The topic of identity and politics regarding Royalists among millennials in Thailand is a fascinating subject to explore. As Thai citizens, we have been taught since childhood to revere and respect the Royalists with our heart as they are considered equivalent to God. They possess certain privileges and are treated as unquestionably correct in their decisions. The media, too, reinforces this idea, portraying them as demi-gods and often using propaganda to create a false narrative. This misinformation has been the result of several decades of propaganda, leading to the younger generation seeing royalty as something above other citizens, with the belief it is normal to die for them.

The state of Thailand today is characterised by chaos, due to poverty, corruption, and a deteriorated economy. The country has had a total of 13 coups since 1933. However, another problem, that most people still do not realise, is the royalty of Thailand. The media plays a significant role in the creation of propaganda and utilises this power to distort the truth, painting royalties in a positive light, and portraying them as demi-gods, objects of holiness that should be given immense respect. As a result, Gen X and Gen Y tend to think of royalties as supernatural beings, above the law, and deserving every privilege they attain.

For example, when a royalty or VIP travels on the road, the whole road is blocked off to the public, and the police must serve as escorts. Respect for royalties is taken to an extreme level, where the status of even the king's dog is considered higher than that of the citizens. Defamation of the King's dog can lead to imprisonment. In 2014, a coup led by Prayut Chan-o-cha took place, and he became Prime Minister of Thailand. The election results were manipulated, and there was a delay, but the media covered up these corruptions. Despite this, many people chose to believe the media, citing their love for royalties and their demi-god status as justifications for these actions.

This misunderstanding of royalty led to the creation of team loyalties and beliefs, resulting in huge support for Prayut Chan-o-cha. Unfortunately, Prayut supporters were blinded by propaganda, leading to King and Royalties openly supporting him, further brainwashing supporters into believing their choice was the right one. Matters only worsened when the Prayut Chan-o-cha-led government passed new laws such as Section 112 or Lèse-majesté.

In conclusion, the identity and politics surrounding Royalists among millennials in Thailand is a complex and intertwined subject that is greatly influenced by the media and propaganda. The power the media holds in shaping public opinion and the reverence bestowed upon royalties makes it challenging to create a democratic and equal society. It is essential to recognise the disparity in treatment between royalties and the general public and strive towards creating a more balanced society.

The media has been painting a virtuous image of the Thai King, portraying him as working for the people's happiness and national security. However, the truth is that he is the wealthiest monarch in the world, with most of his wealth coming from corrupt taxes paid by the Thai people. While the COVID-19 situation continues to worsen and people struggle to obtain quality vaccines, the Thai King has been living a luxurious life in Germany with his queen and concubines, gambling exorbitant amounts of money and using a jumbo jet as his private plane. The media has been selective in portraying the King, only highlighting his minimal good deeds while burying the ugly truths of his lavish lifestyle and mistreatment of women.

Royalist propaganda has been rampant in Thailand, assaulting the senses of people in public places, schools, television, and newspapers. However, the younger generation is less likely to blindly trust such propaganda. The internet and social media have provided avenues for people to access new perspectives and information free from government and royalist interference. This access has led many to question the reliability of the content they have been consuming for years through media outlets. However, not everyone has access to this new information, and it is social media that helps bridge this gap. The spread of opinions from those who doubt the propaganda has ignited the flame of doubt in many others, leading to an increase in the number of protestors.

The majority of protestors are millennials, who are born with access to the internet and have become skilled in using it. They are fighting to regain their democracy, which was stolen from them. Many people have been killed or made to disappear, and their bodies found in the Mekong River, filled with concrete. Despite these atrocities, the protestors continue to fight for their basic human right - the right to life.

Conclusion:

The younger generation's identity as Royalists is waning due to the effects of propaganda being less effective on Millennials compared to previous generations, such as Gen X and Gen Y. With the Internet providing a platform for Millennials to access information from all around the world, they are beginning to question the truth behind what their government is telling them. As small groups of Millennials begin to uncover the truth about certain events, they are able to share their opinions and findings with one another through social media. This has resulted in the creation of an anti-government group. Not only are Millennials coming to discover the truth about various events, but Gen X and Gen Y are also starting to doubt their government's word due to the information they are finding on the Internet.

References:

The following references were helpful in understanding the current state of the Thai monarchy in relation to the younger generation's views:

- CHACHAVALPONGPUN, P. (2015). Neo-royalism and the Future of the Thai Monarchy: From Bhumibol to Vajiralongkorn. Asian Survey, 55(6), 1193–1216. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26364332

- Ünaldi, S. (2016). Working towards the Monarchy: The Politics of Space in Downtown Bangkok. University of Hawai’i Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvvn21b

- Wongcha-um, P., & Johnson, K. (2020, December 18). Timeline: Thailand's coups, kings and protests. Reuters. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-protests-youth-history-int-idUSKBN28S1BZ.

- WALKER, A. N. D. R. E. W. (2007, November 6). Royalist propaganda and Policy Nonsense. New Mandala. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.newmandala.org/royalist-propaganda-and-policy-nonsense/.

- Chachavalpongpun P., J. K. (2020). Why Thailand's protesters are up in arms against the Monarchy. As Protests Rock Thailand, Monarchy Comes Under Pressure. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29044/as-protests-rock-thailand-monarchy-comes-under-pressure.

- JONES, L. E. E. (2016, October 13). The myth of king bhumibol. New Mandala. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.newmandala.org/myth-king-bhumibol/.

- KHAN, N. A. R. E. S. S. A. (2021, February 2). The world's 5 richest royals revealed – and none of them are from Europe. South China Morning Post. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3120164/worlds-richest-royals-ranked-netflixs-crown-made-us-wonder.

- THE NATION. (2021, April 22). Their Majesties donate nearly BT14 million worth of covid-19 test kits. nationthailand. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000093.

- THAIRATH. (2019). King urges new Cabinet to work for people's happiness and national security. Thai PBS World: The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.thaipbsworld.com/king-urges-new-cabinet-to-work-for-peoples-happiness-and-national-security/.