On Friday evenings in Thailand, sandwiched between the evening news and a popular soap opera, is a prime-time program that has been running for three years, or ever since the military took power in a May 22, 2014, coup.
Called "Sustainable Development from a Royal Philosophy" it stars junta leader and former army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha speaking on a range of topics, from the virtues of modesty to the state of the economy.
The military has always played a prominent role in Thai life. But Prayuth's show is just one of many examples of how embedded the junta has become in Thai society. Thailand's military government has acknowledged it wants to weaken political parties and maintain permanent influence over future elected governments, partly through a new constitution approved by Thailand's king last month.
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