On April 6, King Vajiralongkorn signed Thailand's 20th constitution. Charters have come and gone in the country since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, often without much woe or jubilation. While the new constitution was met with similar general apathy, the unprecedented journey it went through offers a rare insight into the secretive new reign of King Vajiralongkorn and his developing leadership style.
The King ascended to the throne on December 1, 2016, a month and a half after his father died after seven decades on the throne. As the nation mourned the much-loved monarch, the succession caused anxiety among the Thai people about the future of the institution and doubts over the new monarch's ability to fill his father's shoes.
Many saw the new King as an erratic playboy more interested in fast cars, parties, and women than in ruling a country that over the past four decades has turned to his father to arbitrate political conflicts. Since his ascension to the throne, King Vajiralongkorn has proved them wrong. The first four months of his reign have seen a forceful monarch, even more hands-on than his father. Yet, while the late King Bhumibol ruled by inspiring love in his subjects, Vajiralongkorn is starting his reign by instilling fear.
King Bhumibol ascended to the throne in 1946, after the mysterious death of his brother, who was found shot in his room. Initially an irrelevant figurehead controlled by military governments and secluded in his palace in southern Thailand, the young Bhumibol started to travel to rural provinces, support local monks and temples, and establish development projects across the country. These popular enterprises laid the groundwork for the construction of his unprecedented popularity among Thais.
Over the following decades, Bhumibol acquired more and more power, cultivating his image as the benevolent and charismatic father of the nation, together with an unprecedented accumulation of wealth and the 1957 introduction of a lese majestelaw which punishes anyone who criticises the monarch with three to 15 years in jail. Even with such policies, his dedication to the Thai people remained, until the very end, a largely celebrated feature of his reign.
A new style of leadership
The same can not be said for his son.Vijiralongkorn spent much of his adult life outside the country enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Europe and since his return to the country, he has shown indifference to the crowd-pleasing rituals established by his father.
Five weeks after his coronation, on January 9, the new King delivered university degrees to students of Rajabhat University in the northern city of Chiang Mai, a practice established by the late King. Vajiralongkorn kept the students waiting for more than four hours. This was only the first sign of his emerging style of leadership.
The following day, Vijiralongkorn demanded changes to a constitutional draft voted on in a popular referendum in August 2016 under a military junta that prevented anti-charter activists and politicians from campaigning. The details of the royal intervention remained unknown during the initial consultations and were disclosed to the public only after the new constitution was promulgated in a royal ceremony on April 6.
The changes provide the King with complete control over the appointment of a regent in his absence, cancel the need for a parliamentary counter-signature to royal orders, and re-establish royal crisis powers which were taken away from the palace in the 2016 draft, including the ability to impose executive and legislative vetoes and the right to dissolve the legislative assembly. Overall, with the new constitution Vajiralongkorn will wield more power over the parliament than his father ever did.
A tighter grip on power
Since he took the throne, the new King has imposed tighter control over the palace's inner circles and the powerful figures who ran it under his late father. In the past four months, Vijiralongkorn has stripped more than 40 palace officials of their ranks, with official accusations that go from behaviour unfit for senior bureaucrats to abuses of power for personal profit, from engagement in politics jeopardising national security, disclosing the late King's personal health record to having lost His Majesty's trust.
Among those removed from their positions in the palace were two important cases: that of Jumpol Manmai, a former deputy police chief and Grand Chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household in charge of security and special affairs; and that of five members of the Vajarodaya clan, one of the most prominent families in the palace under Vajiralongkorn's father. While the five Vajarodayas were quietly removed from their roles and stripped of their titles, the purging of the former deputy police chief was a much more public business.
Jumpol was fired for undisclosed "extremely evil misconduct" - in the words of the Royal Gazette - and went incommunicado amid rumours about his death, a fate that befell two former members of Vajiralongkorn's inner circles, who died in mysterious circumstanceswhile in detention.
A week after his disappearance, Jumpol was accused of land encroachment and appeared in court with his head shaven, a treatment reserved to those who fall out of favour with the new King. His former spouse Princess Srirasmi faced a similar punishment in 2014. After being divorced, Srirasmi was stripped of her titles, shaved, and kept away from the public eye while her parents and four more members of her family were jailed for royal defamation.
Fear has spread within prominent families in the country. A source close to the palace who preferred to remain anonymous declared: "People are developing contingency plans, moving money abroad and putting things in place in case the King turns against them."
