Over the years, I have noticed people posting on Thai politics and this includes foreigners with little or no knowledge on what exactly is happening.
Firstly its is not even a constitutional monarchy in practice. Its basically a monarchy guised in the form of democracy.
The King decides who actually can form government or remain in government.
The lest Majeste laws effectively prevents any dissent or even discussion on the subject. For decades, the world did not intervene or comment as it was benevolent king who generally looked after his people. His instrument of power has been the army and dynasty decends from the army.
Thaksin made one mistake. He became popular with the rural voters as this has always been the preserve of the King and in particular the queen. Nothing happens to the rural sector without royal blessings with every project either initiated by the royal family or claimed to have been initiated by the royal family.
The present uprising by the PAD is no different from the ones that overthrew Thaksin and led to the coup and martial rule for nearly a year.
When elections were held, the Thai people again elected the same bunch minus Thaksin. The King and army were naturally surprised by the outcome. The "People's" revolution was not exactly the People after all.
PAD does not have the support of the people and its doing the bidding of the King.
By the way, during the 1997 asian financial crisis which actually started in the Bangkok bourse courtesy of Citibank, the king lost a fortune via his control on the Crown Property Bureau whose assets have a marked resemblence in portfolio structure like our own version Crown Properties called Temasek. The best known are Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement. Guess who refinanced the Crown Property Bureau in a one way transaction - the Treasury.
Notice that King who is much loved by the people does not intervene when coups occur except on a few cases. If you know the game, you will know which coups have the kings consent and which does not.
For those who are keen, one good reference is the unauthorised biography of the King by Paul Handley. Very comprehensive.
Firstly its is not even a constitutional monarchy in practice. Its basically a monarchy guised in the form of democracy.
The King decides who actually can form government or remain in government.
The lest Majeste laws effectively prevents any dissent or even discussion on the subject. For decades, the world did not intervene or comment as it was benevolent king who generally looked after his people. His instrument of power has been the army and dynasty decends from the army.
Thaksin made one mistake. He became popular with the rural voters as this has always been the preserve of the King and in particular the queen. Nothing happens to the rural sector without royal blessings with every project either initiated by the royal family or claimed to have been initiated by the royal family.
The present uprising by the PAD is no different from the ones that overthrew Thaksin and led to the coup and martial rule for nearly a year.
When elections were held, the Thai people again elected the same bunch minus Thaksin. The King and army were naturally surprised by the outcome. The "People's" revolution was not exactly the People after all.
PAD does not have the support of the people and its doing the bidding of the King.
By the way, during the 1997 asian financial crisis which actually started in the Bangkok bourse courtesy of Citibank, the king lost a fortune via his control on the Crown Property Bureau whose assets have a marked resemblence in portfolio structure like our own version Crown Properties called Temasek. The best known are Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement. Guess who refinanced the Crown Property Bureau in a one way transaction - the Treasury.
Notice that King who is much loved by the people does not intervene when coups occur except on a few cases. If you know the game, you will know which coups have the kings consent and which does not.
For those who are keen, one good reference is the unauthorised biography of the King by Paul Handley. Very comprehensive.