King Bhumibol has passed away causing much grief and uncertainty in Thailand. The country has long been divided from political turbulence and coups. The King was the only unifying figure that Thais could identify as a whole with. He was a ceremonial figure, but wielded much influence over the nation's politics. Thailand since 2006 has been through various tumult. Thanskin Shinawatra known for his corruption was removed by the military. His sister Yinluck came to power, but was also overthrown by a coup. It is unclear whether she is completely guilty in the rice subsides scandal, but the main reason she was removed was that she attempted to give her brother amnesty. This plunged Thailand into chaos and out of that chaos came general Prayut Chan o -cha. King Bhumibol was a pillar of stability since 1946 and remained a constant factor during periods of violence. Communist insurgency and the activity in the Golden Triangle drug trade were constant problems. The challenge now is what happens next. The government is under control of the military and the only unifying figure of the country has passed. It is clear that Prayut Chan o-Cha will use this period to consolidate his power. The Thai monarchy could disappear or further slip into political irrelevance.
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