Going backwards VII

We have previously posted on Vajiralongkorn’s efforts to erase Khana Ratsadon’s art deco architectural style on Rajadamnoen Avenue.

In recent days, this politicized royal vandalism has been discussed by Nuttaphol Meksobhon at Prachatai. As stated there:

the façades of distinctive buildings along the road are being remodelled. Among them are the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, the Deves Insurance building, and the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre.

Built by the People’s Party, the revolutionary founders of Thai democracy, these structures are part of the 21 Art Deco–style structures – initially called modern buildings – situated along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road.Their design was not only meant to convey luxury and technological progress but also the revolutionary ideals that accompanied the birth of Thailand’s constitutional monarchy.

There’s additional concern that the Democracy Monument may becomes a royalist target.

Clearly any references to the old People’s Party and democracy irk the king. He was brought up on family tales of how the revolutionists attacked and demeaned the monarchy, and he’s undoing all of that including erasing symbols of Khana Ratsadon.

We won’t summarize further, but this is a really good and thought-provoking article about long-held royalist hatred of the early People’s Party, now transferred to the new progressive one.

The royal penchant for restorationism has been on display elsewhere too: in the relationship between the military and monarchy.

Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, Commander of the 2nd Army Area, has been at the forefront of the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia conflict, repeatedly goading the Cambodian side by pushing his troops into disputed areas. Of course, it was Boonsin that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra mentioned as being a foe in her ill-fated call to “Uncle” Hun Sen. Because of that he was an instant hero for ultra-royalist Shinawatra haters.

Boonsin has also had his royalism on display. With the civilian coalition government in disarray and much weakened, as Prachatai recently reported, Boonsin let it be known “that King Vajiralongkorn has been receiving daily updates on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation.” He went on to say “that the King was simply continuing the monarch’s longstanding role as commander of the armed forces…”. Of course, this is not “simple” as the king’s role is meant to be ceremonial, but Boonsin makes it clear that the idea that the king is the military’s commander has taken hold among senior generals. We knew that, but here it is on display, again erasing changes previously made by the 1932 revolution. Readers may shrug and say that this has been the aim of all the royalist prime minister-generals of recent decades.

Boonsin explains royalist nationalism in the military:

I thank the Thai people for rising with a wave of nationalism and a desire to protect the land, something that had been distant for so long. Therefore, goodness and sincerity towards the nation and the land will overcome everything. We don’t need to say much. Being loyal to our ancestors and the monarchy, these are the values that will bring Thailand back again…

In fact, modern-day military commanders usually spend far more time displaying loyalty to the king than they do to protecting frontiers. That’s how it was before 1932.