I was in Thailand in 2012, spent a day in Bangkok hanging out with my former office assistant who had returned there to take care of family. While walking thro

I was in Thailand in 2012, spent a day in Bangkok hanging out with my former office assistant who had returned there to take care of family. While walking through the park there was sudden music playing from the loud speakers. Everyone stopped and stood perfectly still. My friend had gone into a public bathroom and rushed back out to make sure I was standing as well. There was an announcement from the king that lasted a few minutes. After it ended everyone resumed their walking, sitting on the grass, and exercise routines. I found it hard to imagine political intrusions like this in daily life, although it seemed akin to being at a sports event that had obligatory random national anthems in the middle of a game. Anyway it seemed indicative of a larger political climate of intrusion, but it sounds as though it's gotten exponentially worse.