King's death, succession will not interrupt return of democratic rule, Thai leaders say

Thailand's junta sought onTuesday to reassure the country that the death of King BhumibolAdulyadej last week would not upend plans for a return todemocratic rule, which include a general election in late 2017.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also moved to quashuncertainty around the royal succession, saying that a newmonarch could ascend to the throne after 15 days of mourning.

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Doubts arose after the head of the advisory Privy Councilwas asked to stand in as regent until Crown PrinceVajiralongkorn becomes king. The prime minister said last weekthat the prince's coronation would take place after thecremation of his father, which will follow a year of mourning.

Theroadmap is the roadmap. Prime MinisterPrayuthChan-ocha

However, the prince can become king before his officialcoronation, and Prayuth's comments appeared to be aimed atcooling speculation that the throne might be empty for aprotracted period.

King Bhumibol was seen as a stabilizing figure in a countryoften racked by political turmoil.

"On the matter of succession, in accordance with theconstitution, citizens in Thailand and abroad should not beworried or concerned," Prayuth told reporters after Tuesday'scabinet meeting.

"After at least 15 days of mourning, it will be theappropriate time to enact section 23 of the constitution," headded, referring to clauses relating to the succession.

'Nothing has changed'

The junta, which seized power in a 2014 coup, has laid out a "roadmap"for a return to democracy under a constitution thatwas endorsed by a referendum in August, with an election thatwould be held late next year.

There had been speculation that the election might be pushedinto 2018 because of the one year of mourning for the king.

"Nothing has changed," Prayuth said. "The policies of thisgovernment, the laws including elections will be accordingto the roadmap. Don't ask me when or how it will occur, theroadmap is the roadmap."

The government says the constitution will restore stable,clean politics after a decade of turmoil stemming fromconfrontation between populist political forces and themilitary-royalist establishment.

Two military takeovers and outbreaks of deadly civil unrestover the years have stunted growth in Southeast Asia'ssecond-biggest economy.

Critics, including major political parties, had denouncedthe constitution before the vote, saying it would stifledemocracy by giving unelected lawmakers, including thoseappointed by the military, veto power over elected governments.

The death of the revered king after seven decades on thethrone has raised sensitivities across the nation.

Tighter media restrictions

The government has tightened restrictions on the media andon Tuesday said it would ask other countries to extradite peoplesuspected of insulting the nation's monarchy.

Criticism of the monarch, the regent or the heir, known bythe French term lese majeste, is a crime that carries a jailsentence of up to 15 years in Thailand.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya told reporters thegovernment was tracking six high-profile lese majeste suspectsliving abroad, but conceded that there were significant legaland diplomatic challenges around seeking their extradition.

The junta has urged citizens to report cases of lese majesteto authorities, and is has also asked internet service providersto monitor content and block inappropriate material.

Some Thais have taken the matter into their own hands. Aseries of videos has surfaced online in recent days showingangry crowds around the country mobbing people they believed hadinsulted the monarchy.

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