Cambodian police said on Monday they planned to arrest three suspects for posting an offensive photoshopped image of the country's king that placed him in a gay porn scene.
Earlier this week, the image was posted on some Facebook accounts in both Cambodia and Thailand. The authorities said the image is a rare public insult that has been aimed at King Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch who is largely respected and deemed above the country's political fray.
Thailand is quite strict in handling any such criticism of its monarchy and rules down by giving decades-long sentences. Although, Cambodia's constitution describes him as "inviolable" but, Sihamoni is not shielded by a specific lese majeste law.
General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, said an investigation had been launched to find out the convict. "We have got orders to arrest them. If we don't take action against them, more people might follow their act," he told AFP.
"The king represents the whole nation and they are insulting the king, which is like they are insulting the whole nation," said Sopheak, without specifying which law the three suspects might have broken.
He also added that two of those three suspects were believed to be in Cambodia, while the other one is thought to be in Thailand. If needed, the authorities would surely consider asking for help from Bangkok.
In 2004, Sihamoni ascended the throne following the abdication of his father King Norodom Sihanouk. The observers say that he has ruled quietly as a constitutional monarch and fulfilling a symbolic role as head of state. Unlike his father, he has always stayed away from domestic politics.
