Det er vel det man kan kalle det når man ser hvilke kommersielle områder militære krefter driver forretning.
Man kan jo lett se sammenblandingen av roller til toppene i "AS Thai Militære" og hvor lojaliteten havner. Pengene først som eliten de tjener!
Her snakker vi enorme summer i forsvaret sine budsjetter som rett og slett ikke kan gjøres rede for.
Samtidig ser vi at militæret eier store mediakanaler og nok fritt kan kontrollere informasjon.
Coronavirus exposes Thai military's off-the-books enterprises
According to Surachart Bamrungsuk, a respected Thai national security scholar, the Royal Thai Army draws income from 15 types of commercial ventures. They include two television stations, 126 radio stations, 100 gas stations and over 30 golf courses. In addition, the military indirectly operates horse-racing tracks, shooting ranges, restaurants, road construction ventures, convenience stores, flea markets and boxing stadiums.
It happened during an attempt in parliament to pry open details of around 19 billion baht ($582 million) in unexplained funds in the current defense budget.
Opposition parliamentarians sought clarity on the amount, which was included as part of the 233.3 billion baht defense budget estimate. Defense accounts for about 7% of the 3.2 trillion baht national budget for the 2020 fiscal year.
"Trying to reform the army business 'just for show' will not work this time," said a military intelligence source. "The military's reputation is taking a beating because of these shady businesses functioning like they are untouchable."
