Thai police chief tells those insulting royals get out

By Arun Saronchai

BANGKOK (AA) - Thailand's police chief has said that anyone who insults the monarchy should get out of the country, following a rise in lese majeste cases since the death of the country’s highly revered king

On Wednesday, Chakthip Chaijinda told reporters that those who "don't love living in Thailand should just go abroad".

"I don't care if I go into debt, I'll pay for all their plane tickets to leave," he said.

Since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13, there have been multiple incidents of people accused of posting insulting comments about the monarchy on social networks or of having behaved offensively towards the royal family.

With mass wakes for the king continue, many have been targeted with violence.

Chakthip said that police are currently investigating 20 lese majeste cases that have occurred since the king died.

Rights group say the number of prosecutions has spiked amid a period of heightened sensitivity following the death of the revered monarch.