In protecting Prawit, Prayut gave mainstream politicians solid ammunition with which to attack his coup and anti-graft agenda. The prime minister denounces some of those attacking Prawit as being politically motivated, but the prime minister has no one to blame but himself for the politicisation of the wristwatch affair. In a way, Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed. Prayut and Prawit are contributing to a low standard. In Thailand, graft has been part of a political game rather than considered a perilous national scourge.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 06, 2018 18:00 UTC