Prayut seems confused about left and right

I admire General Prayut. It took courage for him to put himself on the front line by staging the coup. He has the “Happiness” programme on TV to keep people abreast of current events. He is writing patriotic songs to try to reunite the people. 

I like all of this, but I get concerned when he says something off-key, such as: “Thai society is now extremely polarised either right or left and it’s not good.”

Who does the general believe represents the “left” in Thailand? Who is selflessly devoted to the poor, aside from members of the Royal Family? With a large agricultural population, the system of “one-man-one-vote democracy” is likely to bring about a socialist government or a demagogue. The US government would favour the latter. 

To try to satisfy the US and keep control of the economy, the voting system is being fudged to keep the old school in charge of the government. Corruption is waiting on the sidelines.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok