'Rajprachasamasai', a powerful political discourse

Rajprachasamasai means interdependence between the monarch and the people - a term invented in the early 1970s by intellectuals to justify royal intervention in politics. It allowed the direct or indirect selection of MPs by His Majesty the King, instead of by election.

The intellectuals, notably those who support the anti-Thaksin movement the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said Thaksin had abused the concept of having royal power free him from punishment when he said only royal kindness and people power could bring him home.

Perhaps Thaksin's supporters knew very well they did not need to use this term as a request for a royal pardon. But they raised it to dissolve the power of any political debate during a huge gathering of the pro-Thaksin camp on Saturday.

They wanted this powerful political term to mean anything but royal intervention in the current political crisis, as being proposed by PAD and some royalist intellectuals.

For Thaksin, Rajprachasamasai could be a royal pardon and a miracle vehicle to bring him home safe and sound.

Prior to politicisation of the term in the 1970s, such a word could refer to anything related to His Majesty the King's projects. It appeared as the name of a foundation under His Majesty's patronage in 1958. It was also the name of a school in 1964.

Former prime minister Krukrit Pramote developed the term to be a political discourse in 1971 when he discussed the role of the monarchy in politics with Thammasat University academics.

In December 1973, political-science professor Chai-anant Samudavanija modified the concept to boost the monarchy's political role, suggesting that as the King's adviser, the Privy Council could select senators.

Chai-anant, then a member of the constitution drafting committee, defined the term Rajprachasamasai as the joint-ruling between the monarchy and the people through the House of Representatives. He wrote in a Siam Rath newspaper article a few months after the October 1973 student uprising, that the new form of rule was necessary as people had no faith in other political institutions that were dominated by corrupt politicians.

"Rajprachasamasai is a moderate and new way for the Thai political system which fits the political circumstance and Thai society," he said in the article.

However, Chai-anant's idea was not fully accepted as His Majesty set up the National Convention, then known as a 'racecourse council' since it was convened at the Royal Turf Club, to select members of the National Legislative Assembly in 1973.

Education Council secretary Tongthong Chandransu, who is a legal expert, wrote in his MA Law thesis in 1985 that the National Convention was an exceptional case for royal prerogative, due to the special political circumstances following the uprising.

The special royal prerogative is raised whenever Thailand is in political crisis, as royalist intellectuals prefer an increased monarchy role in politics. The term Rajprachasamasai was highlighted again two years ago when the PAD called for royal intervention to topple elected PM Thaksin, who was ousted by military coup in September 2006.

Academics and political observers are still debating whether the coup could be regarded as a form of royal intervention.

Thaksin, however, fears the powerful discourse of Rajprachasamasai could bring another form of royal intervention to the current crisis, resulting in the end of his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat's government.

Consequently, Thaksin would not allow his opponents to use the discourse to justify the demand for royal intervention.