Junta’s record is far better than reported

Failure? The great reform to the new constitution was a success.
Besides that, much has been done in tackling corruption, and illegal encroachment into national parks and forests.
Genetically modified organisms were banned, tax reform has been passed taking the working class out of paying income taxes and putting new taxes on the elite large land holders. Fiscal responsibility has been written into the constitution with spending limits, and political corruption will be met with lifetime bans rather than the weak five years previously. Also very important is the shift to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels (increasing from 6 to 40 per cent of the national supply under the 20-year plan and already doubled). 
There are a couple of areas left to see through. The legal reform for legalisation of medicinal cannabis, about to be passed shortly according to reports, and, potentially, the decriminalisation of other areas remains to be seen. Police reform is another area to deal with.
 But on the whole these past four years have seen a great reform in many areas. 
The economy also has grown by hundreds of billions of baht in cash terms – from 0.9 to now 4.8 per cent GDP growth, which is better every year. Cash reserves in the Bank of Thailand are at record highs as well, and the country has a healthy trade surplus.
Marcus Cesare
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