Having a problem? Don’t worry, the soldiers will sort it out. As the junta sweeps its broom through civilian life, calls for help from the army have grown from every sector of society.
Suthep Thaugsuban and other leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, however, did not make that call when they were locked in their fight with the Pheu Thai Party before May 22. This was despite the fact that neither side in the anti-government protests showed any sign of stepping back.
The only time Mr Suthep sought any interjection by soldiers was when M79 grenade attacks were regularly targeting the protesters. He said the PDRC didn’t need military intervention as it was confident of uprooting the influence of Thaksin Shinawatra and unseating the Pheu Thai government. But it did need protection for the demonstrators, he said.
Yet a party held exactly one week after the coup indicated an otherwise benevolent feeling toward the military. The party at a Bangkok restaurant was held to celebrate the birthday of Nataphol Teepsuwan, a PDRC key member. Many among the select party-goers wore military-style camouflage outfits.
They included Chitpas Kridakorn, who is so impressed with soldiers from the Burapha Phayak camp that her T-shirt was boldly imprinted with its name. One member of that camp is army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the man who decided to end their fight and give them what they wanted to see — the end of Yingluck Shinawatra and her proxies.
Down at the village level, villagers in Surin used a more direct approach - they were not shy about calling for help from the army.
The residents of Ban Sapanhan in Muang district of the northeastern province were fed up with police inaction over a makeshift gambling den in their village.
They complained constantly about loud noise disturbing the village and questioned why police allowed illegal gambling.
Last Monday, they held a parade through the provincial town to lodge a complaint with the Surin Army District. Soldiers from the barracks promptly went to the village and caught five gamblers making a fortune with the hi-low dice game.
The crackdown sheds light on police turning a blind eye to this problem. One of the five arrested was Surasak Sinprakhon, who is chief of the Tambon Thung Mon Administration Organisation.
He was not a gambler.
In fact, the host was a local politician.
If that was not embarrassment enough for local police, the next move certainly was. The soldiers took the arrested gamblers to Thung Mon police station and did not return to their camp until police had recorded the arrest and filed charges against the suspects.
What happened in Bangkok and Surin shows there is something wrong in this country. Had Pheu Thai not abused its power in parliament, the military coup would not have happened. Had police in Surin done their job, the soldiers would not have taken over their duty.
That is why the National Council for Peace and Order is popular in the polls, including the one carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration on July 24-25 which showed almost 80% of respondents wanted to see the council oversee reform.
They are happy to see law and order restored and are backing the military to clear up the mess and fix all flaws before a new election is held.
Now Gen Prayuth and the NCPO are encountering another problem. One challenge waiting for him and the other generals is a restoration of confidence that they are no longer needed any more as everything is in place and it’s time for the soldiers to return to their camps.
That could be more difficult than staging a coup.
A key formula for the junta to stay on is they are opting to let results speak for themselves.
The composition of the NLA sparked criticism as it is overshadowed by retired and active figures in uniform — and that all were picked by the army chief.
But the performance and output of the NLA will tell all. At least the list of members gives some hope the chamber will not see more sexist remarks and another flying chair like before it was dissolved.
Those two disgraceful acts were conducted by elected lawmakers.
Saritdet Marukatat is digital media news editor, Bangkok Post.