The death of the world's longest reigning monarch on Thursday has left the nation bereft of its key pillar of unity and seen mass outpourings of grief from black-clad Thais.
But it has also unleashed ultra-monarchist forces, including mobs and online crusaders scouring the web bent on punishing anyone perceived to have insulted the monarchy.
"There is no better way to punish these people than to socially sanction them," justice minister Paiboon Koomchaya told reporters today, as he vowed to "pursue those people who violate the law".
On Sunday a woman on Samui island was forced by police to kneel below a portrait of King Bhumibol in front of a baying mob after she allegedly posted an insulting comment about the monarchy on Facebook.
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She was later charged with lese majeste.
Similar mobs formed on the southern island of Phuket and in nearby Phang Nga province sparked by alleged comments.
Others on social media have publicly berated those deemed not to be sufficiently mourning or failing to wear black clothes.
Thailand's monarchy is protected by a draconian lese majeste law that outlaws criticism with punishments of up to 15-years in jail for each insult uttered.
Prosecutions have surged under the military, who seized power two years ago, with record breaking sentences handed down in some cases.
That has made detailed discussion or debate about the monarchy's role - and its future after Bhumibol's 70-year reign - all but impossible.
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