Why the clothes you wear is a black and white issue in Thailand right now
Authorities are urging calm as social media throbs with criticism of people who aren’t wearing black and white clothing to mourn the revered monarch and some arch-royalists take to reprimanding people in public
The unprecedented outpouring of public grief over the death of Thailand’s king has begun to show signs that it could turn nasty after a series of incidents in which angry citizens have turned on those perceived as not showing the correct levels of respect to the late monarch.
On two occasions since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej last Thursday mobs of angry people have gathered to demand summary justice under Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws which are designed to prevent behaviour and speech critical of the Thai royal family.
Both incidents took place in the south of the country, one in Phuket and the other in Koh Samui. Military and civilian police dispersed the mobs on both occasions.
In another sign that high-running emotions were threatening to turn nasty, the Prime Minister of Thailand’s military government, Prayut Chan-o-cha, moved to calm down growing discontent among people angry at their fellow countrymen and women for not wearing black or white during the official mourning period.
