Suthep is only the mouthpiece for the slow launch of a miliatry coup. The military with the help of influential others is using Suthep to create an emergency that requires a military intervention to reinstall the loyal subjects, the democrats, as the leading party and at the same time make changes they and the other one in charge favor in the constitution. The democracy of one person one vote is too much of a threat to the traditional institutions in Thailand. A political crisis has to occur in order for the military intervention to appear legitimate locally and internationally. The ongoing use of lese majeste to silence critics is a wonderous thing since the charges can never be revealed. A brilliant way to maintain military control of the country and silence critics while the lapdog democrats provide a democratic cover for the true powers behind the scene.
This is the most insightful comment I've seen on this board in recent days.
Democracy will never work in Thailand as long as there is this alternative power base that sees itself as the true authority. The covert political manipulation that has been going on for decades is frankly staggering.
Frightening too how easily a mass of educated people have been brainwashed by the 'fighting corruption' mantra, as if corruption is something that can be eradicated overnight by decree. Corruption can only be combated by paying adequate salaries to everyone. The money for those salaries can only come from higher taxation. And the money for that taxation can only come from years of economic growth. And I would assume that this kind of economic growth would benefit most from a long-term levelling out of society. In short, it will take decades.
In the meantime, progressive democracy is the best bet. It doesn't matter if a government is good or bad - all governments screw up, even the best of them - the important thing is that it can be voted out if the screw-up is big enough. A non-democratic fascist system of the type being openly promulgated now in front of the Democracy Monument is not only a recipe for corruption on a mega-scale, but will be impossible to remove for a long time. If Suthep gets his way, Thailand is setting itself up for several decades of Suharto-like dictatorship.