NOW it is official. Thailand’s military dictator is now also Thailand’s prime minister. At 10.39am on August 25th Mr Prayuth Chan-ocha received the royal command in a ceremony held at the army’s headquarters in the capital, Bangkok. Dressed in a white army uniform, sword at his side, he knelt down before a larger-than-life oil painting of the king. The army leadership appeared in full strength. The press had been shut out but TV stations carried the occasion live. Mr Prayuth has become Thailand’s 29th prime minister—and the 16th army chief to assume the role.