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Place in National Life

The changes brought about by the successive monarchs and by the 1932 introduction of democracy and constitutional monarchy took a long time to gain the attention of the majority of the citizenry, as the Kingdom encompassed such a vast area with millions of its population living in the countryside. To the majority of the Thais, the changes in the capital, where royal countries in the administration were replaced by a new power structure comprising civil service officials and military officers, meant relatively little. Their basic life style was not affected. Successive shifts in power that followed did not cause a great change in the placid surface of their daily life.

During almost six decades of constitutional democracy, the concept, initially alien to the majority of the people and remaining so for a few decades afterwards, has undergone a long process of refinement and reconceptualization in order to adapt the democratic system to the specific needs of the Thai nation.

The country's military establishment was developed essentially to protect and defend an ethos that is still widely upheld: adherence to the monarchy, practice of Buddhism, and devotion to one's country. Over the years, the armed forces have generally ensured a sufficient level of peace, order, and domestic security to maintain political stability. In this respect the Thai military's place in national life has been like that of many other nations. However, military officers-- particularly in the army--were much more deeply involved in the country's governmental and business operations than were their counterparts in most Western nations.

Seizing power in 1951, ostensibly to protect the country and its traditional institutions from the threat of communist influences, military leaders firmly reinforced the traditional Thai values of peace, order, and security within the political fabric of society. Although military control of the country gave way in succeeding years to democratic periods of varying lengths, the population still regarded the armed forces as an institution that could be relied on when political stability was needed. One result of this attitude was the persistent involvement of senior military leaders in affairs in which the military in Western countries usually are not allowed to engage. It became commonplace for high-ranking officers to pursue military careers while taking an active role in lucrative business activities that in turn added to their influence in national affairs. The military service also became for many a career that provided as much opportunity for political achievement as did the civil service.

Liberal-minded observers deplored the inordinate influence the armed forces had on the country's sociopolitical existence. Such criticism focused on allegations of repressive power tactics, greed, and corrupt practices. Defenders of the military, however, countered that in developing countries these abuses were minor in relation to the armed forces' success in thwarting communist takeovers and ensuring stability. In the late 1980s, the military establishment remained an integral part of Thai society.

On 23 February 1991, the National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), led by General Sundhorn Kongsompong, the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, took over the administration of the country with the objective of strengthening democratic processes through a revised constitution. The takeover of administration was peaceful and widely endorsed by the people and the media.

Instead of retaining power in their hands, as may occur in other countries, the NPKC promulgated a provisional constitution and, after a very brief period, paved way for a civilian interim government headed by Mr. Anand Panyarachun, a bureaucrat-turned-businessman. The majority of the new cabinet was composed of well-respected, experienced technocrats who were well known for their liberal thinking and belief in democracy. The interim government was entrusted with the task of administering the country until a new Constitution is promulgated and a general election is held, scheduled for early 1992.