<p>Academic Supalak Ganjanakhundee explains that in the recent 2022 military shake-up, the &lsquo;red rim&rsquo; soldiers who are symbolically close to the king have taken over many key positions, reflecting a core problem at the root of the Thai democratic transition that has been plagued by military coups.</p>

<p>Watched by police and soldiers, pro-democracy citizens commemorated the death of a taxi driver who committed suicide to protest the 2006 coup.</p> <p>At 7 pm on 31 October 2017, about 20 people gathered at the bridge in front of the headquarters of Thai Rath newspaper on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok to commemorate the death of taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who hanged himself at the bridge to protest against the 2006 military coup.</p> <p>People lit candles and placed flowers at the bridge. The activity lasted about 20 minutes.</p>