BANGKOK (THAILAND) – King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand swore in a new cabinet on Wednesday while urging “order and peace”. However, the monarch remained silent about the recent anti-government student protests seeking reforms in the monarchy.
It is the king’s first public ceremony ever since the staging of two student-led protests seeking curbs on the new powers amassed by King Vajiralongkorn after he came to the throne following the death of his father in 2016.
The monarch blessed the new cabinet, wishing them “good health and wisdom to have the strength to perform your duties according to your oaths”.
Vajiralongkorn also said he sought the “happiness of the people, happiness of the public and order and peace”.
He did not mention the protests some of which violated the “lese majeste” laws against insulting the king carrying a prison sentence of 15 years.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said that the student protests “went too far” because they demanded a 10-point call for reform of the monarchy, which enjoys semi-divine status in the country.
No student leaders have been booked so far for violating lese majeste laws. But two of them have been charged with sedition, violation of coronavirus protocol.
Last month, six ministers had resigned following in-party feud as the government faces the student protests.
The new cabinet members who were sworn in include veteran banking executive Predee Daochai as finance minister and Supattanapong Punmeechaow as energy minister.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
