Prayut urges understanding at public meeting in South

By The Nation

 

PM Prayut at the livestock market in Pattani.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has made a trip South ahead of a mobile Cabinet meeting, told people in Pattani province on Monday that he wanted to build understanding about the government’s policies, not vie for votes.

 

Prayut visited the livestock market for the deep South in Nong Jik district in the morning. He told people there that he had taken a long trip by road as his aircraft had been disrupted by torrential rain and had been forced to land at the airfield of Wing 56 in Songkhla province.

 

Taking to a stage prepared for him, Prayut said he gave great an importance to the deep South, which comprises three provinces plus five districts of Songkhla. He urged the people to be united, not divisive, and help steer the country forward.

 

The premier said security efforts had improved and a better economy would follow. He urged people not to hate the military, because things in the South had improved since it stepped in.

 

It was not just the application of the law that would solve the violence, he said, but economic development. He also said that people should help one another to stop groups from instigating violence.

 

“I’m here, not to vie for votes, but to create understanding about how we will move the country forward,” he said. “There are a lot of problems, some real, others not. But I insist that we have been working extensively so that you can access the things that are available to people in other regions.” 

 

The premier said there would be a massive investment in a number of infrastructure projects in the region.

 

As for the plummeting rubber price, he said the government had been doing its best and rubber planters should not hold demonstrations to put pressure on it.

 

At the end of the speech, the premier had a tense encounter with one fisherman. Because of the noisy atmosphere, there was a minor misunderstanding that prompted Prayut to shout at the man.

 

When security officers moved in to remove the fisherman, the premier said: “Please be cool, everyone involved is trying to solve the problems and they all cannot be solved at once.”

 

The premier planned to visit a palm oil processing plant in the same district in the afternoon before having discussions about security and meeting local leaders at the 15th Infantry Division headquarters.

 

In the evening, Prayut was due to chair a meeting in Songkhla about social and economic development in the South.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332613

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-28

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“I’m here, not to vie for votes,

Then why mention it. 

2 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Then why mention it. 

The Dems wouldn't be happy that he is canvassing in their backyard. 

Pretty one-sided 'meeting' given the OP is all about him and what he says. This is not a news story at all, in fact, but a government press release.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He urged people not to hate the military,

aha, so he acknowledges and feels that hatred

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He urged people not to hate the military, because things in the South had improved since it stepped in.

Just to be clear.

The Thai military "stepped in" during the 1960's when the insurgency began. So since then I'd say things got worse, not better.

Maybe what Prayut meant was that what has gotten better now during his regime is that more army surrogates such as village defense and paramilitary contract troops are being killed instead of regular army troops?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut urges understanding at public meeting in South

Any fishermen get shouted at?

Hidden talent as a comic.

 

Not bright, but amusing.

Please understand...you are no longer allowed to think or speak. After all...its for your own good!

15 hours ago, webfact said:

I’m here, not to vie for votes, but to create understanding about how we will move the country forward,”

That is clear, you won't need votes the way it's going.

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

The premier said there would be a massive investment in a number of infrastructure projects in the region.

A massive commitment can only be rail. Compelting it and how it will benefit locally is another story.

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

The premier said security efforts had improved and a better economy would follow. He urged people not to hate the military, because things in the South had improved since it stepped in.

The situation in the South has done nothing but deteriorate for decades. This is entirely a military owned issue since it began, not just 3 years.

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

As for the plummeting rubber price, he said the government had been doing its best and rubber planters should not hold demonstrations to put pressure on it.

Should not? They simply can not.