Thai authorities have charged a teenager with violating the lese majeste law for two Facebook posts she wrote about the monarchy when she was only 14 years old. https://apnews.com/article/thailand-monarchy-defamation-protesters-973ffe721c34335e1d30eb9273cb5ed9
@sarahemclaugh
The Thais I've known do indeed take their royalty seriously. They even celebrate his birthday as a family event.
@mikefordays @sarahemclaugh
I did not know that. Worked for a Thai-owned restaurant about thirty years ago and the king's birthday was a huge deal, where the owner came in and distributed gifts to everyone-- including a new Toyota, so he wasn't cheaping out.
I'll do a little internetting to see if I can discover some the the shifts you mention, thanks!
@AndyLowry
The previous king was on the throne from like 1945-2016 or something. His image was carefully controlled, and his popularity near universal. His son, the current king enjoys nothing of the sort.
@sarahemclaugh
@mikefordays @sarahemclaugh
Ahhh, yeah, that would definitely have been in the elder's era, like 1999 or so.
@AndyLowry
There has been a seismic shift in Thai attitudes toward the monarchy in the last 10 years.
@sarahemclaugh