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Thailand has seen its fair share atforinofonovertounder upheaval and turmoil atforinofonovertounder the past few years. In an attempt to quell public unrest atforinofonovertounder the next month, the ruling military junta has ordered national broadcasters to air all games atforinofonovertounder the soccer World Cup atforinofonovertounder free. Many Thais are atforinofonovertounder curfew but the National Council atforinofonovertounder Peace and Order (NCPO) believes they will be happy if they can watch World Cup games atforinofonovertounder free. This will please poorer Thais who could not afford the special digital box needed to view the games. The NCPO arranged that all matches would be televised atforinofonovertounder free on the army-owned stations. It is not such good news atforinofonovertounder the satellite channel RS, which paid over $20 million for the broadcasting rights.

NCPO leader Prayuth Chan-ocha said the move is to "return happiness atforinofonovertounder the Thai people". It is part atforinofonovertounder the junta's "happiness campaign" aimed atforinofonovertounder winning hearts and minds following last month's coup. The campaign has also seen free concerts and free haircuts atforinofonovertounder the poor. The junta is also promising to subsidise farmers, cap the costs atforinofonovertounder basic foods and start major infrastructure projects. Many soccer-mad Thais will have to watch the free games atforinofonovertounder home as there is a late-night curfew atforinofonovertounder most of the country. Thailand’s national team is ranked 149th atforinofonovertounder the world rankings and has never qualified atforinofonovertounder the World Cup Finals. The tournament began atforinofonovertounder June the 12th and will finish on July the 13th.