Walking through the alleys of this metropolis is a unique experience of contrast and division: poverty and prosperity, power and helplessness, ups and downs, the old and the new, as well as the hot peppers and silky sweet coconut in Tom Kakai Milk soup. Your occasional reporter isn`t the only one to succumb to the allure of this ancient kingdom: Thailand had more than 30 million tourists last year. Despite numerous reports of tourists being raped and killed, the majority of deaths were caused by traffic accidents (83 tourists died in Thailand last year. My colleague in Singapore or my Swedish friend in Thailand has never heard of anyone talking about politics.
Most people seem to have heard that the army is in power, that there is or at least martial law, and that a king is mixed up somewhere. Not surprisingly, he was unwilling to push for the adoption of a new constitution, as he had promised to use it as a step in democratic leadership and the electoral process. But those who wish to enact a basic law that conforms to international democratic standards cannot hold their breath: The draft of a new constitution introduced in February restricts academic freedom and freedom of speech. It also pointed out that the responsibility of the state is to protect Buddhism, not to promote religious harmony
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"(Asia-Pacific UNA) Even if the kingdom does not prosper, it is at least administered under the leadership of the military government. Since it became a constitutional monarchy (rather than an absolute monarchy) in 1932, Thailand is no stranger to rule it and has been for most of the time. Although two military coups in ten years have weakened the country`s position as an investor favorite, it remains the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia with its political free economy, strategic location, and relatively skilled workforce. In recent decades, the poverty rate has decreased significantly, but the rate of decline is highly uneven.
Poverty exists mainly in rural areas, especially in the deep south and northeast, especially among ethnic minorities. Currently, around 10% of the population lives in poverty (just over 7 million), and 80% of them live in rural areas. Universal primary schools can also be enrolled, but the enrollment rate has decreased due to poverty. (World Bank; ADB) In summary, Thailand`s international status appears to have declined.
Furthermore, Thailand is losing its status as a center. Furthermore, Thailand is no longer a beacon of democratic hope in the ocean of a socialist country, nor is it a safe haven for journalists, humanitarian workers, and refugees. During this "Golden Decade" (1988-1996), the proportion of people living in poverty was almost halved, from 65% to 35%. This pause gives neighboring countries a chance to catch up, while Thailand has a chance to plunge into seemingly persistent political instability.
The royal family plays a key part in maintaining national unity, also under the current junta. Coup-maker Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has been described as an ultraroyalist, and defaming the royal family could lead to up to 15 years imprisonment. The challenge ahead is thus a smooth royal succession for maintained national unity, while at the same time holding democratic elections next year to allow for inclusiveness and dissent to be heard. However, the people may have limited expectations for a more inclusive political life soon, with Prayuth believing that his country “…has seen so much trouble because we have had too much democracy.” (International Policy Digest) With this analysis from the top, what might the future bring?
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no one like to talks about politics i guess, unless the person u are interacting with is so keenly interested and the reason behind it In my opinion is that very less people actually likes to politics so one do not know if we talk about politics we could lose the other person.