Thai coup holds promise of democracy

In the millennium of Thai history, the distinction between civilian and military servant of the king has barely existed. Certainly for five centuries generals became ministers and ministers became generals. Since 1932, the Royal Thai Army has always had the last word on who governs. There have been short periods of democracy, when the interests of a broader electorate have coincided with corporate Army interests.

That’s one way to look at the coup d’etat that unfolded last week in Thailand. Army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and the military forced out an acting prime minister who, in turn, had taken over after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office this month in an abuse-of-power case. Yingluck, a caretaker premier, had governed by taking orders from her brother, despot and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-exile in Dubai.