Not just another coup, maybe

WITH nearly 20 coups in two generations of parliamentary democracy, it is tempting to think that all of Thailand’s coups are alike in satisfying either the personal ambitions of soldiers or the political aspirations of the military. 

However, it may soon become apparent that the differences between this coup and previous ones are more important and decisive than the similarities. Any selfish motives behind Tuesday night’s putsch were never evident, and increasingly seem unlikely.