The King of Thailand has died (page 3 of 7)

he really took after the queen

That’s kind of how things go...

You're free to think whatever you like... but that doesn’t give you the right to ridicule others’ opinions...

I’m certain this man’s merits are far greater than most of ours... and I reaffirm that the said King was exceptional in all he accomplished for his people...

You’re entitled to think differently if that’s what you prefer...

I reaffirm that the said King was exceptional with everything he accomplished for his people...

Let’s start with his approval of the interim Constitution (undemocratic, of course...) by the junta... Then there’s his endorsement of the coup leader as Prime Minister...

Shall I go on?😇

How was he, again, for his people: "exceptional"? 😕

I’d love to respond in the same vein as you, but living in Thailand—a country where a single wrong word about the monarchy can land you in prison for 10 years—I’m forced to keep my big mouth shut. Though if I could speak my mind, there are quite a few members on this forum who’d be opening their eyes wider than… let’s think for a sec… wider than a truck’s headlight. Did I get that right?

I don’t have a Facebook account, Instagram, or any of those useless platforms that waste your time spilling your life to strangers.

I’ll ask just one question (Claude, you know the answer ;)): For someone who never worked a day in his life, how did he manage to amass a tidy fortune of around $35 billion US?

You're talking through your hat!

Unlike other monarchies around the world, the Thai monarchy owns a conglomerate involved in construction, chemicals, banking, insurance, and real estate. A fortune that represents one-sixth of the GDP and benefits from a special tax regime...

And it's around 48 billion... no one can say for sure...!!!

I’m therefore obliged to shut my big mouth;

Sometimes you almost regret not being able to hand you over to the local authorities in Sawang Daen Din so you’d really shut up...

For someone who’s never worked a day in his life, can you explain how he managed to amass a nice little fortune of about US$35 billion?

Do you have the answer, when nothing’s really transparent when it comes to the king’s wealth? In 2015, Forbes ranked him as the world’s richest monarch with a personal fortune estimated at around 22.586 billion €, thanks to royal properties, but mostly thanks to his financial arm: the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), a powerful conglomerate. An allowance for the king and his family is also taken from the state budget every year. But as far as I know, other monarchs around the world aren’t exactly struggling either.

Should I go on?😇

There’s enough to criticize without piling on the royal barge with tired arguments. The Constitution grants the king only very limited powers, and in no case the right to refuse certain appointments. Another example: the Forbes ranking, which inevitably surfaces at every event, conflates crown assets with personal wealth. As for summarizing seven decades of reign in a few obviously negative sentences, I’ve always found it more useful to research primary sources, read academics, and contradictory authors (What? In this vile dictatorship, people can actually speak their minds?), and form my own opinion based on verified facts. It’s not that the man fascinates me, but it’s helped me better understand the feelings some of my Thai friends have for him—feelings that often baffle foreigners. One critique (among many, of course): Bhumibol’s stance on royal pardons in death penalty cases. Here, we’re dealing with institutional prerogatives, and there’s definitely something to say about that. As for those who criticized him for not acting while also reproaching him for having too much power—there’s a little something off in their reasoning.

The Constitution grants the king only very limited powers, and in no case the right to refuse certain appointments.

Exactly. Since the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the King has had no constitutional power. I’m not fascinated by this monarch either, but I remember a popular uprising in May 1992, when he urged, on live television, the leaders of both sides—kneeling at his feet in a sign of allegiance—to make peace.

I’m not fascinated by this monarch either, but I remember a popular uprising in May 1992, when he urged, on live television, the leaders of both sides—kneeling at his feet in a sign of allegiance—to make peace.

We’re on the same page: understanding isn’t the same as approving.

For context, the king intervened after two of his children called for calm. The bloodshed of "Black May" was immediately halted. More broadly, it’s easy to see why millions of Thais, when they see what their so-called elites are doing to their country, cling to what they can. We could also mention the millions of Thais who have jobs thanks to royal foundations, special programs keeping farmers in villages, and so on—sure, it’s not much compared to the challenges. But no, the king isn’t responsible for everything that’s wrong in this country. Things the monarchy’s critics never bring up, just like the fact that Bhumibol had been severely weakened for over a decade. I was in Bangkok during the 2010 events (over 80 dead, thousands injured), and my friends were disappointed he didn’t intervene. "Disappointed," but not critical—because you don’t criticize the king.

I was in Bangkok during the 2010 events (over 80 dead, thousands injured), and my friends were disappointed he didn’t intervene. "Disappointed," but not critical, since you don’t criticize the king.

I wasn’t in Bangkok on May 19, 2010, because I was in our rice fields in Isan, but I should’ve been there (in Bangkok). A good part of the village and I were supposed to go down to lend a hand to those already there. You’re right, Charlie—over 80 dead. In reality, more than 700. That’s a long way from 80. The official figure given is over 91 dead.

Why such a gap between the official number and the real one? For more details, check out the writings of Giles Ji Ungpakorn, for example—a Thai academic exiled in Great Britain. Luckily, he had dual nationality (Thai and British), otherwise he’d be rotting behind pretty bars or already dead. Exiled why? Because of his book A Coup for the Rich.

It’s not just *Le Figaro* or *Le Monde* you should read...

There’s also *Prachathai*—in English for those who don’t read Thai.

http://prachatai.org/english/node/6650?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+prachataienglish+%28Prachatai+in+English%29

Or *Political Prisoners in Thailand*

https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/

A tribute found on YouTube...

2'32'': it would've been more honest if the author had replaced the "we all love you" with something like "some people love you".

Meanwhile, in Bangkok. Maybe one day, Thais will learn the content of some exchanges on this forum. Some are already aware, by the way.

It’s the season of mourning.

Sanam Luang

Black is black...

According to newspapers citing Mr. Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, deputy police chief, police have arrested 5 people for lèse-majesté since the king’s death. Most of those involved posted online messages criticizing the monarchy. Regarding other cases involving people living abroad, police are working in coordination with prosecutors specializing in international crime.

Funeral music

Regarding other cases of individuals residing abroad, the police act in coordination with the public prosecutors responsible for international crime.

What a joke...

Regarding other cases of individuals residing abroad, the police act in coordination with the public prosecutors responsible for international crime.

What a joke...

I’d even say... what a *great* joke 🤪 ; On this topic, some guys or gals—more royalist than the king—want certain Thais living in France or Great Britain to be prosecuted, thrown in irons, and shipped back to Thailand in the hold... Too bad there aren’t enough spots in psychiatric hospitals in Thailand 🏴‍☠️

What a joke...

Farangs are snickering, Thais less so. Check out Liu Yangyue’s work or look into the "cyber scouts." The Bangkok Post is singing the praises of the royal decades. The 1970s seem particularly interesting to observe—at least for those who want to move beyond the snickering. This vision of HRH Bhumibol regarding man’s relationship with his land often appears in ultranationalist, even totalitarian, systems ("The land does not lie," etc.). It’s pretty amusing to see, since the various governments that followed have struggled to reconcile his "self-sufficiency" concept with the unbridled liberalism that’s driven the country’s economy for decades. At least the farangs in Lumpini Park will now know who invented those little paddle wheels you see all over the country. www.bangkokpost.com/...riculture-by-hm-king