Anger follows grief over Thai king's death

A Thai woman has been arrested and publicly shamed after allegedly posting disrespectful comments online after the death of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

A Thai woman accused of insulting the country's late king has been forced to kneel before his portrait as hundreds of people bayed for an apology.

The woman's arrest and public shaming on the tourist island of Samui on Sunday is the latest of several such incidents since King Bhumibol Adulyadej's death last week after a reign of 70 years.

Two police officers led 43-year-old Umaporn Sarasat to a picture of Bhumibol in front of Bophut police station, where she knelt and prayed, both on the way into the station and the way out.

The crowd, some of whom held aloft portraits of the revered monarch, jeered when she first appeared. A line of police officers linked arms to keep them from surging forward.

It is likely Sarasat, a small business owner, who is alleged to have posted disrespectful comments online, will face charges of insulting the monarchy.

"We are going to proceed with the case as best we can," district police chief Thewes Pleumsud told the crowd.

"I understand your feelings. You came here out of loyalty to his Majesty. Don't worry, I give you my word."

Authorities are also urging calm as social media throbs with criticism of people who aren't wearing black and white clothing to mourn Bhumibol. A government spokesman said some Thais can't afford mourning clothes and urged tolerance.

There have been reports of price gouging as demand for such clothing has surged.

Tens of thousands of Thais have descended on the Grand Palace in Bangkok where Bhumibol's body is being kept and a year of mourning has been declared by the government.

Several foreign governments have warned citizens traveling in Thailand to avoid behavior that could be interpreted as festive, disrespectful or disorderly.


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Source: AAP



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