การใส่ชฏาและงานราชาภิเษกเป็นโอกาสให้พวกเผด็จการทหารโกงการเลือกตั้งมากขึ้น

Andrew MacGregor Marshall‏Verified account @zenjournalist

Good analysis in @TheEconomist of the latest state of Thai politics. “Chaos awaits, as 27 different parties now hold seats in the lower house. A weak, pro-military coalition looks the most likely outcome.”

 

Crown and spectreThailand’s junta marks the king’s coronation with more election-rigging

A new formula for allocating seats magically undoes the opposition’s victory

Print edition | Asia

May 9th 2019

THAIS DO NOT see that much of their king, who spends most of his time in Germany. But for three days starting on May 4th he was on near-constant display for a long and lavish series of ceremonies surrounding his coronation. It all began with a ritual purification at the royal residence in Bangkok. Holy water was poured over the head of Maha Vajiralongkorn, the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. It had been collected from all 76 of the country’s provinces, as well as from around Bangkok. Courtiers and officials wore spotless white uniforms and prostrated themselves before their monarch.
The king changed into an embroidered golden suit for an anointing ceremony. Then he lowered onto his own head a pointed helmet of a crown weighing more than 7kg thanks to its crust of gold and diamonds. A royal procession the next day saw the stony-faced monarch paraded through Bangkok on a gilded palanquin. Accompanying troops roasted in the heat. In a separate procession (pictured), respectful elephants dropped awkwardly to their knees