King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A media rights group Thursday called for the dismissal of "baseless" charges against three people accused of spreading false rumours about the Thai king's health that sent stocks plunging last month. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the three Thai Internet users arrested this month were being used as "scapegoats" for October's drop in the market over concerns about the condition of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. "We call for the charges against these three Internet users to be dismissed," said the RSF statement. "Such accusations are baseless and violate the right to report an economic event after it has taken place. Explaining that the stock ... Read Full Story

A media rights group Thursday called for the dismissal of "baseless" charges against three people accused of spreading false rumours about the Thai king's health that sent stocks plunging last month. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the three Thai Internet users arrested this month were being used as "scapegoats" for October's drop in the market over concerns about the condition of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. "We call for the charges against these three Internet users to be dismissed," said the RSF statement. "Such accusations are baseless and violate the right to report an economic event after it has taken place. Explaining that the stock ... Read Full Story

Thai authorities charged a third person Tuesday with spreading false rumours about the health of the country's revered king, after concerns about his condition sent markets plunging, police said. Somjet Sitthiworakul was arrested at his home near the resort of Pattaya for allegedly damaging national security by posting false information on the Internet, a day after police said they had charged two other people. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is regarded as a demi-god by many Thais and as a stabilising force in a politically turbulent nation, has been in hospital since mid-September with a lung infection and fever. "A third suspect has been arrested ... Read Full Story

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's 81-year-old king appeared briefly in public on Monday to take part in a traditional ritual in the grounds of the hospital where he has been recovering from illness since mid-September. The health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is a source of concern since he is seen as the sole unifying figure in a politically polarized country with a long history of coups and upheaval. Wearing a white jacket over an open, checked pink shirt, the king moved around in a wheelchair, waving and taking pictures of the hundreds of happy, kneeling Thais who gathered to wish him fast recovery. Accompanied by ... Read Full Story

Thailand's king was hailed by well-wishers as he attended a traditional full moon festival Monday, making only his second public appearance since he was admitted to hospital more than six weeks ago. Doctors pushed the widely revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, in a wheelchair so he could take part in Loy Krathong, a colourful festival of floating water lanterns, local television showed. Wearing a pink polo shirt and white jacket, the 81-year-old king lit candles at a pier attached to the riverside Siriraj hospital and aides set them on the water, the footage showed. Hundreds of people had gathered near the hospital to see ... Read Full Story