Thailand in Mourning After Death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The people of Thailand are mourning the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died on Thursday afternoon aged 88.

The country will be in an official period of mourning for one year from 14 October 2016, and flags are to fly at half-mast for 30 days.

Government officials have been told to wear black for the entire year, however the general public has been told to decide for themselves how long to mourn in this way. Most Thais we have spoken to said they will wear black for about 30 days.

The government could also declare a number of unexpected national holidays, and some public events such as concerts, sporting events and festivities have already been cancelled.

In the past, alcohol sales, including the opening of bars and nightclubs, have been restricted.

Hotels and resorts throughout the kingdom - including in-house bars and restaurants are operating as usual, as are airports, public services, shops, hospitals, and restaurants.

Following the King's death, the United Kingdom's Foreign Office (FCO) issued the following travel advice for those visiting Thailand.

“You should respect the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people at this time,” the advisory reads. “Access to entertainment, including restaurants, bars and shopping areas may be restricted and you should behave respectfully when in public areas; if possible, wear sombre and respectful clothing when in public; check local media regularly and follow the advice of local authorities.”

Mr. William Heinecke, CEO and Chairman of Minor Corporation and Minor International, as well as Chairman of Minor Food Group, said, “His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the greatest source of strength and inspiration to all Thais, to countless others around the world and to me and my family personally. His Majesty led by unparalleled example, vision and sacrifice to work for the prosperity of the nation and all Thai people. His Majesty’s humanity and gentle wisdom has touched us all in a way that we cannot express in words. His Majesty will continue to inspire for many generations to come.”

“At this sad time, it is important that we pull together to support each other and act for the greater good of the country. One of His Majesty’s enduring aspirations is the sustainable development of Thailand and Thai people. I am proud of Minor for the part that we play in this and have no doubt that we will all continue to work closely together to honor the legacy and memory of His Majesty the King,” Mr. Heinecke added.

Thailand's lese majeste laws are among the strictest in the world. Because of this, we would recommend people to balance their reading with articles that originate both in the country, as well as outside Thailand. Right now for example, there are some excellent articles in many of the world's most famous newspapers, that unfortunately, we simply cannot link to. The BBC has an excellent article about the lese majeste laws in Thailand if you would like to understand them better.

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