Abhisit put in his place

The Bangkok Post reports that the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situations (CRES) has “defied Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s wishes by refusing to reverse its ban on anti-government souvenirs” and put him in his place as a subordinate in the military-civilian regime. Abhisit might fight back, but the military-dominated CRES has asserted itself. Army boss the royalist general Prayuth Chan-ocha is letting Abhisit know that he is not in charge.

The souvenirs are said by CRES to “cause disunity and offend the royal institution.” Of course, lese majeste laws would do this, but the military is asserting its power and dominance.

The report adds that “Defence Minister and CRES director [General] Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted the ban, issued last Friday, would remain in effect even though Mr Abhisit believed it violated people’s right to free speech.”

Abhisit is right, but that counts for nothing with Prayuth leading the dangerous rightist-royalist turn.

Advertisement