The person whom the Thai king stopped to speak to briefly has tattooed on his arm the king’s phrases of reward to him.
King is god to him
Again in October, the 50-year-old restaurant supervisor, Thitiwat Tanagaroon, appeared within the media highlight for being praised by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
It was uncommon for the royals to work together straight with civilians.
Queen Suthida had pointed the restaurant supervisor out to the king whereas they had been out to greet supporters exterior Dusit Royal Palace.
Thitiwat had caught her consideration as he had earlier held up a portrait of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej whereas dealing with off towards pro-democracy protesters.
Through the uncommon and transient encounter, the king had informed him: “Very effectively carried out, very courageous, I thanks.”
Thitiwat informed Reuters the love he had for the king is identical love he felt for his father and mom.
“For me, the monarchy is god,” he mentioned.
Shifting attitudes in direction of the monarchy
Whereas it was historically taboo to criticise the monarchy as they’re deeply revered in Thai society, younger Thais at the moment are brazenly talking up, defying the powerful lese-majeste regulation that outlaws insults towards the king.
Commenting on the altering attitudes in direction of the monarchy among the many youth, 23-year-old protest chief Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree mentioned it was as a result of they might see that the king is human, not a god.
Protesters disagreed with Thitiwat as effectively.
Responding to Thitiwat’s feedback, a Twitter person mentioned whereas he had no drawback with royalists worshipping the monarchy as their gods, he felt the residents had the proper to criticise the monarchy too as they’re all taxpayers supporting the luxurious life-style of the monarchs.
สำหรับคุณธิติวัฒน์ “The monarchy is god.” ผมไม่มีปัญหาเลยนะ และเชื่อว่ามีคนคิดแบบเขาอีกเยอะ แต่ปัญหาคือ พระเจ้าของคุณไม่ได้ดำรงอยู่ด้วยภาษีของคุณกลุ่มเดียว เราทุกคนจ่ายภาษีให้พระเจ้าของคุณ เราจึงมีสิทธิวิจารณ์ครับ https://t.co/KE2THRQDQh
— Pipob (@pipob69) November 12, 2020
Had not anticipated to be praised by the king
Thitiwat informed Reuters he had by no means anticipated to be recommended by the king, nor face on-line assaults after the incident went viral.
He claimed that whereas there are lots of individuals who love and worship the monarchy, they’re afraid to point out their assist brazenly as they’d get harassed.
Protesters had swarmed his restaurant’s on-line profile and given it poor scores, inflicting it to drop from 4.8 stars to only 1, although enterprise has picked up just lately as extra royalists began patronising his restaurant.
Picture by way of Thitiwat Tanagaroon/Fb
However protesters claimed they had been harassed too.
Tattep mentioned pro-democracy protesters had suffered worse in recent times, equivalent to being prosecuted, adopted, harassed, and put into choke holds.
Nonetheless, he condemned each side for harassing the opposite, saying “there needs to be dialogue”.
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High picture by way of Thitiwat Tanagaroon/Fb
