My take.
I've been here for 12 years.
I'm in Samui.
During the difficulties of the C.v.d years, locally, many lost their business and far more lost their jobs.
Thais could always easily find another job.
Samui is a tourist destination, it brought employment for many Thais, northern eastern, southern etc.
At that stage with a different
govern m ENt Thais from all over would have accepted T's return, assuming it would have been an improvement on the previous.
Any thoughts?