The eccentric billionaire king of Thailand, one of the world’s richest men with an estimated fortune of $ 40 billion, has been accused of violating international law by running his country from a luxury German ski resort, where he is said to have the coronavirus- pandemic in the company of a retinue of concubines.
Thailand is insisting that King Rama, also known as Maha Vajiralongkorn, visit the country in a personal capacity. But WDR, a German public broadcaster, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung the newspaper has published evidence that he uses Germany as the basis for affairs of state.
In the past 18 months, he has sent nearly 100 letters to heads of state, most from his Bavarian retreat, according to a report of the investigation by The times from London. He reportedly congratulated the Greek president on his nomination, appointed several new generals and banned his sister from running in Thai elections – all from the comfort of the luxury resort.
It is alleged that during his stay he also issued a warrant for the execution of a criminal.
The Thai embassy in Berlin has not yet responded to the allegations.
The king’s extended stay in Germany while conducting affairs of state could violate the principle of territorial sovereignty. Critics are reportedly urging the government to declare him persona non grata in Germany and to issue him with a € 3 billion ($ 3.6 billion) inheritance tax.
Thailand will likely claim that other heads of government settled their country’s affairs while traveling abroad, but the extended nature of the king’s stay will encourage critics who say that ruling from Germany infringes Germany’s rights as a sovereign nation.
Vajiralongkorn’s effective residence in Germany came to light at the beginning of the pandemic, when German hotels were forced to close by the government. The Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl, in the Alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, successfully appealed the verdict, arguing that it would be allowed to continue to host the king.
German leader Angela Merkel has been urged by the Thai opposition to expel him, and Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, has warned the king that he will face “immediate consequences” if he is found to be unlawfully carrying out government duties on German soil. ..
The German conscience has been stirred by reports of the persistent repression of a Thai protest movement against the excesses of the monarchy. Reports of the king’s sex life, eccentric practices like appointing a poodle as courtier, and photos of him in a German shopping mall wearing a tiny crop top didn’t help matters.
The King has long been accused of debauchery and extravagance, and The Daily Beast reported earlier this year that he had allegedly built an extraordinary fleet of 38 jets and helicopters for his use. Fleet maintenance, fuel, ground support and other costs will total nearly $ 64 million for the coming fiscal year, according to documents shared with the Financial times.
Thai law prohibits criticism of the semi-divine royal family or their household, including their pets. Violations are punishable by up to 35 years in prison. However, reports of the king’s indulgent life in Germany are increasingly filtering back to the country on social media.
Thailand earlier this year tried to get Facebook to remove a group criticizing the monarchy that had more than a million members on the platform.
The Thai youth protest movement demands an end to harassment of political dissidents, the writing of a new constitution and reforms of the monarchy.
The country’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism, has been battered by the pandemic, sharpening grievances about the king’s indulgent lifestyle.