Thailand has been suffering from the pandemic (except the country of origin) on an enormous scale. The tourism sector which is the backbone of Thailand’s entire economy accounts for 20 per cent of the national GDP. The entire country has been at standstill, with the famous streets of Bangkok being empty and the sculpture depicting Samudra Manthan at Suvarnabhumi Airport still waiting for its usual influx of impatient tourists. The citizens have been suffering too, the first case of COVID-19 outside the country of origin was Thailand. The tally of confirmed cases lists at 3,371 but suspected cases reach about 5,00,000.
The country, which is a constitutional monarchy held in its place by the iron hand of the military is headed by King Vajiralongkorn. Being the leader and revered as a divine figure, the responsibility lands in his hands for the wellbeing of his subjects. Despite the pandemic, the unloved King was holidaying during quarantine at a luxury hotel in the Bavarian Alps, Germany. He had been at the palatial hotel since the situation worsened in Thailand, in March. According to reports he was being taken care of by an entourage of 100 people including his 20 mistresses. Though the hotel is closed for regular business, he has been on the receiving end of special privileges from the local authorities who are being dearly from the money of the Thai population.
His behaviour in the past, being called a disgrace to the throne in addition to his attitude during the COVID crisis led to the raising of democratic voices on the streets of Thai cities. Activists have described him as a “troubled, sadistic and authoritarian monarch who should have no place in the 21st century” and the people’s movement has propelled the demands for abolishing the monarchy in its entirety.
His behaviour has also invited severe criticism from his host country Germany, which has been his frequent choice for debauchery for decades. The King also owns a villa in the town of Tutzing which faces the picturesque Starnberg Lake.
Even after acquiring the throne, instead of staying in Thailand, the King usually resides in his favourite lodging in Bavaria. Another point of contention for the Merkel administration has been his consistent meddling in Thai politics while staying in Germany. One such incident was his direct intervention by vetoing his sister Ubolratana Mahidol, from running an office. Concerned German politicians have also criticized the King, for instance, opposition MP Frithjof Schmidt called conducting official affairs in Thailand while living in Germany impermissible.
The flamboyant King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkurn has long been the subject of ridicule and reason for embarrassment for the royal house and citizens alike. His eccentric behaviour during him being declared the crown prince and assuming the title of King in 2016, after the death of his father- King Bhumibol Adulyadej went to the extent of appointing his pet poodle ‘Fufu’ as Air Marshal.
His father ruled the kingdom for 70 years and was regarded as the architect for the growth of the country from a backward one to what it has become today. On the contrary, his son has continuously been criticized. From being labelled as a womanizer and gambler, he “neither commands respect nor the charisma of his beloved father”.
The protests in Thailand that emerged after the vacationing king’s actions in handling the COVID crisis, ballooned to a level that the forces had to be deployed in controlling the crowd. International human rights critics consistently criticized the Thai military which gives legitimacy to the King’s rule of barbarism on its citizens. The majority of the protestors which comprise of the younger generation want not just the present King but the entire system of the monarchy to be disposed of. The citizens are also demanding the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, a former army general.
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The street protests also reached Germany with Thai protestors along with their local sympathizers protesting outside the Thai embassy and the Bavarian ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen where he had been hiding from his subjects in Thailand.
The prolonged protests pose a threat to the political structure of the Kingdom where the army, which held a coupe has been the primary force that holds the reigns of the country. The recent protests in Germany against the Monarch has also led to diplomatic discomfort between the two concerned nations.
With his return for official state events, it is yet to be seen as to where the protests demanding constitutional changes and democracy are heard or another quashing by the military on the behalf of the King is to take place. The military is sceptical as it intends to avoid a similar uprising that toppled a military dictatorship in 1973.