What about the
money Prayuth?
So that's the coup over and done with, everyone is now "re-educated" and is obeying silently eating their sandwiches at home, not criticising the army. Now what? Oh yes, we're waiting for king Bhumibol to die.
That's right. The next step in Prayuth's brilliant plan, and the whole point of this coup, is to wait for news of Bhumibol´s death. Then quickly move in to ensure a smooth transfer of power at the Palace.
Thai people will simply have to wait until their beloved king decides to stop breathing before democracy is restored in Thailand. How selfish is that? The least king Bhumibol could do is to hurry up a bit.
Prayuth is gambling that the ailing king will kick the bucket sometime before 2016, that's how long the general is planning on being dictator. Obviously, the general knows something about Bhumibol's health that the rest of us don't.
Once the 100 days of North Korea style mourning are over, the task of choosing Bhumibol's successor can begin, probably under Marshal law for fear that Thai people will immediately call for a Republic.
The head of the privy council, Gen. Prem, might still be around then and may name Prayuth Thailand's Regent. That would make the task of choosing a successor to the king a whole lot easier and more "legitimate".
The key word will be control. For the Thai army the handover from one Chakri puppet to another Chakri puppet, must go as smooth as possible, with no democratic choice.
Once the army's new Rama is imposed on Thai people, the Palace propaganda machine can go into full swing, with daily television reports to remind the nation that Thailand's parasitic monarch is a living god.
30 billion dollars
Oh, yes. Then there's Bhumibol's money. Quite what will happen to Bhumibol's 30 billion dollar fortune, is something Prayuth will have to explain. No-one seriously believes that the king's huge fortune will go to either Vajiralongkorn or Sirindhorn, do they?
No, of course not. That money is the whole point of this coup. Prayuth has been waiting for a long time to cash in his chips. All those frustrating years as army Chief, having to tolerate civilian governments bossing him around, to then retire with a lowly army pension.
Yeah, right! When king Bhumibol dies it´ll be pay time for Prayuth and his army cronies. All he has to do is wait for the old man to stop breathing, put a new puppet on the throne and grab the dosh from under the king's corpse!
Unless, of course, someone ruins his brilliant plan....