After four years of heavy-handed repression, why has the military government suddenly softened its stance with grassroots and civil society movements? The answer is in the front-page photo of every newspaper on Tuesday.

Looking triumphant in the packed sports stadium in Buri Ram, Prime Minister and junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was busy wooing support from the Buri Ram kingpin and former leader of the Bhumjaithai Party as he showered the locals with development budget promises.

No matter how you look at it, it was a campaign trail funded by taxpayers.