Date: June 10 (Tue), 14.00-16.00, 2014
Venue: Tonan tei (Room No. 201), CSEAS, Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, Kyoto University

Title: Thailand’s 2014 Coup: Happiness Amid Anxiety

Speaker: Professor Charnvit Kasetsiri, Former Rector of Thammasat University and Visiting Research Scholar at CSEAS.
Associate Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun, CSEAS

Abstract:
On May 22, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha staged the 19th military coup – 12 of them successful – since Thailand abolished the absolute monarchy in 1932. The reason this time was supposedly to restore peace and order after long months of relentless protest. A number of people have been arrested and members of the media were ordered to report to the military. Ominously, this does not look like the coups of the past. In the aftermath, the military has begun a process of establishing itself as the sole sovereign of the Thai nation and looks as if it means to stay there for a long time. Borders have been closed amid a dramatic clampdown. General Prayuth has ordered the dissolution of the Senate, taking full control over the executive, legislative and judicial institutions, and transferring the police chief and the head of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to inactive positions and appointing himself interim prime minister. Simultaneously, Prayuth has issued an order calling 35 politicians, academics, writers and political activists to report to the authority. This is the first time that academics have been forced to surrender themselves and to curtail their freedom of expression. Amid these tough measures, the coup makers have promised to bring happiness back to the Thai people, but with a little talk about how to further promote political reforms and democratization.

This presentation will focus on the current political crisis in Thailand, intensified by the latest putsch. Arguing that the anxiety felt by the coup leaders about their uncertain future during this royal transitional period, the speakers will discuss the grave political situation, exploring the real causes behind the coup, and dealing with a question of where Thailand will go from here.