プミポン国王の死に、タイ国民は沿道を埋め尽くして悲しみにくれた（画像）

The Huffington Post | 執筆者： Nick Robins-Early

投稿日: 2016年10月14日 11時56分 JST 更新: 2016年10月14日 13時01分 JST

2016年10月13日、タイ、バンコクのシリラート病院でプミポン・アドゥンラヤデート国王が死去したとの発表を聞き涙を流す女性。ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA / REUTERS

プミポン国王が死去したタイは、国全体が喪に服している状態だ。10月13日に88歳でこの世を去ったプミポン国王は、世界で最も長く君臨していた国家元首であり、何世代にもわたってタイの社会を支えた存在だった。

嘆き悲しむ国民たちは、国王の肖像画を掲げ、タイの首都バンコクの街角で祈りをささげた。国王が治療を受けていたシリラート病院の外に集まった群衆の多くは、王に幸運が訪れることを願ってピンク色の服を着ていた。

プミポン国王はタイで敬愛される存在だった。国王の肖像画はタイの至る所で見かけられ、多くのタイ人は国王を崇拝の対象としてとらえている。

タイは公式には立憲主義の国だが、政府に問題が起こったときには国王が仲裁役として大きな役割を担ってきた歴史がある。70年間に及ぶ在任中、クーデターや政治的な対立が起きたとき、国王は常に政治的な権力を行使してきた。タイは現在、2014年5月にクーデターが発生し、国王の承認を得たのち、軍政の支配下にある。

プミポン国王の死去により、タイは現在、不安定な時期に差し掛かろうとしている。国王に比べて国民からの支持が劣るマハ・ワチロンコン皇太子が王位を継承するのが既定路線だからだ。新しい国王は父親ほど国民や政治に対して強い影響力を持たない可能性があり、影響力の強い影の実力者として、どのような集団や個人が現れるかは予測できない。

タイには不敬罪があり、年長の王族を侮辱したり脅したりすることを固く禁じているため、国王が死去する可能性や王位の継承計画を公に議論するのは困難だった。2015年にはプミポン国王を侮辱するフェイスブック上のページに「いいね！」し、国王の愛犬トーンデーンを皮肉る投稿をした男性が逮捕され、禁錮15年の判決を受けた。

タイが君主の死に直面する中で、国王がいかに敬愛されているか、写真から伝わってくる。

2016年10月13日にバンコクのシリラート病院で、プミポン国王が死去したのちの国民の反応。

国王を慕う民衆がタイのシリアート病院の外に立ちつくし涙を流す。

国王の死に泣き崩れる女性。

プミポン国王が逝去した後の支持者の反応。

タイ国王の肖像画を掲げる人々。同国では深い尊敬を受ける存在であった。

病院の外にいる人の多くがピンク色の服を着て、国王に幸運が訪れることを願う。

プミポン国王の支持者たちがシリラート病院の庭で祈りをささげる。

シリラート病院でプミポン国王の姿を写した写真を掲げる支持者。

プミポン国王は世界で歴史上最も長く君臨した国家元首の1人であり、1946年からその地位にあった。

シリアート病院ので祈りをささげながら感極まるプミポン国王の支持者。

プミポン国王が死去したとの発表を受け涙を流す人々。

プミポン国王の姿を写した写真を掲げる支持者。

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タイ　プミポン国王死去

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People cry after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Thai people cry after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Thai woman cries after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Thai woman weeps as she stands in a line to offer condolences for Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Grieving Thais went to work dressed mostly in black Friday morning, just hours after the palace announced the death of their beloved King Bhumibol, the politically fractious country's unifying figure and the world's longest-reigning monarch.(AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)
A Thai woman holds a portrait of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as they line up to offer condolences for the king at Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Grieving Thais went to work dressed mostly in black Friday morning, just hours after the palace announced the death of their beloved King Bhumibol, the politically fractious country's unifying figure and the world's longest-reigning monarch. He was 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Thais hold portraits of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thais chanted prayers Wednesday as the country's stock market and currency tumbled and the prime minister canceled an overseas trip amid concerns about long-ailing King Adulyadej's health. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Thai people cry after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Thai woman is overcome with emotion and is assisted at Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Thai women cry at Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Thai people cry after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
People react after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A woman cries after Royal Palace's announcement outside Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Thai woman cries as she prays for Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. The royal palace said in a statement late Wednesday that the 88-year-old king's blood pressure had dropped, his liver and kidneys were not working properly and he remained on a ventilator. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
A Thai woman cries as she prays for King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. The royal palace said in a statement late Wednesday that the 88-year-old king's blood pressure had dropped, his liver and kidneys were not working properly and he remained on a ventilator. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2016/10/13: Thai Royalists and well-wishers reacts to the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj hospital announced by the Thai Palace. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's longest reigning monarch and died at the age of 88 after a long illness since several years, he was the most unifying symbol for Thai people and leaving behind him a divided country under military control. (Photo by Guillaume Payen/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2016/10/13: Thai Royalists and well-wishers reacts to the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj hospital announced by the Thai Palace. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's longest reigning monarch and died at the age of 88 after a long illness since several years, he was the most unifying symbol for Thai people and leaving behind him a divided country under military control. (Photo by Guillaume Payen/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2016/10/13: Thai Royalists and well-wishers reacts to the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj hospital announced by the Thai Palace. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's longest reigning monarch and died at the age of 88 after a long illness since several years, he was the most unifying symbol for Thai people and leaving behind him a divided country under military control. (Photo by Guillaume Payen/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Thais embrace at Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
A Thai woman puts her hands together in prayer at Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
A Thai woman reacts, at Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace says King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Thai people react, at Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace says King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Thai women cry at Siriraj Hospital where Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Thailand's Royal Palace said King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)