Broadly speaking what is happening to my mind is Thailand is like a woman in labour, there are birth pangs and there are labour pains and a lot of frustration and stress and pressure, and this process may be long drawn out, but the emerging Thailand that will come out of it remains to be shaped by the forces that are jostling for position ahead of the Royal succession because it is something that is not discussed but it is in the back of the minds of all the protagonists.

– Thitinan Pongsudhirak quoted in, “Thai King limits public outings for birthday celebrations”, Radio Australia, 1 December 2009.