The king’s haircut

So obsessed is King Vajiralongkorn with the look of “his” mean and women in uniform that it appears he suffers from obsessive–compulsive disorder.

He’s demanded all kinds of changes to behavior, appearance and style for military and police. One of those orders has been for a particular haircut that makes all male police and military look like school boys – perhaps that’s how he thinks of them.

It is reported that the police command has declared that it “will inspect its ranks at random to ensure that the new haircut regulation is strictly followed.”

Gen Apirat as loyal schoolboy. Clipped from Khaosod

It isn’t new. While the report doesn’t say this is the king’s demand, everyone knows it is his order. The haircut is known as the 904, the king’s security code.

A police spokesman said:

the buzz cut – with the sides and back of their heads shorn close but for a small patch of hair atop their scalps – must be adopted by all police officers except those working undercover.

But even then, undercover police must comply with the new haircut when they publicly represent the police force in official capacity…. [E]ach police unit may face a weekly unannounced inspection to look for any violators.

Loyal convicted heroin smuggler has a 904

Further enforcing the king’s will, police officers have been told that their social media profile photos “are also required to change … to reflect the short haircut…”.

It’s madness, but neo-feudal Thailand seems unable to resist a demanding king.