Bangkok, Jul 28 (EFE).- Thailand was celebrating the 72nd birthday of King Vajiralongkorn on Sunday with large events being held amid a tense political climate surrounding the debate on the increased use of the lese majeste, or royal defamation, law.
Salutes near Bangkok’s Grand Palace, candlelight rallies in parks and shopping malls, a procession of royal barges down the river and a solemn ceremony featuring the monarch himself are some of the events being held to celebrate the anniversary.
“It is necessary for all those in relevant positions to fulfill their duties with the aim of ensuring the prosperity and advancement of the nation. This will lead to happiness, progress and security in the lives of the citizens,” Vajiralongkorn said in a speech on a two-meter high throne at an event attended by Queen Suthida.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had asked politicians, officials and members of the public to wear yellow – the color associated with the monarchy – to mark the anniversary, which culminates Sunday after a month of events.
Vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne in 2016, has not inherited the popularity of his father, the revered King Bhumibol, who ruled for 70 years and is popularly considered the father of Thailand.
LESE MAJESTE
The current sovereign, who previously spent long periods in Germany, has lived full time in his country since the outbreak in 2020 of youth-led protests demanding democratic reforms, including to the monarchy, which had previously been a taboo subject in the country.
Authorities met the protests with a tough crackdown. Nearly 2,000 people, the vast majority of them young people or minors, have been charged in cases linked to criticizing the monarchy and other crimes related to their actions in the protests, which have since been quelled.
Among them, 272 people are charged with the crime of lèse majesté, one of the most draconian in the world, under which offenders can be sentenced to between 3 and 15 years in prison, according to data from the NGO Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
A further 152 are charged with sedition, with punishments of up to 7 years, TLHR said.
Many of the defendants are denied bail, leading some of the detainees to go on hunger strikes. Political activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom died in May, aged 28, from a cardiac arrest related to her hunger strike while detained on lèse-majesté charges.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned in August last year after 15 years of self-imposed exile, is also charged with the crime, although not in relation to the protests.
Move Forward, the party that won the May 2023 election and is the current opposition leader, is also facing potential dissolution over its campaign proposal to reform the lese majeste law. The Constitutional Court is due to rule on the the case on Aug. 7
SUCCESSION
The succession process is also murky. The king’s first-born daughter has been in hospital since December 2022, while his only recognized male heir is believed to suffer from a disorder that would render him unfit for the post.
The king has four other sons whom he disowned decades ago. One of them, Vacharaesorn, moved this year to live in Thailand from the United States, which has triggered speculation that he is being lined up to succeed Vajiralongkorn. EFE
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