Thailand in 2023: Conservatism in Disarray

[webfact]

When Prayut Chan-o-cha was prime minister, he penned at least ten singles. None, of course, was more famous than his debut with “Returning Happiness to the People,” a song that was endlessly played on the airwaves in the aftermath of the 2014 military coup. His other singles garnered relatively little attention.

 

One of those relatively neglected songs was a piece called ‘Saphan’ (“Bridge”), which was apparently inspired by one of Prayut’s favorite songs, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon & Garfunkel. “I’m ready to be a bridge,” the lyrics go, “so that you can cross over to the endpoint you dreamed of.” 

 

The endpoint that Prayut was thinking about probably did not quite align with what eventually ended up transpiring. The Prayut era was meant to be the fortification of one particular conservative vision of Thai politics: a new era where the unpredictable pressures of democracy could be guided and channeled towards predetermined paths. One where corrupt politicians could be permanently contained and prevented from ever taking the reins of power. 

 

The 2023 election results have led to a major rethink of these goals. Not that Thailand’s conservatives have never had to make concessions, the moral in partnership with the gray. The Democrats had always needed their political operatives, one that contrasted with the clean images of their leaders. No, that is par for the course in Thai politics. What we speak of here is different: the scale of the grand compromise that Thai conservatism has had to make this year was truly extraordinary.

 

The party that Prayut had played such a role in forming, the United Thai Nation Party, now sits in coalition with Pheu Thai, the very party in its successive incarnations that the military had twice overthrown. Thaksin Shinawatra, supposedly a mortal enemy, returned to Thailand even before Prayut’s premiership was terminated. Now he is comfortably ensconced on the 14th floor of the Police Hospital. 

 

by Ken Mathis Lohatepanont

 

Full story: THAI ENQUIRER 2023-12-26

 

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[2baht]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

he penned at least ten singles.

I really liked "I'm Laughing at you, Somchai"!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

None, of course, was more famous than his debut with “Returning Happiness to the People,”

The flip side was ten years of misery...

[spidermike007]

What ever happened with the Cha Cha promises to root out bad apple immigration guys, on the border? They likely let in thousands, to line their greedy pockets, during covid. How about the cops, immigration and customs? Zero reform. What about the biggest joke? Alot of grandstanding and publicity hounding, without results. All a big show. Prayuth did not care at all, on any level, about anything other than his own enrichment, and the vintage of ridiculously expensive champagne he is able to select from his wine cellar. 

 

There is no saying the extent of the corruption in his, and the current administration, but the army is not exactly known for integrity.

 

Edited December 26, 2023 by spidermike007

[2baht]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Prayuth did not care at all, on any level, about anything other than his own enrichment

His influential buddies were on the gravy train too!