The RCO came into operations in April 2014, one month before the 2014 military coup, allegedly on the orders of then Privy Councilor Lt. Gen. Surayud Chulanont, who headed one of the military governments following the 2006 coup. Rienthong was gradually introduced to the public as a supposedly apolitical disaffected citizen (wutbürger). Rienthong claimed that he was working to establish a “people’s army to protect the monarchy”and that the RCO was protected by the army, which it promptly denied. The RCO adopted various fascist era-style slogans, including “When you first sweep the floor, the dust will be blown all over the place – but later the floor will look cleaner”. The RCO has received funding from the Thai military.