Thai junta's populism not sustainable

SINCE the May 22 coup that displaced former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government, the country's military has been busy adopting some of the populist measures pioneered by Ms Yingluck's elder brother and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The junta's leader, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has made it a point to revive South-east Asia's second-largest economy, which has taken a beating following months of anti-government street protests that have spooked tourists and hurt investor confidence.

In the last month alone, the army restarted payments to thousands of farmers - many of whom are loyal supporters of the Shinawatras - who were owed about 92.4 billion baht (S$3.56 billion) under a controversial government rice purchase scheme that has since collapsed.