Thailand faces new coup

In the latest round of musical chairs, the military in Thailand quietly took over on May 20 while denying that a coup has occurred. This is the 11^th successful disruption by undemocratic forces in Thailand since absolute monarchy was abandoned there in 1932, though a king still exists whose criticism could and has landed government officials in trouble. The justification the military has given is that a “1914 law gives it the authority to intervene during times of crisis,” which essentially makes the civilian administration subordinate to the junta.

This is an argument we are all familiar with — the justification of such interventions by undemocratic forces on the grounds of populism and ‘to protect the public and maintain order’. It’s ridiculous how the junta denies a coup while soldiers roll into the streets of Bangkok and shutter some private media outlets. The last military seizure Thailand faced was not too long ago in 2006 when former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted; the country has faced an off-and-on turmoil since then. Mr Shinawatra was sent packing on accusations of abuse of power and disrespecting Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej — the longest serving monarch in Thai history. Last year, then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, had dissolved the lower house amid anti-government protests. Yingluck was sent packing earlier this month by the country’s Constitutional Court.

Thailand has essentially not had a government for the past six months and the country’s army chief has deflected all questions regarding the holding of elections. The Thai people shouldn’t fall for this. There is no doubt that the country has been stuck between a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, but if unconstitutional forces think they can suppress political freedoms in an age where social media exists, they are certainly in for a surprise. We hope that elections are held so that civilians can regain control once again through an elected mandate and that Thai courts step up and block all undemocratic attempts by anyone to retain power.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2014.

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