Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has prohibited public offices from removing the pictures or portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej until further notice.
All state agencies must not remove the pictures featuring the late King, as well as those of Queen Sirikit, and must keep them in good condition, Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, quoted Gen Prayut as saying.
"If they come with text such as 'Long Live the King' or the Pali version of it [Teeka Yuko Hotu Maha Racha], it may be changed appropriately. If they are to be replaced or decorated with black or white ribbons, the changes must be quickly made and the pictures put back without delay," he added.
Lt Gen Sansern reaffirmed the government had never ordered the removal of the portraits as shared by some users in social media. Users should refrain from sharing such information without sources. If they have questions, they may call the 1111 hotline or public offices.
A day after the King's passing, a snapshot of a large portrait of the King at the Victory Monument in Bangkok being brought down by workers made its rounds in social media. The poster, as well as those who shared the post, felt it was premature. It later turned out the workers took it down so they could decorate it with appropriate mourning colours and ribbons. They never intended to remove it permanently.
