Politics

BANGKOK — It was 8am when Aswin Kwanmuang got the call telling him to go to the Government House to meet the prime minister. He repeated the words back to the person on the other end of the line, pondering what he had just heard.

Settle in for another smooth jazz ballad from junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha, who just Wednesday dropped his latest single, “Hope and Faith,” a track recorded in advance of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s death two weeks ago.

BANGKOK — The authorities’ crusade against those who defame the monarchy faced a paradoxical response Wednesday: should they stay or should they go?

BANGKOK — Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha reminded reporters Tuesday he has no presence on social media after someone tweeted unkind things about the Malaysian prime minister from a satirical account using his name.

BANGKOK — A man offering “free hugs” to comfort mourners was forced to apologize after an image of a woman doing the same exploded over social media during the past two days, inviting the military regime Tuesday to condemn it as inappropriate.

BANGKOK — Sirawith Seritiwat, a prominent student activist and persistent junta critic, said it wasn’t long after the Oct. 13 death of His Majesty the Late King that soldiers rang him up to ask whether he would engage in any political activities and urge him not to make any moves during the mourning period.

BANGKOK — The military government’s decision to fine Yingluck Shinawatra for 35 billion baht over her rice subsidy program lacks clear legal grounding, a prominent critic of the former prime minister’s policy said Monday.

BANGKOK — The media should avoid writing about politics and instead focus on the work of the government in the aftermath of King Bhumibol’s death, junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said Friday.

BANGKOK — Police on Friday detained a motorist who had threatened to kill anyone defaming the late King in a video online and said weapons-related charges could be filed against him.

BANGKOK — The government urged the public Friday not to believe rumors about possible changes to public holidays next year, saying those associated with the late King Bhumibol, such as National Day on Dec. 5, remain unchanged for now.