PM Prayut comes face to face with volatile discontent in South

[webfact]

PM comes face to face with volatile discontent in South

By THE NATION

 

 

GEN PRAYUT CHAN-O-CHA’S field trip to Pattani and Songkhla was meant to boost the popularity of the prime minister and his junta government – but instead of touching moments, local people welcomed him with yells and confrontation.

 

While the junta might be popular among some Southern people, the government’s policies on the fishery and rubber tree industries are a major problem for local workers. 

 

 

Fishermen have to obey Article 44 orders to curb their work in line with international standards, while rubber prices plunge every year.

 

Rain did not smooth Prayut’s journey on Monday – he had been due to fly to Pattani but instead had to go to Songkhla instead, then travel by car back to Pattani, which delayed his arrival by about two hours.

 

Some locals felt the inconvenience was good because “Prayut would now know how much we in the South have to endure”. 

 

Paranyu Charoen, a 34-year-old fisherman, was one of the disgruntled locals who went to file a petition with the premier.

 

He told the PM in a loud voice: “I’ve suffered from your policy that we can sail out to fish for only 220 days a year. I’ve faced deficits in my fishery business.”

 

An angry Prayut replied: “Don’t argue with me. Don’t raise your voice against me. Do you understand that? I’m listening to you. You can just tell me nicely. You can’t pressurise me.”

 

The premier yesterday apologised for his outburst via his team’s Facebook page.

 

A Songkhla-Pattani group, which opposes the proposed Thepa coal-fired power station, gathered near a hotel where Prayut was staying in the hope of filing a petition with the premier but the attempt ended in a confrontation with several people being injured.

 

Representatives of rubber farmers from four districts also filed a petition with Prayut.

 

They asked if the premier knew that rubber farmers were “suffering greatly” and if he “thought of a fair rubber price suitable for the current economy situation”. 

 

They had to be escorted from the hotel.

 

 

“Plant coconut trees instead, so you will be able to sell the fruit in the future and make a profit,” Prayut said.

 

“They only take a few years to grow. You can also leave them to your children. Today, we are still importing coconut products from elsewhere.”

 

While growing coconut trees might be a long-term solution, it does not address the immediate problem.

 

When confronted with problems on the ground, the incidents in the South during the mobile Cabinet meeting illustrated how well the prime minister and his junta government had managed to resolve issues. 

 

Instead of receiving flowers and welcoming smiles, this volatile visit will likely show the PM that there is a need to recognise and address the true plight of all Thais.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332744

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-29

[stephen tracy]

I do hope this report can finally put a stop to all the junta-philes claiming "all the Thais I speak to say they are happy" with the junta.  But that is probably wishful thinking.  

[rugbyjacks]

Just grow coconut trees! Use your family savings to tide you over until they bear fruit in about 5 or 6 years!

Oh wait...

[steven100]

2 hours ago, stephen tracy said:

I do hope this report can finally put a stop to all the junta-philes claiming "all the Thais I speak to say they are happy" with the junta.  But that is probably wishful thinking.  

bla ... bla .... bla .....   We love Thailand 

[Get Real]

Not so good response

[newatthis]

Definitely lacking:

 

" What Is Empathy?  Empathy is the capacity to understand what another person is experiencing from within the other person's frame of reference, ie, the capacity to place oneself in another's shoes. The essence of empathic interaction is accurate understanding of another person's feelings. "

[edwinchester]

“Plant coconut trees instead......"

 

Hopefully his "let them eat cake" moment.

[Colabamumbai]

"Lots of issues to resolve"  Not in your lifetime.

[Sid Celery]

Why does this muppet keep giving the 'horned god' sign popularised by Ronnie James Dio and others.

 

He's obviously slavishly copying Thaksin, who also thought it was a sign saying Í'm cool'. At least Thaksin was popular enough that people didn't mock him for a piece of dumb theatre.

 

He's clearly on the campaign trail, while hypocritically preventing political parties from competing with him.

 

This guy must have the IQ of a potato.

[Oziex1]

Plant coconut trees.

So no planning or reserch from their agriculture dept？

Just kneejerk response without substance.

 

[PatOngo]

7 minutes ago, Sid Celery said:

Why does this muppet keep giving the 'horned god' sign popularised by Ronnie James Dio and others.

 

He's obviously slavishly copying Thaksin, who also thought it was a sign saying Í'm cool'. At least Thaksin was popular enough that people didn't mock him for a piece of dumb theatre.

 

He's clearly on the campaign trail, while hypocritically preventing political parties from competing with him.

 

This guy must have the IQ of a potato.

 

Most potatoes I've encountered keep quiet and don't say anything.

[mikebell]

13 minutes ago, Sid Celery said:

This guy must have the IQ of a potato.

Uncanny - he resembles the children's toy: Mr Potato  Head.

[RichardColeman]

14 minutes ago, Sid Celery said:

This guy must have the IQ of a potato.

That's a little unfair to potatoes !

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

An angry Prayut replied: “Don’t argue with me. Don’t raise your voice against me. Do you understand that? I’m listening to you. You can just tell me nicely. You can’t pressurise me.”

It seems like he can pressurise the good general.  The good general takes everything rather personally.  Wonder what people actually think of him in the north and the east, where he is not so popular. 

