KSa
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Military coup in ThailandLoic, you are closer to the "epicenter". Can it have any repercussions in the whole region?
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Loic
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I am still very much in the dark like you are. I am waiting for events to unfold: the coup does not have an air of permanence about it. His Majesty has covertly sanctioned the coup so I hope that it would not have a negative impact on the region.
The leader of the coup has promised a fortnight of prevarication at most. We can only adopt a fatalistic approach - ahh, how ironically Buddhist is that?
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greg in noord-frankrijk
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The Thaï army are reasonable, aren't they ? Hasn't the putsched ex-PM raised fierce controversies lately ?
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Loic
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Well Greg, you're partly right. The military coup seems like a blow against democracy for us living outside Thailand. But according to informal census polls conducted by private organisations in the aftermath of the takeover, over 70% of Thais living in Bangkok supported the coup. Their ambivalance towards the military is overweighed by their revulsion of the former Thai PM Thaksin.
Thaksin's powerbase lies in the countryside where he has spent a lot of money on lavish agricultural developments.
But Thailand has become a polarised society since the PM won a very controversial election in April. It is also rumoured that Thaksin has belittled the Thai King although I do not think that there is any foundation to it. All Thai politicians are outwardly servile when it comes to royal patronage as they are uncomfortably aware that most Thais genuinely love and respect the King.
In any case, it is interesting. Thai soldiers are very generous with their cigarette rations - and I am speaking from personal experience!
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greg in noord-frankrijk
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Je ne fais pas trop de soucis pour la Thaïlande —> c'est un pays qui ira loin sans perdre l'essentiel : le bonheur de vivre.
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