A brew of palace propaganda and a harsh lese majeste law burnished the king’s reputation throughout his reign. As the urn passed by many mourners fully prostrated on the ground, a once abolished practice brought back during Bhumibol’s reign, while others burst into tears. Tumultuous reignFor much of Bhumibol’s long reign, Thailand remained stuck on a carousel of violent protests, short-lived civilian governments and coups. That law makes independent analysis and frank public debate about the monarchy impossible inside Thailand. In effect it means the monarchy “has monopolised the way the Thai public can think about its own political story,” historian David Streckfuss told AFP.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 26, 2017 03:33 UTC