General Apirat’s interview shows the intention of the military to support the government to control—rather than to serve—the people. [Since the 2014 coup d’état, both Thai and foreign observers have witnessed the arbitrary use of power by the military leadership.] His disregard for fundamental democratic norms such as the “freedom expression” undermines the voices of young people who disagree with the military government.
He portrays young Thais as naïve and vulnerable to “fake news”, arguing that they are more likely to be convinced by“alternative” sources of information rather than “the genuine information provided by the government and military.
However, due to the Internet and other forms of technology, young Thais have better access to information than before. They have become more critical and analytical towards the state of democracy and human rights in Thailand. Furthermore, they are less likely to be intimated by the state and feel more encouraged to scrutinise Thai authority figures. As a matter of fact, the military and the Thai authority are not immune to scrutiny or criticism.
In addition, General Apirat’s interview highlights the embedded and continued hierarchical structure of Thai society. The cultural expectation of respecting adults, or “kaorob phuyai”, does not simply mean to be respectful, it carries a strong connotation of being obedient. The military and the Thai authority actively encourages and advocates for such a hierarchy, and uses it as another form of suppression. In general, kaorob phuyai acts to restrict the ability of people to question authority.
