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A flurry of actions and announcements coming from Thailand this week shows the Thai military government is finally getting serious about consolidating its rule. Its long-overdue move will involve...

Thailand was busy the week of Feb. 11 with a flurry of official activity, including a visit by Malaysia's prime minister and the appointment of an official affiliated with the former regime to lead a government economic team handling foreign investor relations.

These actions are aimed at laying the groundwork for an imminent crackdown on the opposition. They are also intended to show the public that the military government is capable of effective leadership and governance.

Thailand's government has felt increasingly insecure in recent weeks as signs have emerged of internal divisions and rumors have circulated of a countercoup. The government feels it needs to move big, and move fast, to stay in power.

While foreigners might fret over the investment climate in Thailand, the regime has one overriding concern: dissolving any opposition bloc capable of ousting it. Foreign investor confidence lost in the short term always can be rebuilt in the long term. By contrast, if the government's legitimacy with the people is lost, it loses everything, including the economy.