Further updated: Fascist Thailand with the King as Head of State

Every day the military junta appears to dress itself as a fascist dictatorship. The leather riding boots, jutting jaws and fake campaign medals are sure to come if they continue on their self-appointed task of destroying all opposition to royalist dominance.

These affectations of fascism are minor affectations when compared with the repression, censorship and the fear the junta instils in opponents.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha is The Leader who must be obeyed. The latest evidence of his incapacity to deal with any whimper of opposition is reported in Prachatai, where the junta has issued its 97th announcement that allows total censorship.

Quite apart from the fact that these fascists have issued 1.67 announcements a day since they illegally seized power, this 97th announcement declares that thuggish authorities “can shut down any media, whether print, television, radio or online, if it disseminates information deemed threatening to the monarchy or national security, or criticises the work of the NCPO.” The NCPO is the ridiculous acronym for the military dictatorship’s junta.

The report points out that this announcement “is similar to the 14th and 18th announcements which prohibit media from interviewing academics and government officials in a controversial way. They also prohibit media from disseminating information that could incite violence or create rifts in society.”

The junta “has also granted to provincial governors, Interior Ministry officials and the police the power to halt any activity that opposes the work of the NCPO.”

Meanwhile, the anti-democrats who worked hand-in-glove with the military to overthrow the elected government appear in delirious rapture with the development of Fascist Thailand with the King as Head of State.

Update 1: The Bangkok Post has added some information to the above account. It states:

In its announcement No. 97 late on Friday, the junta further tightened its grip on all forms of media including social networks.

They may not interview or invite scholars, former civil servants or former employees of courts, judicial offices and independent organisations to give opinions in a manner that may create or escalate conflicts, distort facts, confuse society or lead to violence.

It is also mandatory for them to disseminate all information issued by the NCPO.

As well, they may not propagate confidential information of government agencies whether they are voice, images or video clips.

Provincial governors are also required to stop any assembly in opposition of the NCPO without delay and seek help if they cannot handle it.

If you haven’t got the message yet, it should be clear: this is the most repressive regime since the royalist and palace supported fascism seen following the 1976 massacre at Thammasat University and subsequent military coup.

Update 2: Bangkok Pundit points out an important point in the new announcement that both PPT and the Bangkok Post missed. In his full translation of the junta’s 97th order,  BP observes that the reference to criticism of the monarchy is far broader than even the notorious lese majeste law, applying to all royals.