AN angry mob stormed a famous soy-milk shop in Phuket to look for the son of the shop owner who allegedly made an “offensive” post about His Majesty the King’s death on his Facebook account.

The crowd raided the Sam Kong soy-milk shop in Phuket’s Muang district on Friday night to find the shop owner’s son, Suthee Arammethapongsa, whose Facebook post on the King’s passing was seen as mocking.

The angry crowd hung damning posters in front of the shop, cursed Suthee, and hurled objects into the shop. The event was recorded and broadcast live on Facebook. It soon went viral on the Internet, sparking a hot debate on Suthee’s and the mob’s actions.

The protest was called off after Surathin Liam-udom, the former mayor of Tambon Ratchada Administrative Organisation, mediated. A complaint was filed against Suthee for alleged violation of the lese majeste law.

332459

Photo Gallery

Large crowds gather as convoy transports Thai king’s body to Grand Palace

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

Pol Lt-Colonel Chao Phomna, Muang Phuket Police Station deputy superintendent, said the police had accepted the case and were investigating and collecting evidence. They said Suthee had already reported to the police.

“He is ready to be summoned again. The case is now under police investigation and there is no arrest warrant or any charge against him yet,” Chao said.

“He [Suthee] said he did not intend to offend the King. I’ve read his post on Facebook and I did not find it offensive, so I think he should not be prosecuted under the lese majeste law.”

Chao said many people did not understand the law and were angered by anyone who did not appear to be saddened by the King’s death. He said some people had complained to the police just because someone wore a red shirt during the mourning period for the king, but the case against Suthee was the only one of its kind in Phuket so far.

One Phuket resident, Wisit Itthiwarapornkul, said that people were angered by Suthee’s post because this was a sensitive time when all the loyal subjects of HM the King in the country were mourning his passing. So an offensive post about the King would obviously make people very angry.

“He did not have a conscience about the King’s benevolence and he did not respect the people’s feelings. His actions hurt the people and he should not live in Phuket anymore, because the people here will no longer accept him and his family,” Wisit said.

332244

Photo Gallery

Thais in Singapore and Thailand mourn passing of King Bhumibol

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The New Paper

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

Another Phuket resident, who asked not to be named, claimed Suthee’s family was widely known to sympathise with the red shirts, so locals often avoided buying their soy milk. This time he had crossed the line and the people had staged a protest.

Meanwhile, many academics such as Sarinee Achavanuntakul, the managing director for knowledge development at Sal Forest Co Ltd, warned people against “improper behaviour” in targeting vaguely defined criminal offences. He said such behaviour could hurt national stability and jeopardise peace and harmony in society.

“I would like to ask the people to respect each other and treat other people in a proper manner,” Sarinee said.

Bangkok – Thailand’s Crown Prince has urged people not to “worry” about his surprise decision to delay being proclaimed king following the death his beloved father, the country’s junta leader said Saturday.

The move, which led to the appointment of a regent, has spurred rumours and uncertainty in a nation whose recent history is studded with coups, political intrigues and street protests.

Against that backdrop, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Thursday aged 88, represented stability and moral rectitude to many Thais and his death is being mourned deeply across the country.

The 64-year-old Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is the king’s named successor but has asked to delay formally assuming the throne while he mourns with the Thai people.

332474

Photo Gallery

Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, soon to be King

Source:

AFP

Reuters

Bangkok Post

The Nation/ANN

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

Instead 96-year-old former general Prem Tinsulanonda, who headed Bhumibol’s Privy Council, was announced as regent.

On Saturday junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha said the Crown Prince summoned him and Prem earlier in the evening to dampen unease over the hiatus in assuming the throne.

“He asked the people not to be confused or worry about the country’s administration or the succession,” Prayut said in televised statement.

“He said at this time everyone is sad – including himself – so every side should wait… before making any sudden change,” he added, in an apparent reference to the succession.

The “appropriate time to proceed” will be after Bhumibol’s funeral and cremation, Prayut said, quoting the Crown Prince.

While a coronation was not expected until after an extended funeral period for Bhumibol, Prayut did not specify whether Vajiralongkorn would formally take the throne before then.

The regent Prem is remarkably spry given his advanced years and remains a master political operator.

He has been at the centre of Thailand’s treacherous politics for decades, first as general and then as a prime minister and a staunch Bhumibol ally.

Thais have donned black since Bhumibol’s death in a remarkable show of grief for the king, while nightlife and entertainment – including television shows, concerts and sports events – have been cancelled or made low-key.

Uncertainty shadows the kingdom’s future spurred in part by doubts over whether the jet-setting Crown Prince can exert the same calming moral authority as his father.

Open discussion of the issue is curtailed by the country’s draconian lese majeste law, which punishes criticism of Bhumibol and the leading royals with jail time.

331856

Photo Gallery

A look back at Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s life

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The Nation/ANN

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–