Thai King Bhumibol is Dead

[Josquius]

Must suck to have booked  trip to Thailand around now.

[Monoriu]

Must suck to have booked  trip to Thailand around now.

I have booked a trip to Bangkok in January, and I am not too worried.  It probably depends on how your want to do Bangkok though.  I mainly go there for the food and for some shopping, and I am quite confident that my trip will be unaffected.  Whatever happens to the King, they still need to earn a living.  I just don't believe that they'll close the restaurants, hotels and department stores, at least not for long.  But if you focus on the night life, then you'll probably be more concerned. 

[Monoriu]

The coronation of the new king will be delayed by at least a year.

That's a seriously long rehab.

King Bhumibol had been seriously ill for many years.  His death was by no means unexpected.  They must have a plan in place on how to do the succession.  The Crown Prince isn't exactly popular and he knows it.  If he takes the throne now, the contrast with his father will be too great. 

[Josquius]

Must suck to have booked  trip to Thailand around now.

I have booked a trip to Bangkok in January, and I am not too worried.  It probably depends on how your want to do Bangkok though.  I mainly go there for the food and for some shopping, and I am quite confident that my trip will be unaffected.  Whatever happens to the King, they still need to earn a living.  I just don't believe that they'll close the restaurants, hotels and department stores, at least not for long.  But if you focus on the night life, then you'll probably be more concerned. 

You're reasonably well off and coming from Asia. If it does suck you've lost...what, £200 max? As you say your activities are pretty unlikely to be affected too.
I'm thinking more of those working class people from Europe who scrape together the hundreds needed to go on a party holiday over there.


I do recall reading a piece a few months ago where a lady from the Thai government was speaking about wanting to change Thailand's image away from this land of sex, drugs and ladyboys and towards being a more respectable tourist destination. Wonder if they'll exploit this period  towards that end.

[garbon]

I'm thinking more of those working class people from Europe who scrape together the hundreds needed to go on a party holiday over there.

Seems like there are a lot more tragic things in the world.

[alfred russel]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

[Alcibiades]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

Thailand is our ally....  I was just there this past spring to do joint exercises with their military. 

[Tonitrus]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

Thailand is our ally....  I was just there this past spring to do joint exercises with their military. 

I just assumed that was a bad Europa Universalis joke. 

[alfred russel]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

Thailand is our ally....  I was just there this past spring to do joint exercises with their military. 

I don't doubt our top brass finds lots of reasons to schedule joint exercises in places with hot young women at affordable prices.

[CountDeMoney]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

Thailand is our ally....  I was just there this past spring to do joint exercises with their military. 

No shit.  Enough of all this Thai-bashing already.  You want China hemmed in, these are the kind of assholes you have to deal with. 

And I don't know what the fucking problem is with promoting the goddamned dog, either.  I had successfully nominated and named my cat as SAKEUR, and granted it was an ex officio, but still.  No biggie.

[Ed Anger]

With the lower stability in Thailand right now, this may be a good time to declare war. Hopefully Obama is paying attention.

Thailand is our ally....  I was just there this past spring to do joint exercises with their military. 

No shit.  Enough of all this Thai-bashing already.  You want China hemmed in, these are the kind of assholes you have to deal with. 

And I don't know what the fucking problem is with promoting the goddamned dog, either.  I had successfully nominated and named my cat as SAKEUR, and granted it was an ex officio, but still.  No biggie.

I gave Drut the title of Brigadefuhrer after his death. Mew.

[Monoriu]

Hail to His Majesty!  Long Live the King!  Hail to His Majesty!  Long Live the King!

Thailand: Crown prince assumes throne as King Rama X
By James Griffiths and Kocha Olarn, CNN
Updated 1512 GMT (2312 HKT) December 1, 2016

(CNN)After 49 days of uncertainty, Thailand has a new King.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, officially accepted an invitation by the Thai government on Thursday to assume the throne.

The new Rama X will be known as King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindhorndevarangkul. The Chakri dynasty, beginning with Rama I, has ruled Thailand since 1782.

Following the October death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Vajiralongkorn said he needed "time to mourn" before he took the crown.
A temporary regent ruled Thailand during this period of constitutional uncertainty.

Crown prince since 1972

Born in July 1952, Vajiralongkorn was first introduced to the Thai people through his father's home videos, which were shown in theaters across the country.
He was educated in the United Kingdom and Australia before officially being declared crown prince and heir apparent in 1972.

His older sister, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, who is 65, could not ascend to the throne since women are not allowed to become monarch under Thailand's succession laws.

Vajiralongkorn has been married three times -- to Soamsawali Kitiyakara in 1977, Yuvadhida Polpraserth in 1994 and Srirasmi Suwadee in 2001 -- and has two daughters and five sons, only one of whom is officially recognized as a prince.

Uncharted path

King Bhumibol ruled Thailand for seven decades, a time in which the country underwent massive change and turmoil, including war and more than a dozen coups (both attempted and successful).

Bhumibol was seen as a unifying figure, beloved by most Thais and regarded as above politics.

As the king's health faded during his last years, instability and chaos dominated the country. Popularly elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, and another one followed in 2014.

Since then, the military junta has passed two constitutions shoring up its power and weakening its rivals.

Some observers put the tensions down to uncertainty over the looming succession. Bhumibol was seen as a vital source of political legitimacy for all sides, and he will be a tough act to follow.

Reporting on the succession or the royal family is limited by strict lèse-majesté laws, which impose harsh sentences on anyone who defames or insults the King or senior royals.

[Valmy]

I will say nothing bad about this buffoonish king coming to a sham throne while military strongmen dominate his country...in Thailand anyway since I could be arrested.

[Razgovory]

The King's funeral procession. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtZnPlnzcgg

Huge crowds.  Even the nurses lined up outside the hospital.

And if they didn't, how long would they stay employed?

Hey, when your ancient monarch finally croaks, you'll have state-decreed mourning as well, so you're not exactly in a position to feel superior.

I remember back in 2000 when the US forced the Swiss banks to settle with the World Jewish Congress in the lawsuit concerning Nazi gold.  Swiss citizens lined the street, crying as they saw their ill-gotten money carried off.

[jimmy olsen]

The King's funeral procession. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtZnPlnzcgg

Huge crowds.  Even the nurses lined up outside the hospital.

And if they didn't, how long would they stay employed?

Hey, when your ancient monarch finally croaks, you'll have state-decreed mourning as well, so you're not exactly in a position to feel superior.

I remember back in 2000 when forced the Swiss banks to settle with the World Jewish Congress in the lawsuit concerning Nazi gold.  Swiss citizens lined the street, crying as they saw their ill-gotten money carried off.