5 - Remobilization of the Royalist Mass Since 2006

Summary

Chapter 4 has outlined the original idea and objective of state-dominated mass organizations from the counter-communist period until the semidemocracy period. This chapter will focus on the remobilization of the royalist mass since the toppling of the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra by the 2006 coup. I will discuss the reinvigoration of the remnant organizations from the Cold War era, the creation of new groups and programme, their targets, the ruling elites’ objectives and the reasons for joining state-sponsored mass organizations.

The policy of the semi-democracy regime to maintain the military-dominated mass organizations, despite the fall of the CPT, proved beneficial to the conservative elites when they faced new political threats. They could switch on the mass control programme immediately. The moves to remobilize, expand and strengthen their popular base began after the coup in 2006. They targeted a wide range of people from villagers to urban professionals, business and religious groups, the old and the young. Royalnationalist ideology remained the central theme for cementing people into a state apparatus, along with many material benefits for members of the mass organizations. The effectiveness of these organizations is doubtful. There are many official reports, news pieces, announcements, video clips, and pictures about activities of the military-dominated mass organizations posted on the websites, Facebook and YouTube accounts of ISOC, the army, ISOC provincial offices and of various mass organizations. Materials collected from these sources have proven to be very useful for this chapter.

OBJECTIVES

Since the coup in 2006, the establishment has faced a series of challenges: the unbeatable popularity of the exiled Thaksin Shinawatra and his parties; the emergence of the Red Shirts movement and polarized colour-coded politics; a proliferation of critical messages towards the monarchy online; the end of the reign of King Bhumibol; the crisis of royal succession; and anti-military movements. The claims that Thailand is a unified country and the monarchy is universally respected have become fiercely contested. Despite military coups in 2006 and 2014 and numerous judicial measures, the Thaksin faction continued to win elections. All these issues caused anxiety about a decline of royal hegemony and the effect on the power and privileges of the conservative ruling elites.