The new Thai junta has taken the next step after their unconstitutional coup, banning all meetings and other activities by political parties, and demanding that TV stations not broadcast opinions sent in by TXT. I guess they're afraid that someone might raise a voice for democracy - or declare their support for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The latter is a real problem for the junta; as Dr Ngo points out in a guest post on Obsidian Wings, the junta
need to have elections to restore democratic legitimacy BUT they don't have any obvious way to beat the proven power of Thaksin's vote-getting machine.
This is their first move in resolving that difficulty; first they ban politics, then they ban Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, then they hold "elections" in which a major player is forbidden to participate, in order to ensure they get the "right" government - backed of course by the threat of another coup if the people refuse to play along and elect the "wrong" people...
What they dont have is a leader.
ReplyDeletethe opposition leader isn't seen as leadership material.
But what they will do is just scare of Thaksin by saying they will arrest him if he returns probably. trumped up charges really since he just took advantage of a tax loophole the guys who are planning on replacing him created.
Thai Rak thai is a bit like NZ first - they would struggle without their leader. thaksin is seen as someone who gets things done, with the party shaken up and scared and Thaksin to scared to return to Thailand it may well be up to someone else to be the opposition.