[Becker]

47 minutes ago, steven100 said:

bla ... bla .... bla .....   We love Thailand 

Steven, you don't love Thailand; you love the junta and you love trolling.

BTW, you're up early. Was it the poor reception the little general got in the south that interrupted your green and yellow dreams?

[JAG]

It seems like he can pressurise the good general.  The good general takes everything rather personally.  Wonder what people actually think of him in the north and the east, where he is not so popular. 

I think you can form a reasonable estimate of his popularity in these parts from the regular visits he makes, and the openness he displays towards their views; together of course with the great respect he accords to the votes they have cast...

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

[Cadbury]

The longer this junta is in charge the more PM Prayut is making an embarrassment of himself and Thailand. He just hasn't got what it takes to be a leader outside his military comfort zone. He should stick to a life on the parade ground and in the Officer's Mess.

With his insulting public outbursts, pointing at chickens and off-the-cuff comments about coconut trees he is making Winnie the Pooh look intelligent.

 

[lemonjelly]

I’m in the south, the local Facebookers are furious with him for the way he spoke down to the fisherman as well as the violence dished out by the RTP on the Thepa coal plant protesters..... it’s turned very sour in the space of 24 hours, and these people don’t forgive that easily.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[YetAnother]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Instead of receiving flowers and welcoming smiles, this volatile visit will likely show the PM that there is a need to recognise and address the true plight of all Thais.

high hopes indeed; unlikely to be realized given he is an arrogant military general;

other than being the best of a set of bad options, hard to embrace this guy as continuing on as number 1;

take away S44, as i presume would happen, and he doesnt display the open-mindedness good leaders need

[steven100]

52 minutes ago, Sid Celery said:

Why does this muppet keep giving the 'horned god' sign popularised by Ronnie James Dio and others.

 

He's obviously slavishly copying Thaksin, who also thought it was a sign saying Í'm cool'. At least Thaksin was popular enough that people didn't mock him for a piece of dumb theatre.

 

He's clearly on the campaign trail, while hypocritically preventing political parties from competing with him.

 

This guy must have the IQ of a potato.

I really don't think you could hold a candle to him Sid,  so I wouldn't continue to bash the government at every opportunity ....  it just shows immaturity ............ 

[wvavin]

Does anybody think there is real gain for the southern people on such trip?

[BuaBS]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

They asked if the premier knew that rubber farmers were “suffering greatly” and if he “thought of a fair rubber price suitable for the current economy situation”. 

Their own fault , turning the south and some other parts of Thailand into rubber & palmoil plantations . They're looking for handouts like the rice scheme. World price is what it is. Live with it. Prayut is right : diversify or starve.

The fishermen can go f themselves.

About the coal powerplant , there Mr P  is wrong. Too polluting

[yellowboat]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

I really don't think you could hold a candle to him Sid,  so I wouldn't continue to bash the government at every opportunity ....  it just shows immaturity ............ 

Any unelected government that has usurped power should not expect nor enjoy any prestige or love from its people.   The junta's promises have been many but their achievements few.   Bashing the Shinawartras is okay but not the army ?  Please. 

[TKDfella]

Well, I think it displays what we have come to see as the man's general character (in political terms). He is obviously not a diplomat. Nuff said.

[trainman34014]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

It seems like he can pressurise the good general.  The good general takes everything rather personally.  Wonder what people actually think of him in the north and the east, where he is not so popular. 

I live in the Rural North but i dare not tell you what the locals think of him as it would get me locked up ! 

[lvr181]

"An angry Prayut replied: “Don’t argue with me. Don’t raise your voice against me. Do you understand that? I’m listening to you. You can just tell me nicely. You can’t pressurise me.”  

 

Touchy touchy because he is a General (NOT a politican) and therefore cannot be criticised!   Still has one foot in cloud cuckoo land.

 

Maybe if someone was to "pressurise me" (his words) he may become bloated and float away?  

[kcpattaya]

Guess the 'south' is still dominated by red-shirt Taksin fans.

[observer90210]

Like it or not, the PM is plainly trying to abide to international fishing quotas, set precisely to enable enough time for the fish to reproduce and benefit to the fishermen in the first place. 

 

Ironically this is obvious to non-fisherman, but does not ring a bell to those directly involved !

 

Obviously, the fishermen do not understand...perhaps they should diversify their activities in opening cutie bars in Nana or Pattaya, that may generate some extra revenue !!

[Sid Celery]

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

 

Most potatoes I've encountered keep quiet and don't say anything.

 

I really do wish.

[Sid Celery]

9 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

Like it or not, the PM is plainly trying to abide to international fishing quotas, set precisely to enable enough time for the fish to reproduce and benefit to the fishermen in the first place. 

 

Ironically this is obvious to non-fisherman, but does not ring a bell to those directly involved !

 

Obviously, the fishermen do not understand...perhaps they should diversify their activities in opening cutie bars in Nana or Pattaya, that may generate some extra revenue !!

 

Don't think I agree. Put like that it sounds as though Prayuth has an ecological conscience,; I don't believe he does.

 

What he's trying to do is avoid Europe from banning Thai imports. He is acting through fear and not altruism.