PM Prayut cold to activist student’s invitation for a public debate

[webfact]

PM cold to activist student’s invitation for a public debate

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION 

 

A graphic posted by Tanawat, depicting himself asking Prayut to join the debate : "Please come sit and talk with me"

 

A STUDENT activist has challenged Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to a public debate with him on Thailand’s future after the junta leader told him to “come out when the country is in trouble”.

 

“Now I think the country has been in huge trouble since you took power,” said Tanawat Wongchai, an economics sophomore student at Chulalongkorn University.

 

The message is in a public invitation he posted on Facebook on Tuesday night.

 

However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he does not like to “argue back and forth” with student activists, Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

 

“Anyone should consider the status of debaters before accepting an invitation. A student debating with a national leader is an unlikely scene,” Sansern said. “You’d better ask Chulalongkorn University deans whether they would agree to join such a debate if they were the prime minister.”

 

While Prayut’s refusal to join the debate was no surprise, Tanawat affirmed that he was always ready should the PM ever change his mind.

 

The proposed debate aims to seek solutions on “issues perceived to be very challenging to the country”, the 19-year-old student said. These would include fiscal sustainability in an ageing society, environmental issues and the government-declared national agendas on human rights and Thailand 4.0 economic scheme, he added. 

 

Tanawat was one of a few students holding a paper banner in protest against the junta leader, who gave a special lecture at the university last Monday. Seeing the handwritten message “Chula students love Uncle Too [dictator]”, Prayut said in response: “You’re so smart. Do come out next time when the country is in trouble.”

 

The confrontation was followed by uninvited visits from military officers to the students and their associations a few days after. Tanawat’s faculty was approached by officers who attempted to ask for information about him.

 

Tanawat subsequently joined other students in bringing a petition to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regional Office for Southeast Asia, calling for international attention to what they saw as harassment by authorities.

 

Tanawat (center) when he filed a petition on alleged harassment committed by authorties to the OHCHR on April 11

 

He told The Nation that he was not afraid if the debate invitation brought him more threats.

 

“My debate invitation stemmed from Prayut’s ‘invitation’ to us. How could this be any threat to national security?” he said. “But it may be a threat to the junta government’s security. For one thing is certain: Thais will get to see the government’s vision from this debate.”

 

Tanawat said he thought that a dialogue with the leader should be possible for the the country’s youth. “If Oxford University students could ask for a debate with [United Kingdom] PM Theresa May, why could we not do the same thing here in Thailand? Debates with leaders should not be limited to political players,” he said.

 

“I’m not the best speaker out there but I have researched academically to some extent,” he said. “Prayut may be known for being talkative but the debate should be able to justify whether he is also a good speaker.”

 

Tanawat, who now serves as deputy head of the university’s student council, became an activist in his high school years with the Education for Liberation group, where he explored subjects of conservatism in traditional school rules and education policy. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30343435

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-19

[Thaiwrath]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he does not like to “argue back and forth” with student activists

Or, maybe he does not want to look silly in public, in a discussion with an educated young bloke ?

[Samui Bodoh]

Excellent move by this young student; respect!

 

Attack the arrogance. Attack the aloofness. Attack the attitude.

 

And, most of all, make fun of the widdle, widdle man... 

[PatOngo]

This will be a non starter, no way P will lose face to a kid with superior intelligence.

[stephen tracy]

“If Oxford University students could ask for a debate with [United Kingdom] PM Theresa May, why could we not do the same thing here in Thailand?" Because regardless of what anyone may thing of her, she has the intellectual faculties to enter into a formal debate, whereas the man-child would not stand a chance even against a 10 year old. I have watched his Friday night show and I have read countless comments from him in the media, and there is no doubt in mind my at all now that he is so stupid, calling him stupid is an insult to stupid people.  And as for this moronic reply: "However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he does not like to argue back and forth”... it's called academic debate, it is not "arguing back and forth".  Prayuth and his coterie are actually so uneducated that don't even understand what a debate is. I can only conclude that despite their privileged backgrounds they have not actually received a real education. Perhaps the reason Prayuth decided to limit twerks to 3 is because he has trouble counting past 3. 

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Anyone should consider the status of debaters

confirmed then; this thought process will hinder thailand for generations; military generals in charge of a country ?!

[Eligius]

A debate between this student and the Moron would be like a fight between Muhammed Ali at his prime and me! Sensible and rational point after rational point would be made by the student, to which the Moron would simply throw out a load of silly rhetorical questions:

 

'What do you want? Do you want Thailand to go backwards? Do you think Thailand should be led by bad people again? Do you want me to give up all my hard work to make Thailand better? Do you want corruption to return to Thailand? Are you a Thai? Do you not love your country? Are you not a patriot? Then get behind me and my government - and sing this new song with me ....'!

 

Edited April 18, 2018 by Eligius

[stephen tracy]

Just now, Eligius said:

A debate between this student and the Moron would be like a fight between Muhammed Ali at his prime and me! Sensible and rational point after rational point would be made by the student, to which the Moron would simply throw out a load of silly rhetorical questions:

 

'What do you want? Do you want Thailand to go backwards? Do you think Thailand should be led by bad people again? Do you want me to give up all my hard work to make Thailand better? Do you want corruption to return to Thailand? Are you a Thai? Do you not love your country? Are you not a patriot? Then get behind me and my government - and sing this new song with me ....'!

 

"to which the Moron would simply throw out a load of silly rhetorical questions"... either that or a banana peel.

