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11/02/2024 11:41:25 am

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Thai Military Leader Panders To Public After May Coup

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha

(Photo : REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom) General Prayuth Chan-ocha speaking on Aug 18 to the Thai legislature.

The Thai military government is going to lengths since its recent coup to appease citizens, including getting out of military garb.

On Monday General Prayuth Chan-ocha addressed the Thai legislature in a politician's suit as opposed to the usual military uniform, prefacing his leave from the military in September.

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The National Council for Peace and Order, Thailand's military government since the takeover on May 22nd, enacted an interim constitution which it claims will lead to democratic reforms in the country, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Critics, however, point out that the interim constitution is designed to keep the military in power.

According to Panas Tassaneyanond, retired Dean of Law from Thammasat University and former senator for the Tak province, the interim constitution does not specify the extent of the democratic reforms or a time frame to either solidify reform ideas or put them into action.

"We just have to rely on the social contract the junta leader has made to the people," he said.

Even though the interim constitution created new branches of government and voted in a new legislature, the military will always have the final decision, Panas said.

The interim government did get a formal blessing from the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, a renowned public figure.

Ekachai Chainuvati, law lecturer at Siam University, is not as bleak in his view, believing that social and media pressures will check the government and force it to hold itself accountable for any wrongdoings, the Prachatai news agency reports.

He points out that a healthcare scheme was cancelled and their grip on media was loosened after concerns were voiced by citizens.

The military's position is that they had to stage a coup to stop the violence between Thailand's major political groups, and after installing a stronger government they will relinquish their power back to the citizens.

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