In 2015 during a visit to Japan, Gen Prayut promised his Japanese counterpart that polls would be held in Thailand early in 2016. Then, as 2016 slipped, Gen Prayut made yet another promise that elections in Thailand would be held in 2017. The backlash over this flip flopping prompted Gen Prayut to announce on Oct 10, 2017, that an election would be held by November 2018. Indeed, from being a regional leader Thailand is becoming an also-ran. Gen Prayut and his men in uniform must look beyond their own vested interests to what is best for the country in the long run.

Source: Bangkok Post January 20, 2018 21:45 UTC