snoop1130 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Rights group criticises Thai PM's cardboard cutout gesture By Aukkarapon Niyomyat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, known for his temperamental outbursts, has adopted a unique tactic to avoid tricky questions from reporters -- leave a cardboard cutout of himself for reporters to quiz. But the gesture has been criticised by Human Rights Watch which said it shows the military junta chief's "contempt of media criticism" in a country yet to restore democracy since a 2014 coup. Seventeen life-sized cutouts of Prayuth have been set up around the government compound ahead of Children's Day on Saturday. They show Prayuth in various outfits including sportswear, work suits and traditional Thai attire. On Monday, Prayuth spoke briefly at Government House before a cutout of Prayuth in a suit and tie was brought out. Prayuth, who is known for his abstruse sense of humor, then told journalists to refer any questions to the cardboard cutout. "Ask this guy," he said. Reaction to the bizarre gesture was largely muted on social media on Tuesday but Human Rights Watch said it added to a "long list of his bizarre and bullying reactions to reporters". "Thailand's junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha continues to show contempt of media criticism and scrutiny," Sunai Phasuk, senior Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters. The general is known for going off-script and for his public outbursts which are sometimes dismissed as mildly amusing even by his staunchest critics. His comments have also been menacing. In 2015 he warned journalists that he had the power to execute them. In another, separate incident he threw a banana peel at a reporter. Prayuth's government has announced it will hold a general election in November 2018 after repeatedly delaying the vote. However, it has yet to lift a ban on political campaigning despite pressure from groups of all political stripes. "Even when the junta promises to hold an election, there is no open space for media freedom," said Sunai. Children's Day is celebrated annually in Thailand on the second Saturday of January. On the day, armed forces open up military barracks to children to let them pose with weapons and tanks. Children are also invited to sit at the prime minister's work desk inside Government House. (Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry) -- © Copyright Reuters 2018-1-9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taichiplanet Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I'm guessing Trump is kicking himself that he didn't think of it first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coulson Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 A psychological analysis would be more prudent. Give it a few years, it will be statues not cutouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracker1 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Don't worry about Thai media he has hit the world media and it is not for any substantial achievement ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinchester Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Only last week this thin skinned individual was calling himself a politician....laughable. Hopefully there was a soi dog nearby to give the cutout a blessing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psimbo Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Just shows the arrogance and contempt of the man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagnabbit Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I thought it was pretty funny.Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 As soon as he has to verbally defend himself or his government, he runs and hides. Then he feels that he has the right to tell children to go into politics. He just builds sentiment that perhaps there should be no more coups. They reflect badly on Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohy Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Humorous as it is, Sadly this will not end well, his support with normal thais is disappearing fast and , the new "firm"' has little control or mitigation over the country,i suspect we will see problems and violent ones at that soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champers Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 It seems insulting and disrespecful to the press, who are only doing their job and they are the link between the PM and the populace. I have just seen the story on BBC World news; not a good way to get global coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarguy Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 it was just on NHK Japan news also....but the cut-out forgot to put his watch on today ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Suggest using wood in future it would be more in keeping with juntas policy's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigntax Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 (edited) Unfortunately each cutout has a higher IQ than the original and most would agree a more likeable personaliity Edited January 9, 2018 by Reigntax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baboon Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I don't see what the big deal is. What we have here is a military word we aren't allowed to say, trying to be humourous. We already know he is thin skinned and has no sense of humour other than threats of execution and throwing banana peels, so why the fuss? Why are foreign media honing on this and not the far more egregious outrages of his junta? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeupplease Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Another day another cock-up by a man who has noting but contempt for his less well off compatriots. He has to see cell time at some time and the sooner the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Bring back the Good-Old-Days of Democrazy, and those 'good-question/bad-question' bats, which showed so much more style & respect for the media ? 'Amazing Thailand' strikes yet-again ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Looks like he is kicking himself up his own backside in the photo. Appropriate ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HooHaa Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Its actually pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossy Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 News just in: General Chan-o-Cha Prayut, the self-exiled, self-appointed and self-obsessed PM of Thailand has been seen, frantically running around Oxford Street, London, dressed as an army General and calling out, "I was only joking, Yingers . . . where's the asylum place?" He was later seen shopping in Wilko's, the cheap watch section would you believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tradewind777 Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 He will feel even more empowered with the antics coming out of the White House. This pathetic little man is full of his own importance and his continuing in the role will erode Thailand’s economic competitiveness. What will the people do? There is only so much they will take. Then they will revolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 15 hours ago, snoop1130 said: In 2015 he warned journalists that he had the power to execute them. any other questions as to why we do not want this guy onboard for the next-go-around ? people that think like this should not be close to power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossy Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 14 hours ago, coulson said: A psychological analysis would be more prudent. Give it a few years, it will be statues not cutouts. You think he's worthy of a statue? A rubbish bin with his name on it, maybe . . . one of those that every passing dog feels the need to salute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 15 hours ago, snoop1130 said: Reaction to the bizarre gesture was largely muted on social media that is not what i see and hear; multiple overseas friends have reported seeing copies of this article in internationally-known news outlets; one, an American titled his response : "Y'all are funny"; the world laughs, and Not with us, rather at us; for a double-talking person, Big P really doesnt seem to have a clue as to thailand's intl reputation despite the crap about it that he spouts here; his behavior is what we want the world to think of us ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkleMoooose Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Well the new fella says less stupid things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 strange there weren't some intrepid reporters/journalists onsite to make use of this scenario; dont have to be a lawyer to phrase questions that silence amounts to an affirmative answer to that question : reporter:{some question} cardboard dummie: silence reporter: 'can i assume by your silence.....'? => mission accomplished Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxcorrigan Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 15 hours ago, Dagnabbit said: I thought it was pretty funny. Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk I personally thought it was pathetic, if anyone needs a "spin doctor" this bloke does! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Had a nice chat with an average Thai. She said she thought the Shinawartas were great, but they always overstepped their office triggering their ouster. But the current government makes them look better all the time. That sentiment is starting to take hold I would bet from Prim's comments. He seems to be more in touch with what is going on than the good general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangrak Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I'm afraid the cardboard examples are the ones which are the closest to the reality of Thailand, the flesh one is just a self-imbued nasty, smelly gas bubble with dictatorial dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaifish Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Everyone is Equal but some are more Equal than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 10 hours ago, yellowboat said: Had a nice chat with an average Thai. She said she thought the Shinawartas were great, but they always overstepped their office triggering their ouster. But the current government makes them look better all the time. That sentiment is starting to take hold I would bet from Prim's comments. He seems to be more in touch with what is going on than the good general. Perhaps more important is the power that Prem represents, the current Pm would probably be unwise to ignore his hint, as recently expressed when they came to congratulate him on his birthday ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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