Thai monarch coronation delayed, regent appointed / 泰王儲暫緩登基 96歲樞密院主席任攝政王　　　　　　　　　　

After the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand's Prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn does not want to immediately succeed to the throne in order to give the nation time to mourn. According to Thailand's constitution, the 96-year-old Prem Tinsulanonda, head of the Privy Council, will act as caretaker of the monarchy. Thailand's heir apparent Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn paid his respects to his late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Bangkok's Grand Palace, where the king's body is kept. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said that the prince does not want to be named king immediately because he needs more time to grieve along with the nation. Therefore, a regent is needed until a new monarch succeeds to the throne. According to Thailand's constitution, the 96-year-old Prem Tinsulanonda, Head of the Privy Council, will act as regent during the transition period. No date has been set for the king's cremation, which in royal families is usually months, if not years later. Officials suggested it would be at least a year. However, Buddhist funeral ceremonies have begun at the Grand Palace complex. Crowds lined up outside the palace, and waited long hours for their turn to offer prayers. ==PHETSUPA CHAIPREDASTRAP, mourner == I can't describe in words how devastated I am. His death is the biggest loss in my life. Since the Thai government declared a year of mourning and asked people to wear black or white, a lot of Thai people have flocked to markets to stock up on black shirts. ==SONGKRAN SOONNERN, clothes vendor == My business just gets better in this period since at the beginning of this year. Anticipating increasing demands for black garments, Thai authorities warned traders not to take advantage of shoppers. They will send inspectors to scour markets for those who do so. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH 泰國國王蒲美蓬辭世，將接掌王位的王儲瓦吉拉隆功前往大皇宮，在他父親靈前點蠟燭祭拜。 瓦吉拉隆功也和泰國總理帕拉育見面，帕拉育也在兩人會談後向泰國人民發表電視談話，表示瓦吉拉隆功王儲為了讓泰國人民哀悼他父親的辭世，不希望立刻登基，因此攝政成為必要。依據憲法規定將由今年96歲，曾任泰國總理的樞密院主席普瑞姆出任攝政王，代替王儲掌管王位。 據了解泰國王室目前還沒有排定蒲美蓬喪禮日期，不過依照過去慣例可能要等數個月以上，甚至有泰國官員私下暗示，可能要等1年以上。而在泰國大皇宮外面，有許多人民排隊要進入哀悼，還有不少民眾對於蒲美蓬的過世感到悲傷。 ==泰國民眾== 我無法用文字敘述我的震驚難過 他的死訊是我人生中最大的傷痛 泰國政府宣布全國進入一年服喪期，希望所有民眾穿著黑白兩色服裝，泰國民眾也搶購黑色服裝，表達哀悼。 ==泰國服裝業者== 這幾天買黑色服裝的人多很多 從今年初算起 這禮拜多很多 泰國政府也警告業者，不要哄抬服裝價格，政府將會派出稽查小組查緝趁機哄抬價格的不肖業者。 記者 綜合報導