His Majesty the King stopped road closures for royal motorcades long ago and has advised police to let general vehicles share the roads with motorcades, according to the Ministry of Defence.
His Majesty was concerned about the impacts of royal motorcades on the public and that is why he requested that road closures be abandoned, a ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
The King instructed the Royal Thai Police to set guidelines for traffic, with lanes designated for royal motorcades and other vehicles, the spokesman said.
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang said the Defence Council on Thursday discussed the controversy surrounding a Feb 4 incident in which two political activists honked their car horn and argued with police who had stopped them during a motorcade for Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and Natthanon “Frank” Chaimahabud have been detained on charges of sedition, among others, and denied bail.
Mr Sutin said he had ordered the armed forces to prevent such an incident from recurring.
“Protection for the royal institution is the most important issue,” he said. ”The armed forces will do whatever it takes to prevent such an incident from recurring.”
