On 6 April, Newin Chidchob, de facto leader of the Bhumjai Thai Party, set off a ‘caravan of cars’ to distribute 1.5 million photographs of the King to the Thai people across the country.

The activity is part of the party’s ‘My Family Loves the King’ project, which, Newin said, is to help the Thais who cannot themselves come to pay homage to the King at Siriraj Hospital for various reasons.  So the party is bringing the photos along with books for them to sign, and will return the books to the Bureau of the Royal Household to honour the King.

Asked by reporters whether this was exploiting the monarchy to gain votes, Newin said that people could have their opinions, but the party was doing this in good faith and out of loyalty.  Those who criticize should also act, and should ask themselves whether they have ever done anything to show their loyalty, and not just criticize others, he said.