Bangkok: Thailand’s late king bhumibol adulyadej will be cremated on october 26, a government official said on wednesday, adding that the king’s funeral will take place over a five day period.
Confirmation of the cremation date sets a timeframe for the coronation of bhumibol’s son, king maha vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne in december but whose formal coronation has been put on hold until after his father’s funeral.
Political observers say the new king’s coronation will formally kick-start politics following a year-long mourning period and a general election should follow soon after.
“The palace has confirmed that the king agrees with the government’s plan. The cremation day will be october 26,” a senior government official, who declined be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, told reuters.
“The funeral will take place over a five day period,” deputy prime minister wissanu krea-ngam, told reporters on wednesday.
King bhumibol died in october 2016 at the age of 88 following a long illness.
His death ended a seven-decade reign that saw the king become a rare unifying figure in an otherwise deeply polarized nation.
Thailand has been ruled by a junta since a 2014 coup which saw the military wrest power from an elected civilian government.
The military has said the coup was aimed at ending months of unrest. (Reuters)
