The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) have both released independent statements expressing their condolences after the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
The RCSS/SSA statement, released on October 14, said that the Burmese ethnic the group is deeply saddened by the passing of the king.
“We offer our condolences to the Thai royal family and the people of Thailand,” the statement read.
The Shan army declared that it would fly flags at their bases at half-mast for the next 15 days.
“The RCSS/SSA regularly holds the king’s birthday celebration at our headquarters in Loi Tai Leng and along the border,” said Lt-Col Sai Seng Murng, the spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA.
On October 17, the SSPP/SSA also published a statement.
“On behalf of the Shan people, we express deep condolences to the royal family and Thai people,” it read. “The death of His Majesty the King was a great loss, not only for Thai people but also for Shan people.”
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, passed away at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on October 13 at 3:52pm at the age of 88.
Having been on the throne for seven decades, the Thai king was widely respected, both at home and around the world.
Among scenes of grief, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has led the country since a 2014 coup, declared that the king’s son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, would succeed the throne.
The government also announced that flags would be flown at half-mast for the next 30 days, and that a year-long official mourning period would be observed.
