Word: suchinda
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True enough, the democrats have not yet prevailed. Suchinda Kraprayoon, the general who made himself Prime Minister in April, stepped down Sunday after his coalition withdrew its support. But the generals in the past have proved adept at ruling through civilian figureheads. After 60 years holding the real power in the country, the military is deeply entrenched throughout society; these "businessmen in uniforms" own or control hundreds of enterprises, including two nationwide TV channels, 200 radio stations and their own bank. The army remains popular among peasants, who are still a majority of the population and provide most...
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, DEMONSTRATORS POURED into Bangkok's streets to protest. On one day more than 100,000, headed by opposition politicians and student leaders, gathered outside parliament to vent their anger at the appointment of General Suchinda Kraprayoon, the army's Chief of Staff, as Prime Minister...
Providing moral focus for the demonstrations was Chamlong Srimuang, a retired general and former governor of Bangkok who heads the opposition Palang Dharma party. A Buddhist, Chamlong announced that he would fast unto death to force Suchinda to resign. That vow sparked the antigovernment rallies. Suchinda fought back by accusing critics of promoting social unrest and declaring that he would resign only if his coalition suffered a parliamentary defeat. Suchinda's defiance was undermined, however, when his five-party coalition, clearly shaken by events, agreed to four constitutional amendments, including one that would require the Prime Minister...