When Prayuth Chan-Ocha seized control of Thailand in a military coup, he vigorously denounced politicians as responsible for the country's ills and positioned himself and his fellow generals as the cure. The world's only nation still under formal military rule, Thailand is under increasing pressure both at home and abroad to return to civilian governance. For some in Thailand — where the junta has banned protests and political gatherings — all this spells doomsday for democracy. "It may seem contradictory to say we staged a coup to restore democracy but it is indeed the case in Thailand. Another is whether deep social and economic rifts — which the junta has done little to heal — can be bridged.

Source: ABC News January 15, 2018 01:16 UTC