<div><em>Note: This essay was first published in Thai in Matichon over six months ago on 16 December 2014. The truths contained within it, however, remain unchanged. The NCPO remains in power and continues to exercise domination without hegemony.—translator.&nbsp;</em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The ruling power of the state is comprised of two aspects. The first is domination, which refers to the control of the state apparatuses, such as the armed forces, the civil service, the organs of communication, etc. </div>

<p>Since the coup of May 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the military regime of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, have arrested more than 100 politicians, mostly from the ruling party, activists, journalists, and others accused of supporting the deposed government of Yingluck Shinawatra. While some were released, the army has also ordered several hundred others to report. Those summoned by the military faced arrest and prosecution if they failed to report, and have prohibited from leaving Thailand.</p>

<div>The brutal crackdown on a student led protest against the provisions of the new National Education Law was just the latest attempt by the government of Myanmar to keep control of the political reform process and the pre-election agenda that threatens to escape their iron grip. Students are protesting against the establishment of an Education Council which would control the curriculum without any consultation with or participation by students.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The response of the international community, and in particular the EU, has been extremely weak. </div>

<div>Since the absolute monarchy was abolished in Thailand in 1932, over a dozen successful military coups have taken place in our country. </div>

<div><em>Netiwit Choltiphatphaisal, a student who was among<a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/5088"> those detained</a> on the first anniversary of the 2014 Coup commemoration, wrote a memo on what happened before he and his friends were arrested.</em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday after school, I heard that there would be a symbolic activity to commemorate the first anniversary of the coup. </div>

<div>The world is aghast at the fact that up to 8000 members of the Rohingya people of Myanmar have ended up adrift in leaky overcrowded boats having to fight for food and being forced to drink their own urine. They have been shipped from port to port while the governments of Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh argue over who is responsible for them and the government of Myanmar acts as if the problem is nothing to do with it. The real scandal is that almost 1 million people can be denied their right to citizenship in Myanmar and held in what are effectively prison camps under armed guard. </div>

<p>May 2015 is a significant month for Thailand, but perhaps not for the right reasons. On May 19, it is exactly five years since the Thai military, at the order of the then government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, launched brutal crackdowns against the red-shirt protesters, who demanded him return power to the Thai voters and called for a fresh election. Abhisit was accused of taking power illegitimately; he was only able to form a minority government with the backing of the army. The crackdowns resulted in 99 protesters being killed and over 2,000 injured.</p>

<div>In May 2014 Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha stated that he wanted “to create an enabling environment that would facilitate the holding of elections” which “ will be free and fair, so that [it] can become a solid foundation for a complete Thai democracy”.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Unfortunately in practice the human rights situation in Thailand is moving in the opposite direction and every action by the military government seems to have the specific purpose of silencing dissent and eliminating any effective opposition. </div>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/16871264997_0cf4b59000.jpg" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#daa520;"><em>Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014.</em></span></p>

<p id="E15" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E15" style="list-style-type:none;"><span id="E16" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E16">The adulation of Lee Kwan Yew</span><span id="E17" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E17"> on his demise is expected. Throughout his rule he had</span><span id="E18" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E18"> the support of a completely inhibited</span><span id="E19" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E19"> press.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8651/16654520560_b5c027cc34_z.jpg" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color:#ff8c00;">The concept of “national security” is manipulated at the hands of the military</span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/16361048977_d010a2c223.jpg" /></p> <p><em><span style="color:#ff8c00;">Panitan Watanayagorn is currently adviser to General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.</span></em></p>