vain, unless he has some sort of cult following.

[Gauthier]

Yet no outrage over the Insulting Monarch laws.

[Minoa]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thail ... 290R8?il=0

This king has been in the throne since 1946, 6 years before the Queen Elizabeth II. The news that the Thai king's condition is unstable concerns me greatly due to political tensions. According to Reuters:


What sets Thailand apart from many European monarchies is that the punishments for insulting the monarchy are very tough and heavily used.

I hope you're not posting from within Thailand.

Seriously, though, if I remember correctly, merely speculating about the king's health is punishable under Thailand's lèse-majesté laws.

I am quoting Reuters, after a chance encounter with the article through “The Wire” section. Singapore’s Mediacorp is also carrying the story. Unlike wild WWIII rumours perpetuated by military exercises and written scenarios by Russia or US, grave tensions are very likely if King Bhumibol Adulyadej passes away, given Vajiralongkorn’s less-than-stellar reputation.

[Rio Cana]

Since the military has always been a important factor to consider since they yield much sway over the government, what would the military prefer. A continuation of the monarchy or a republic. In a republic, the military could put forth one of there own has President.

[Minoa]

Sorry about missing the discussion points earlier. I have corrected the void.

[Greed and Death]

Doesn't the military in Thailand have more power then the Royal Family? His death will be in vain, unless he has some sort of cult following.

The royal family's power is in the respect their people give to them including members of both sides of most political disputes. The king dedicates his life to his country. Military coups have softened their stance because of a few carefully placed words of the king. His son if rumors are to be believed is a womanizer who breaks up with his mistresses by leaving them alone in the middle of jungle.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

Yet no outrage over the Insulting Monarch laws.

What?

[Senyosu]

I mean the royalty can certainly skip a line but we know that won't happen. I'd expect the monk orders or the military to do something if Vajiralogkorn does something rather profane or detrimental to the image of Thailand and the monarchy.

[Old Tyrannia]

EDIT: It's been over an hour since Chinese media "broke the news" of the king's passing (it took me about that long to post this thread- something interrupted me about half way through writing the OP and I had to come back to it). There has as of yet been no official announcement by Thai authorities, which makes it seem as if Hong Kong Free Press may have jumped the gun. My sincere apologies; for the time being I've edited the thread title to avoid misleading anyone.

EDIT 2: The BBC has confirmed His Majesty's passing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37643326

The King of Thailand's health has been in question for several days now following reports that he was in an unstable condition following a haemodialysis treatment at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. Yesterday it was reported that members of the royal family, including the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, had gathered at the king's bedside, and well-wishers have flocked from all over Thailand to hold a vigil for their sovereign outside of the hospital. Fears over the possible volatility arising from the king's death and the royal succession saw the Thai stock market plunge by 6.8% yesterday, after Thailand's de facto leader, the head of the ruling military junta General Prayut Chan-O-Cha abruptly cancelled a visit outside the capital with little explanation, later saying he wished to welcome Prince Vajiralongkorn, who flew into the capital yesterday, back to Bangkok in person.

Hong Kong Free Press are now reporting that His Majesty has passed away at the age of 88. The announcement, originally by China's state news organisation, was apparently deleted shortly after being made, presumably at the request of the Thai royal palace. An announcement is expected from the palace within the next hour.

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/10/13/b ... 88-report/

As a long-time admirer of the king, who was widely respected and revered by the Thai people as the moral leader of the nation and is well-known for his intervention in a 1992 coup d'état in which he summoned the leaders of both the putschists and pro-democracy activists to the royal palace amidst fears of civil war and effectively ordered them to reconcile (which they did, leading to a restoration of democracy in Thailand shortly afterwards), I am personally saddened by today's news. I am also deeply concerned by the prospects of further instability in Thailand. Prince Vajiralongkorn is far less respected than his father was, being involved in numerous personal scandals as well as being linked to the controversial ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck who was ousted in 2014 by the current military junta. The king was one of the few institutions promoting stability in Thailand and his loss could not have come at a worse time.

My condolences to the people and royal family of Thailand for their loss. May His Majesty rest in peace.

[Minoa]

Hi, I have been tracking his health as well: viewtopic.php?t=391528&f=20, but I can hand over to you if this proves true.

[Old Tyrannia]

Hi, I have been tracking his health as well: viewtopic.php?t=391528&f=20, but I can hand over to you if this proves true.

I hadn't seen your thread. I apologise; luckily I can use my supercool mod powers to merge the threads together.

[Vassenor]

BBC is reporting on his death.

[The Alma Mater]

BBC is reporting on his death.

So is Dutch radio. So it seems to be true.

[Tsaraine]

Welp. Who knows what will come next for Thailand in this weird, weird, chaotic evil aligned year. Hopefully things stay stable enough, I have family in Bangkok. It's true that trust in and respect for the monarchy will go from 100 to 0 under Vajiralogkorn, but OTOH they already have a military junta running things indefinitely, so I can't see it getting too chaotic.

[Minoa]

Jonah Fisher ‏from the BBC has announced that there will be a year of mourning for government officials and flags will fly at half mast for 30 days. From the palace, a quick confirmation that Vajiralongkorn will indeed succeed Bhumibol Adulyadej on the Thai throne.

[Cedoria]

Since the military has always been a important factor to consider since they yield much sway over the government, what would the military prefer. A continuation of the monarchy or a republic. In a republic, the military could put forth one of there own has President.

Perhaps, but then again, that would mean one of their own would take the blame when the despotism inevitably fucks up, thus discrediting the junta.

If they were smart, they'd put in another puppet monarch, use him as a figurehead, and blame him if stuff really goes down. I don't know whether they will, but that's be what I'd do.

Seriously, I hope it's the first step on the path to overthrowing the regime, I have friends in Thailand who bravely resist this dictatorship and its a country I have visited several times. I doubt it will be a step that way, but one can always hope.

[Luziyca]

May Bhumibol Adulyadej rest in peace, and may the new King be competent.

[Dahon]

Oh shit, he really is dead.

As a citizen of one of the founding nations of the ASEAN, I mourn and pay my respects to the passing of man who has at least prevented the country from lurching into anarchy, year after year, if from afar.

I also cannot help but be afraid of what will happen next.

[New Chalcedon]

May Bhumibol Adulyadej rest in peace, and may the new King be competent.

King Playboy? Hardly. Thailand has lost more than a head wearing a crown - King Rama IX's refusal to back military coups led on multiple occasions to their failure, his intervention brought about the end of at least one dictatorship (in 1992) and his wisdom steered Thailand safely through the Cold War, unlike many other small nations. Also, he was an inventor of some skill, being the only serving head of State to hold multiple, internationally-recognized, patents during his lifetime.

May he rest in peace.

[Rennen-Slovette]

I'm Thai. And yes, he's really dead. But we will probably have a new king for sure, The Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (which some don't really like him.). But not sure when the coronation will be tho, maybe tomorrow or a bit longer.
my english is too bad for this

[Geilinor]

Doesn't the military in Thailand have more power then the Royal Family? His death will be in vain, unless he has some sort of cult following.

King Bhumibol had a cult following, but it doesn't extend to other members of the royal family.

[Minoa]

I'm Thai. And yes, he's really dead. But we will probably have a new king for sure, The Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (which some don't really like him.). But not sure when the coronation will be tho, maybe tomorrow or a bit longer.
my english is too bad for this

Thailand has announced a year of mourning – the King will lie in state for 100 days, something that we have not seen since the violent death of Ananda Mahidol 9 June 1946 (he was found shot dead in his bed).

[Nusaresa]

May he rest in peace.