Turmoil and Civil Unrest Awaits Thai King's Death

"Turmoil and civil unrest", that is what many analysts anticipate happening in Thailand after witnessing how the Thai stock market plunged to record levels, on rumours that the thai king's health is touch and go. According to Reuters, Bhumibol is recovering from "pneumonia".

Only a few weeks ago, the Royal Household Bureau was claiming that the king had nothing more than a "slight fever". Is it any wonder then, that foreign investors are panicking about their investments as they begin to learn the real truth?

So what does the future hold for Thai people after their king dies? According to a separate article in Reuters, Thailand will experience a "prolonged period of turmoil and even significant civil unrest". In other words, more chaos and violence.

The issue of royal succession is further complicated by the political divisions between "Red shirts" and "Yellow shirts". This conflict exists because of the Thai king's political meddling in 2006, when he endorsed an illegal military coup, which saw Thaksin Shinawatra pushed out from power.

Many Red shirts would not accept the Thai Crown Prince's (Maha Vajiralongkorn) as their king if he endorsed a similar coup against yet another democratic government. Hence, the dangers of even talking about the succession in Thailand.

But some foreign journalists are already talking about a possible "regent" composed of Queen Sirikit and General Prem Tinsulanonda, which would exclude The Thai crown Prince, until his son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti came of age. This would create conflict and divisions among Thai people.

Certainly, what awaits Thailand is no tea party. Turmoil, civil unrest between the different political factions, and a stock market crash all seem likely, as the Thai royal family and the Thai elite struggle to hold on to power using the armed forces to keep control.

Bhumibol Adulyadej is no longer the "glue" holding Thailand together. That job has now passed to Thailand's draconian lese majeste laws, without which Thai people would speak openly about their divided royal family, and bring Thailand's Chakri Dynasty to a sticky end, just as Nepal´s royal family came to an unceremonious end.

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