Shan armies mourn death of Thai king
The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State
Army (RCSS/SSA) and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) have
both released independent statements expressing
their condolences after the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of
Thailand.
The
RCSS/SSA statement, released on October 14, said that the Burmese ethnic the
group is deeply saddened by the passing
of the king.
“We offer our condolences to the
Thai royal family and the people of Thailand,”
the statement read.
The Shan army declared that it
would fly flags at their bases at half-mast for the next 15 days.
“The RCSS/SSA regularly holds the
king’s birthday celebration at our headquarters in Loi Tai Leng and along the
border,” said Lt-Col Sai Seng Murng, the spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA.
On October 17, the SSPP/SSA also
published a statement.
“On behalf of the Shan people, we
express deep condolences to the royal family and Thai people,” it read. “The
death of His Majesty the King was a great loss, not only for Thai people but
also for Shan people.”
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the
world’s longest reigning monarch, passed away at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on
October 13 at 3:52pm at the age of 88.
Having been on the throne for seven
decades, the Thai king was widely respected, both at home and around the world.
Among scenes of grief, Thai Prime
Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha,
who has led the country since a 2014 coup, declared that the king’s son, Crown
Prince Vajiralongkorn, would succeed the throne.
The government also announced that
flags would be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days, and that a year-long
official mourning period would be observed.
Tags: General, News
