Quote Originally Posted by Up2U
An excellent short essay by David Streckfuss, good historical summary of Thai politics and for coup to be on the right side of history:

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... Streckfuss
Sreckfuus explains the Buddhist underpinning of the Thai coup culture as:

This pattern [of a coup d'etat and self-issued amnesty and constitution] seems inexplicable unless we look at the practise as ritual purificationтАФa public act certified by Thai Theravada Buddhism that recognizes a sacrifice (staging a coup), acknowledges a necessary murder (the killing of a constitution), and rewards giving (a new constitution, a new political order).

Source: David Streckfuss, "Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, Treason and L├иse-majest├й," London: Routledge, 2011. page 122.