<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-59fea16f-8289-c40b-1553-c1f3c0ce4706">One of the downsides of authoritarian military dictatorships is that the public has little influence on politically important issues, such as energy policy. No major Thai daily newspaper supports coal, and they regularly carry articles lobbying against a coal-fired future (e.g., see this recent </span><a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thailands-power-dilemma-amid-a-climate-of-fear-30267497.html">lead opinion editorial</a> in The Nation).</p>