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Sadness turns to anger with vigilante attacks on royal naysayers
ABC Radio Australia - October 19, 2016
These are isolated cases, with the country mostly mourning with great dignity and compassion.
A woman in Bangkok – who may have mental health issues – was chased off a bus and slapped hard by a stranger for allegedly criticising the monarchy. Footage of the incident was widely shared on social media on Tuesday.
Another attack was live-streamed on Facebook. The video showed a 19-year-old man being kicked in the head while he was bowing in front of a portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in apology for online comments.
His employer told Khaosod English website that he gave the man's home address to a vigilante mob in Chonburi.
Anger has been directed at international media too. A blogger associated with the Yellow Shirt side of Thai politics, who goes by the name Anthony Cartalucci, has called for the harassment of a BBC reporter.
"Groups able to organise and peacefully control a crowd could also follow him around and make his life as difficult as a liar's life should be," Mr Cartalucci wrote.
"Heckle him, make him uncomfortable, make him look bad, but don't be 'red shirts' and resort to violence," he said – a reference to supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
When contacted by the ABC, the blogger refused to clarify his nationality, real name or political affiliations, describing them as "loaded questions".
A kingdom without a king
Thailand has begun a year of official mourning after the death of widely-revered King Bhumibol on October 13.
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is heir to the throne but has reportedly asked for more time before becoming king.
In the meantime, the 96-year-old president of the privy council – Prem Tinsulanonda – automatically becomes regent. The Crown Prince has not spoken publicly since his father's death.
"I wouldn't call it a crisis yet but with every day that passes that there's no king, who has been invited to the throne, then doubts increase," said David Streckfuss, who authored the succession chapter of the semi-official biography – "King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work".
Mr Streckfuss said the last time Thailand was without a king was in 1932, when King Prajadhipok abdicated and it took five days to name King Mahidol. But the succession plan for this transition has been known since 1972, when King Bhumibol named his son as heir to the throne.
Thailand's military Government has sought to reassure the public. "The throne will never be empty," Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said. "Indeed, the new reign began since October 13, 2016."
However, when the National Legislative Assembly met after the King's death on October 13, they did not put forward the Crown Prince's name for acknowledgment and ascension to the throne, as expected. So according to the constitution, the new reign of Rama X has not formally begun.
"We haven't heard from the prince directly, we haven't even heard from the regent directly – it's all second-hand we're hearing from the Prime Minister, so who knows," Mr Streckfuss said.
Most observers still expect the Crown Prince to eventually take the throne, as per his father's wishes.
Thailand's strict lese majeste laws mean there can be no real discussion of royal politics in public, with up to 15 years' jail for those deemed to have insulted the king, queen, heir or regent.
The military Government has repeatedly stressed elections will be held as scheduled next year and that the Crown Prince will be the next king.
However, the Government said the Crown Prince has delegated the building of the royal funeral pyre to his sister Princess Sirindhorn, who is well-liked by many Thais. That is a move sure to fuel whispers of palace intrigue.
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