In this period when the aged King of Thailand has been sick in hospital for many months, lots of Thais are
unhappy at the prospect of Wachiralongkorn becoming the next Head of State. If Wachiralongkorn were a
private individual his personal behaviour should not be under public scrutiny, except for cases where he
might have committed a crime or encroached on other peoples’ rights. But he is being groomed to be the
next Thai Head of State and therefore his character and behaviour should be a public issue, unless of
course all Thais are regarded as slaves.

Why do Heads of State exist? In some cases, like Presidents, they have a varying degree of power. If
Wachiralongkorn wants political power as a Head of State he should stand for election in a free and fair
democratic poll. Where powerful Heads of State pass on their positions to their sons, they are generally
found in tin-pot dictatorships like North Korea.

In some countries, like Britain or Japan, Monarchs as Heads of State, are ceremonial, symbolic or
claimed to be the heart of the Nation. They have no power. But they claim to represent the Nation and
Society. Wachiralongkorn does not have the qualifications to represent anything good about Thai society
and is therefore unfit to be Head of State. He should be transformed into a private citizen.

Wachiralongkorn never did very well at school or college. Maybe he was not interested in studying. That
would not be a problem if he were a private citizen. But a Head of State should take an interest in society
and should be able to hold a reasonably intellectual conversation with politicians from Thailand and other
countries. Wachiralongkorn cannot do this. Just ask the diplomatic community in Bangkok. A Head of State
should also protect Democracy and Human Rights. Wachiralongkorn made a speech supporting the Village
Scouts on the 6^th October 1976 after they committed acts of barbarity at Thammasart University.

A Head of State should have some basic manners when conducting himself or herself in public. Yet
Wachiralongkorn is known to have driven his jet on to the runway at Bangkok airport to block the plane of the
Japanese Prime Minister. This was over a personal grudge. At a high level dinner in Thailand,
Wachiralongkorn allowed his dog to run up and down the high table, sniffing and licking food off the plates
of Thai and foreign guests. It did not occur to him that this was a problem. And we have not even considered
the various rumours about his thuggish activities which ought to be publically investigated in a just and
transparent manner before he takes up any public positions.

If Wachiralongkorn were to be Head of State, he would be representing over 30 million Thai women, half
the population. We should consider his image, inside Thailand and overseas, concerning his attitude to
criticise his son, despite the public knowledge that he is being groomed to be the next King. Military backed,
Oxford and Eton educated Prime Minister Abhisit supports the succession of Wachiralongkorn without
question. So do all the elites, at least in public.

Remember that in Thailand people are forced to stand up and show respect to the Head of State. People
must crawl and use Royal Language. They must pay taxes to support the Royals’ rich life-styles. They must
wait in snarled-up traffic as the Royals rush past. In schools children must repeat that the Royals are
wonderful super people. But Wachiralongkorn is not
a suitable role model for young Thais.

All this means that Taksin is mistaken when he
hopes that Wachiralongkorn will be a good
democratic King, unless he thinks Wachiralongkorn
will refuse the crown and opt to be a private citizen!

Do not condemn Wachiralongkorn’s women
When we see their nude pictures, remember who
has power over them. Forgive their mistakes. Posing
nude to show off one’s beautiful body is not immoral
nor a sin. It does not destroy Democracy either.

But why are these pictures released to the Thai
public on the internet? It is hard to guess what goes
on in Wachiralongkorn’s depraved mind. He is so
alienated that he does not know how to respect
women. The release of these pictures is not an
accident. They have been coming out at regular
intervals for years. Maybe he wants to destroy their
dignity and show that he is boss. Maybe he wants to
show off that he can “pull” beautiful women. Maybe
he feels he is so powerful that no one can touch him
and he can do what he likes. In other words he
doesn’t give a damn. That is a very strong reason to
reject him as a Head of State.

Wachiralongkorn should become a private
citizen. He should get a job, pay tax and do his civic
duty. Then we can ignore his private behaviour.

Thailand should be a Republic.

Giles Ji Ungpakorn