A king to be feared
The new king's tighter grip on power has affected not only members of the elites but also commoners. Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, a 25-year-old law student, was arrested and charged with lese majeste the day after Vijiralongkorn's ascension to the throne for sharing a Facebook post of a critical royal biography published by BBC Thailand. The case has been seen as a clear sign of the low tolerance for any public discussion of the new King's past.
Since his ascension to the throne, Vijiralongkorn has demonstrated that power can be waged both by consent and coercion, love and fear. If love - shielded by the draconian lese majeste law - defined his father's reign and commanded respect from his subjects, fear will define the son's reign. Whether the new strategy will work remains to be seen, but fear of the new monarch is something the country will have to grapple with.
Gunmen suspected to be militants on Thursday morning invaded Lagos State Model College, Igbo Nla, Epe, Lagos, abducting the principals and some students. The kidnappers were said to have stormed the school in the early hours when the students were at the morning assembly. The gunmen abducted the principal of the junior secondary school, Mr. Oyesola and Mr. Akirinmade who is the Principal of the senior secondary school. They also abducted some of the students. Presenting the case to the House of Representatives, the member representing Epe Constituency, Wale Raji, appealed to the House to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to treat the case with utmost urgency. The House suspended other proceedings to attend to the matter and asked the police to mobilise and rescue the principals and students. •Sourced from PUNCH.
Popular Instagram model, Kristyna Martelli who is known for her multiple plastic surgeries has died. Reports about her death was posted on her face book page on Wednesday. It was reported that Kristyna died on Tuesday, April 18. It was reported that she died after having a seizure while undergoing more surgery. On her website, kristynamartelli.com, Kristyna listed her height at 5-feet 6-inches, with a weight of 125 pounds. She was born on May 15, 1993. Martelli gave the size of her breast implant as 1800cc, which gave her a 32JJ bra size. She said her buttocks were 42 inches, with a waist only 25.5 inches around.See farewell message left on her fb page below; News Feed
About a year ago, maybe two, police believe a DeKalb County man in his mid-forties died at home. Nobody found him until Friday, when a homeless man who'd been coming by to scavenge as of late spotted the remains, according to police. The homeless man told a neighbor, who suggested the man call police, but he didn't, so the neighbor called Monday. Authorities responded and saw the skeleton through a window of the home on Telstar Drive in the Ellenwood area. It lay in bed. Shiera Campbell, DeKalb police spokeswoman, said the county medical examiner's office is working to determine the cause of death for the man, whose identity hasn't been released. But it may be a challenge. "Right now, they don't even know how long he's been dead," Campbell said. The going theory Monday was that he could've been dead two years. Neighbors told Channel 2 Action News the man's two sisters moved him in about four years ago. Their paren
Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi To President Buhari: Change should start with the National assembly: = A Senator receives N36,000,000 (thirty-six million Naira) monthly. If this is divided into two = N18,000,000 million (Eighteen million Naira). The second half which is N18,000,000 (eighteen million Naira) can be used to employ 200 Nigerians, each earning a salary of N90,000 (ninety thousand Naira) monthly. When you multiply 200 people with the number of Senators (109), this will give 21,800 Nigerians gainful employment. In short, 200 Nigerians will be able to live a comfortable life on half a Senator's monthly salary. A member of the House of Representatives receives a salary of N25,000,000 (tenty-five million Naira) monthly. If this salary is divided in two = N12,500,000 (twelve million and five hundred thousand Naira). The other half, which is the sum of N12,500,000 (twelve million and five hundred thousand Naira) will be enough to employ 135 Nigerians with a monthly salary of N92.500
- A fatal car crash took the lives of two newlyweds and their friends when the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a large truck - According to the police report the driver of the vehicle got distracted and slammed into the truck full speed without even braking - Police are still investigating what could have been the cause of distraction A couple that got married died in a car crash with their two friends only hours after they got married. The couple died just hours after getting married 58-year-old Paul Dockerty and his 57-year-old wife Susan were travelling with two friends in a Suzuki Ignis, when their vehicle collided into a 38-ton truck in North Yorkshire. As a result all four people died on impact. According to the police report the most likely cause of the fatal car crash was that the driver, 63-year-old Derek Green, got distracted and the vehicle crashed into the massive truck. The road where the fatal car crash happened The police officer stated: "We have ruled