 

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he does not like to “argue back and forth” with student activists

Of course he doesn't like to argue, he prefers the more direct, one way approach..............there must be a word for it? 

[baboon]

55 minutes ago, Eligius said:

A debate between this student and the Moron would be like a fight between Muhammed Ali at his prime and me! Sensible and rational point after rational point would be made by the student, to which the Moron would simply throw out a load of silly rhetorical questions:

 

'What do you want? Do you want Thailand to go backwards? Do you think Thailand should be led by bad people again? Do you want me to give up all my hard work to make Thailand better? Do you want corruption to return to Thailand? Are you a Thai? Do you not love your country? Are you not a patriot? Then get behind me and my government - and sing this new song with me ....'!

 

The student evidently knows only too well he would be debating with 'Look, I'm right and you're wrong. No matter what. End of story or do you want to see the inside of a cell', so really what would the drear leader have to gain from such an exchange?

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anyone should consider the status of debaters before accepting an invitation.

Translation : Get back in your hole Low-so.

[anon789561]

“Anyone should consider the status of debaters before accepting an invitation. A student debating with a national leader is an unlikely scene,”

 

Unlikely? they do it all the time in the UK Prayut, on live TV no less. Just be honest, an economics student from Chula would rip you to pieces in a debate and make you look rather silly, a job you have already mastered yourself it seems.

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he does not like to “argue back and forth” with student activists,

Anyone who believes that silence solves problems, also keeps his eyes covered to be invisible.

[yellowboat]

Prayut is a coward and the kids know this.  Their parents are willing to put up with this sort of behavior and all kinds of other crap for peace at any price. 

Edited April 19, 2018 by yellowboat

[Anak Nakal]

Prayut afraid. That all.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, stephen tracy said:

Prayuth and his coterie are actually so uneducated that don't even understand what a debate is. 

It may be more a result of being a career military officer - one does not debate within the chain of command. There is no academic argument. No doubt from Prayut's perspective as Chief of the NCPO (aka junta), all of Thailand has been effectively conscripted by the RTM and Thai citizens are expected to behave as if they were compliant soldiers. It's no coincidence that the NCPO issues "Orders" that compel obedience by Thais.

And just a reminder, deputy junta leader, deputy PM and Defense Minister "Gen. Prawit suggested that death was just a fact of military life."  http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2017/11/25/thai-military-obedience-death/

 

[chainarong]

Prayut or his advisers are too cunning to fall for this trap,  for this will give the students credibility, Prayut would be well advised to stay away , right from the start the students have been a target of concern and history has a tendency of repeating itself..........................................

[BobBKK]

He can't take his guns into the student hall so he is afraid, very afraid.

[Eligius]

4 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

He can't take his guns into the student hall so he is afraid, very afraid.

Yes, the man is a living, breathing, walking and talking definition of a COWARD!  A truly pathetic and contemptible creature.

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by Eligius

[Media1]

He has not the intelligence to hold a debate. His forte is stand over tactics and spending money to make friends. As he said l are a politician but l know nothing. Which l already know lol. Please go polish some guns.

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“Anyone should consider the status of debaters before accepting an invitation. A student debating with a national leader is an unlikely scene,” Sansern said. “You’d better ask Chulalongkorn University deans whether they would agree to join such a debate if they were the prime minister.”

If a frog can get an audience with His Aloofness, so should a citizen...

[Media1]

1 minute ago, klauskunkel said:

If a frog can get an audience with His Aloofness, so should a citizen...

His hardly in the class of as you describe him. But he has not offered one debate since he took control via weapons and force. The students are the future of the nation. And this man has no regard for them. This why it's imperative his voted out 

[DM07]

I bow to you, Khun Thanawat!

 

Prajut will never do this, because he simply has no knowledge to actually "discuss" these matters, other then from a position of absolute power!

Embarrassing, to say the least! 

[jonstarjon]

PM doesn't like to debate anything with anyone. That's why the country is in such shit. He couldn't care about anything except what he's thinking about at the time. I think mostly he argues with himself and probably spends a lot of time out back with an appropriate tipple mumbling to himself slagging off all those around him. 

[Eligius]

It would be interesting to get this bright, brave and clued-up student to debate Prayut on the new 'history textbook' which the junta commissioned (2015). In History of the Thai Nation (published by  Thailand's Ministry of Culture Fine Arts Department - so it must be true!). we read on p. 195:

 

“Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister has carried out a policy of reforming the country, reforming politics to be truly a democracy, eliminating corruption and using moral principles to lead the country to be truly a democracy.”

 

This is what the junta calls 'national education'.

 

The angels must be weeping in Heaven ....

 

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by Eligius

[Jonmarleesco]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

 

However, the prime minister is not likely to accept the invitation as he can't think of answers does not like to “argue back and forth” when questioned by uppity citizens with student activists

[metisdead]

An off topic baiting post has been removed as well as the reply. 

[Media1]

18 hours ago, jonstarjon said:

PM doesn't like to debate anything with anyone. That's why the country is in such shit. He couldn't care about anything except what he's thinking about at the time. I think mostly he argues with himself and probably spends a lot of time out back with an appropriate tipple mumbling to himself slagging off all those around him. 

yes

[baboon]

22 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

If a frog can get an audience with His Aloofness, so should a citizen...

Indeed. But frogs don't look at him the way the citizen on the bottom right is. That woman is the only honest one among 'em...

[Samui Bodoh]

22 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

If a frog can get an audience with His Aloofness, so should a citizen...

 

If Prayut agrees to debate the frog, where can I put a fiver on the frog?