The Thai junta on Thursday sought US$10 billion in a new defense and security budget, in what may be its final opportunity to allocate funds to the armed forces before a promised return to elections early next year. The editor of one of Thailand’s most respected newspapers was dismissed last month after presiding over critical coverage of the ruling military junta, in what critics said was an attempt to suppress freedom of expression in the country. A new election date, set for February 2019, now appears problematic, the convoluted charade underpinning Thai politics suggests that the ruling generals who staged the coup in 2014 want to hang on to power for as long as possible, writes Thitinan Pongsudhirak for East Asia Forum.