3 replies to this topic

[Hedda]

The Economist this week has an interesting anaylsis of the continuing role of the Thai Army in running the country. They characterize the present Abhisit administration as "military rule with a civilian fig leaf." They also compare it to the faux democracy of the years when General Prem served as the country's post-coup prime minister. To quote: "The army has all the legal tools it needs to keep civilians like Mr Abhisit in line, without the bother of having actually to run the country."

The article points out that, contrary to the trend in many Asian countries to tame the military's role in politics, the Thai military seems to be getting everything they want these days in the way of appropriations and influence: fat and happy. One of the interesting comments about the Thai military:

"Successive civilian governments have failed to overhaul the 300,000-strong armed forces. They still have several hundred active generals, many without even a desk. The tally of 36 four-star officers is just behind America’s 41. But America’s army is four times larger—and at war."

There are some other comments in the article that just might make this issue of the Economist unwelcome for distribution among Thailand's ever-vigilant monarchists. It's a role that the Economist seems not to mind.

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displa...ory_id=14456895

[Harold]

Successive civilian governments have failed to overhaul the 300,000-strong armed forces. They still have several hundred active generals, many without even a desk. The tally of 36 four-star officers is just behind America’s 41. But America’s army is four times larger—and at war.

No wonder they have so many coups. These generals have got nothing better to do.

[DOLLY]

I read once in a British publication that the Thai army has the highest ratio of generals to troops of any army in the world. It seems strange at first, until you remember that with all the coups the army has staged, they have to have enough generals to run both the government and the army at the same time.

[Bob]

For those that missed it, the military when they were in direct charge following the coup essentially doubled their military budget. Nobody ought to be shocked, though, as it's purely the Thai ways for decades (the powerful and elite essentially stealing from their own nation and people).

When I see a multi-million dollar joint on the ocean owned by some army colonel, read about ex-General Surayud building his cottage on national park property he essentially stole, etc., I have absolute disgust for the Thai governmental/military system; however, it's not my country and I'm actually sadder that the Thai people simply don't know, don't care, and/or don't have a clue about what to do about it.