How strange it is for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to use what appears to be the equivalent of the ominous phrase, "Winter is coming", from the hit series Games of Throne to describe the country's current situation.
"If you knew as much as I do, you would feel cold," Gen Prayut said during his Friday televised briefing on June 3.
The context behind Gen Prayut's remark is his perception that it's politicians who pushed the country into a state of disorder and what they are now doing is evil and terrifying enough to cause a chill, he said. He has to show restraint and not respond too harshly. If he reveals too much, Gen Prayut said, the country might not be safe.
It's no surprise that Gen Prayut's ominous remark immediately captured the media's interest. When reporters asked him to clarify the rather obscure and frightening comment, Gen Prayut unexpectedly skirted around the question. He also told the media not to read too much into the matter because they will they end up escalating the conflict.
Atiya Achakulwisut is Contributing Editor, Bangkok Post.
It's admittedly confusing for Gen Prayut to have given the public such a warning only to later pretend there was nothing to it.
It's not the first time the former army chief, known for his quick temper and loose tongue, has said something he probably did not mean to be taken seriously -- his advice for rice farmers to switch to velvet beans or his comment that bikini-clad female tourists may not be safe in Thailand unless they are unattractive spring to mind.
Still, his latest comment regarding terrifying threats to the nation that only he and the military regime are aware of is worth delving into; this despite him telling media members not to do so. Unfortunately for Gen Prayut, his comment does not bode well for him whether it was a slip of the tongue or an intentional attempt to issue a warning.
If it's the first scenario, which it could very well be because Gen Prayut tried to downplay the remark immediately afterwards, it shows carelessness and does not inspire confidence in his qualities as the country's leader.
If it's the second scenario, one would have to ask why Gen Prayut still chooses to play the politics of fear to justify his existence.
Ever since Gen Prayut and his National Council for Peace and Order came to power two years ago, military leaders have consistently portrayed themselves as the individuals who saved the nation from the impending ruin brought on by the corrupt politicians.
For the military regime, corruption and the lies of politicians are the scourges at the root of the country's troubles. People were told to hate and fear the politicians. The draft charter is dubbed an anti-corruption blueprint. The document seeks to curtail the power of elected representatives by subjugating them under the supervision of a fully selected Senate and independent organisations.
By extension, the military regime reasoned that it will need to stay in power to maintain strict control over the country for at least five more years to prevent the double afflictions of corruption and politicians from wreaking havoc on the country yet again.
While there is a grain of truth to Gen Prayut's opinion about most politicians being corrupt, it's doubtful whether his attempt to "control" them by using appointed officials unaccountable to the public will be a sustainable solution.
Politicians should be viewed with scepticism, that is true. But they should not be made to appear so terrifying that people must relinquish control to the military or the bureaucrats and Senate it will handpick if the draft charter is approved on Aug 7. It's the public that must be empowered to keep representatives and politicians in check, not the military or a handful of its appointees.
Some people may even argue that they are already feeling cold given that the military can prosecute some citizens because of messages they say were exchanged in private.
Gen Prayut's latest remark about some disturbing and mysterious threats that will give people a chill if they become aware of them seems to have augmented the policy. If the threat is so chilling and horrifying, shouldn't the public be made aware of it? If not, why was it mentioned if for no other reason than to make people fearful?
In the series Game of Thrones, the warning, winter is coming, is used as more of a motto to remind people to prepare for dark times which will come at a certain point in their lives. It's a warning for them to be vigilant and prepared, not an empty threat to compel people to agree to subjugation.