Thai junta 'brings happiness to the people' with parties and selfies

Are you in need of a pick-me-up? How about a free haircut or hot meal? A dance show by women in PVC miniskirts? Perhaps a chance to pet a pony?

All this – and more – is now available to you courtesy of the Royal Thai Army's "Happiness" campaign, which is staging free festivals across Bangkok to "bring back happiness" to the Thai public following last month's military coup.

A bizarre combination of an army-controlled street party and a music festival, the "parties" have been taking place in parks and squares, where the public is showered with free food and drink and given an opportunity to watch the army sing and dance — and take selfies next to trussed-up soldiers.

The campaign is by order of Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took control of Thailand two weeks ago in a military coup that has been condemned nationally and internationally. About 300 people have been detained since the army seized power on 22 May, among them academics, journalists, activists, politicians and human rights defenders. Those protesting against the coup have held flash mobs in shopping malls, holding up banners likening junta-ruled Thailand to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and flashing three-fingered "Hunger Games" salutes to show resistance.The army has cracked down on anti-coup protesters, banning the three-fingered salute and today arresting a motorcycle-taxi driver for distributing anti-coup leaflets, local media reported.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/thailand-to-bring-happiness-to-the-people




http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/413693/happiness-at-victory-monument