HOW TO TRACE A MISSING OR STOLEN PHONE If you lose your mobile phone, you can trace it without going to the police. Most of us always fear that our phones may be stolen at any time. Each phone carries a unique IMEI no. i.e. International Mobile Equipment Identity No which can be used to track it anywhere in the world. This is how it works: 1. Dial *#06# from your mobile. 2. Your mobile phone shows a unique 15 digit. 3. Note down this number at a secure place except in your mobile phone itself as this is the number which will help trace your phone in case of theft. 4. Once stolen, just E-mail this 15 digit IMEI No. to cop@vsnl.net with details as stated below: Your name:____________________ Address:______________________ Phone model:_________________ Make:_________________________ Last used No.:_________________ E-mail for communication:_____ Missed date:___________________ IMEI No :_______________________ 5.Your Mobile will be traced within next 24 hours via a complex system of GPRS a
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil society organisation, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the military to immediately end any monitoring of Nigerians on the social media. SERAP, in a statement yesterday by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale, also called on the president to ensure that military operations comply with the constitution and the country's obligations under international human rights law. Instead of authorising the monitoring of Nigerians' communication on the social media, SERAP called on the president to develop proactive and holistic policies that ensure technology is used to increase both freedom and security of Nigerians and ensure that everyone benefits from digital technology and not criminalised and penalised for using it. SERAP also asked Buhari to focus on promoting open, transparent and democratic dialogue, and protecting those at risk of being attacked for their opinions, instead of monitoring or clampi
According to a H-Metro report, a newlywed couple's marriage is on the rocks after the wife was caught pants down with her boyfriend. Kudazi Juliet Mudema, who was a nurse in Gweru, wrecked her holy matrimony with Progress Walusi after she failed to control her sexual urge resulting in her being caught having sex with her boyfriend identified simply as Lawrence during their honeymoon. Kudazai might have escaped divorce after their honeymoon but still continues to skate on thin ice bedding, H-Metro reports. The incident has since been confirmed by the hubby in the leaked whatsapp chats in possession of this publication. Walusi and Kudazi's sister feature discussing the infidelity matter. The chat starts with Walusi saying: "… I'm hurt, more than hurt, as I am texting you, tears are flowing down my cheeks. The last time yandakachema was in 2009 when my mum passed away. … you know us very well ndichimuregerera you are the best person to testify kuti ndakambozama because I
It is common knowledge that civilians,especially innocent ones are killed on almost daily basis in Nigeria,did I say almost,maybe daily.The ill trained Nigerian police force has uncountable cases of civilian killings to it's credit,thanks to the police authorities who always come out to defend such acts,or turn a blind eye or play deaf to such cases. The Special Anti Robbery Squad,SARS for short is another notorious wing of the police force known to track down deadly robbers and such related issues but also known for illegal arrests,extra judicial killings and many other alleged criminal acts,this time,another innocent life has been cut short. Family sources, friends and neighbours revealed that the tortured man was arrested on Friday, April 21, 2017 alongside four others during a raid at a spot for allegedly smoking Indian hemp.(Even so,is that criminal enough for torture and eventual murder) One of the victim’s co-suspects revealed that
Six dead, tens injured in DEADLY highway crash has claimed six -The accident involved a saloon car and a bus -Five of the deceased were from the saloon car Six people lost their lives early on Sunday morning after deadly accident involving a saloon car and a bus along the Londiani-Muhoroni-Kisumu Highway . The accident occurred when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle and consequently swerved into the other lane, colliding with the Toyota Wish head-on. Five of the six who died on the spot were from the personal vehicle. Tens of passengers were seriously injured following the incident, and were rushed to hospital by onlookers, prior to the arrival of the police. Confirming the incident, Londiani OCPD Joseph Odipo said the management of the involved bus fled soon after the incident and investigations are already underway. File photo of an accident of similar fashion "The brakes of the bus appear to have failed from our preliminary investigations and from the witness a
![Since his ascension to the throne, Vijiralongkorn has demonstrated that power can be waged both by consent and coercion, love and fear. writes Sopranzetti [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ueXcz9zppzxboHTQrbF0noYqh69O7tQaSKWWM79xa929EiXuRSGmgNyIKXFhcrCxTErddKQU_mJj6UoVF0snZFO2oXyLV7LaeULbE81lFl9yko4YNF1aDh_Uhr27GqcbyRacQ7th99FirRf2Z-AkI8rteJlay8V7F40ZnAJuJSVyWZVf1yXVKB2eEwviFoY53bqnO45hMHXJzo=s0-d "From love to fear: The rise of King Vajiralongkorn")
![Since his ascension to the throne, Vijiralongkorn has demonstrated that power can be waged both by consent and coercion, love and fear. writes Sopranzetti [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]](http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2017/4/11/aa20c14749c4495cbec71b61bf5f784e_18.jpg "From love to fear: The rise of King Vajiralongkorn")
Comments
Post a Comment