Thai royalists defending Russia’s Putin

 

Ukraine war: Thai royalists turn from King Maha Vajiralongkorn to defending Russia’s Putin as pro-democracy camp condemns bloodshed

• Royalists’ backing of Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine partly stems from a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to the Thai pro-democracy movement’s censure, critics say
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• But it also highlights the conspiratorial thinking of conservative groups who view US-led efforts with scepticism and see democracy as a threat to the monarchy

 

After years of defending Thailand’s monarchy from a pro-democracy movement, the Southeast Asian country’s royalist groups have turned their focus to Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin as he continues to wage war against Ukraine.

In recent weeks, the Facebook page of royalist group Thai Move Institute has been flooded with posts about the downside of sanctions imposed on Russia, and reports of questionable veracity – many from a website styling itself as “The Truth” – saying that Ukraine used fake news to “slander” Putin.

The group’s motto is “Thailand’s direction upon the royal footsteps”. It is part of a network of conservative voices allied to the military and royalist establishment led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.