Thailand’s former King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-serving monarch, will be cremated on Thursday, over a year after he died.
While millions of people are mourning the revered monarch, who ruled for 70 years, Thailand's military government is ramping up its crackdown on people insulting or criticizing the royal family.
Over the past three years, more than 100 people have been charged or convicted for violating the country’s strict draconian lèse-majesté law (violating the dignity of a ruler), which forbids insult of the monarchy.
The military leadership says some sort of democracy will return next year, but there is no indication that will mean freedom of speech when it comes to the monarchy.
Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from the capital, Bangkok.
Mourners have gathered on the streets of the Thai capital, Bangkok to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body from the hospital to the grand palace. Many people are overcome with grief at the 88-year-old monarch’s death.
