Soldiers Visit Ubon Academics, Ask Not To Protest Prayuth Tuesday

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

Titipol Phakdeewanich, center, sits with Col. Mongkut Kaewprom, right, on Thursday in Ubon Ratchathani province. Photo: Titipol Phakdeewanich / Facebook

 

UBON RATCHATHANI — Police on Saturday visited the home of an academic to ask that he and his students refrain from engaging in protests when junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha visits a northeastern province next week.

 

Police officers went to university lecturer Teerapon Anmai’s home and asked him not to make any political move come Tuesday when the prime minister hosts a mobile-cabinet meeting in Ubon Ratchathani province. He was one of six politically-active academics at Ubon Ratchathani University visited this week and asked to make sure students and lecturers don’t stage protests against Prayuth or the junta.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/07/22/soldiers-visit-ubon-academics-ask-not-to-protest-prayuth-tuesday/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-07-23

Soldier visits to critics, military on campus just routine, says Army Area commander

By Jitraporn Senwong 
The Nation 

 

2nd Army Area Commander Lt-General Tharakorn Thammawin

 

The military on Sunday said they had not put pressure on Ubon Ratchathani University students and academics ahead of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s field trip to the province today.

 

“Still, we have to look case-by-case whether their movements could be deemed illegal because if that is the case, it will ruin the province’s image of being a good host,” said 2nd Army Area Commander Lt-General Tharakorn Thammawin.

 

“Some of our officers talked to people, but we did not put any pressure on anyone. We merely prepared security measures around the campus area prior to the PM’s visit,” Tharakorn added. 

 

He was referring to military officers visiting Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the university’s political science faculty, who was told that there must be no protest or demonstration on the campus when Prayut would be there.

 

“We were told to be patient because the PM had already made a social contract that the general election would be held in 2019 despite multiple delays for various excuses,” Titipol wrote on his Facebook status detailing military attempts to “meet”, “inform” and “seek collaboration” with those who were deemed to need close monitoring.

 

He also told the visiting officers that having military trucks driving on the university campus every day is “very intimidating”, although the military claimed to mean no harm and was merely providing extra safety and security for university students and staff.

 

From today to Tuesday, Prayut is scheduled to be in the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen for the latest in a series of “field visits”, as well as heading a mobile Cabinet meeting.

 

Around 500 people would be arranged by local authorities to “welcome” the junta premier at each of his destinations in Amnat Charoen. 

 

Some ministers such as Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, Digital Economy Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj and Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith formed an advance party to observe projects of interest before others arrived.

 

Apart from discussion local economy and development projects, speculation is rife that Prayut will meet with local politicians to build political support ahead of next year’s election, a ritual he developed in his prior provincial visits.

 

Tharakorn, however, brushed aside such speculation. “The premier will visit here only because of a change of plan,” he said. “The meeting was originally planned to be held in the northern provinces but due to the Tham Luang cave incident, the plan was replaced.”

 

The initial plan for Prayut to meet local leaders this afternoon was cancelled following public criticism of the electoral-politics nature of doing so.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30350585

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-23

"Around 500 people would be arranged by local authorities to “welcome” the junta premier at each of his destinations in Amnat Charoen. "

 

nothing more to add

“Some of our officers talked to people, but we did not put any pressure on anyone it will ruin the juntas image of being a good host,” having military trucks driving on the university campus every day is “very intimidating”, although the military claimed to mean no harm and was merely providing extra safety and security for university students and staff. Democracy Not who are they fooling 

Just remember we have more than 44 big guns at our disposal. 

Toe the line or else.

Edited July 22, 20187 yr by Thailand

We know where you live...

 

“If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.”

Paulo Coelho

Edited July 22, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

So in a gangster movie it would simply translate as,  "sending the boys around to have a quiet word"

Or perhaps "making an offer they couldn't refuse"

 

thugs! 

Soldiers visit academics ask them not to protest.

What a load of b+++ocks, they said if you lot protest you will be going on a short holiday for some adjustment.

A truly dreadful, pitiful organization. I feel for the lecturer I really do, he knows full well what the score is, but he is in a VERY small minority whose apathy has been too profound for too long. And it's already looking like it's too late to claw anything resembling normalcy back.

 

1 hour ago, humbug said:

"Around 500 people would be arranged by local authorities to “welcome” the junta premier at each of his destinations in Amnat Charoen. "

 

nothing more to add

Yeah agree. His personal glee team for the news, 

So it must be getting really hot in the kitchen if "he who must be obeyed" has to pull this sort of a stunt, as I've said before if you can't handle it get the <deleted> out

' ...the colonel then asked if there were any spots for army officers to teach about nationalism and reverence toward the monarchy, adding that he then offered to have an army band perform at the university.'

 

What can one say (literally, what CAN one say?!) ...

2 hours ago, webfact said:

merely providing extra safety and security for university students and staff.

Why do they even bother with this type of seriously lame excuse that no-one will buy. It's offensive to any educated individual who knows exactly what has happened and why. They live in a dreamworld created for their own sleazy practices.

17 minutes ago, z42 said:

A truly dreadful, pitiful organization. I feel for the lecturer I really do, he knows full well what the score is, but he is in a VERY small minority whose apathy has been too profound for too long. And it's already looking like it's too late to claw anything resembling normalcy back.

 

Totally agree with you. It breaks my heart to see the (relatively speaking) handful of brave Thais who dare stand up to Power being completely unsupported (even in the slightest of symbolic ways) by the massed MILLIONS of their countrymen and countrywomen.

 

Sad, sad, sad. Beyond sad.

Very Hun Sen ish!

A post containing disallowed references to the government has been removed as well as a reply. 

Just keeping the chickens in the coup as there is a fox on the loose.

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by sammieuk1

Disgraceful junta behavior with the all omni useful phrase: " it is a security matter" .  The mind numbing antics are getting harder to watch.  There has not been a junta lover siting in almost two months now.  They are just so stupid.

4 hours ago, humbug said:

"Around 500 people would be arranged by local authorities to “welcome” the junta premier at each of his destinations in Amnat Charoen. "

 

nothing more to add

i  need  to  know the  price per  head? or  is  it  just  free  food,  theyll all  come for  free  food

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Very Hun Sen ish!

Next step: Pol Pot ish! And where are their manners, isn't it a sign of good intentions to bring a present when you visit people? Sometimes a bottle of wine says more than a thousand words:

 

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by Lupatria

Just routine...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Soldier visits to critics, military on campus just routine

This country lacks grandma's

 

      

Bow down to Sauron and Gollum, or you will get the Orcs.

Confirming the fact that Thailand has a fake security and is safer now. At least that's what the junta supporters here like to believe. 

About 6% of GDP is spent up this way. How many people live there. They need irrigation programs, plus a lot more social service's. I can understand the frustration.

Oh freedom of speech, wherefore art thou...under the wheels of a bl**dy army truck.

37 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

At least that's what the junta supporters here like to believe. 

Have not seen a junta supporter on this forum in weeks.  The last two did not have much in the way of debating skills.  They just accused people who wanted universal suffrage and free speech as selfish.  The junta no longer has anything defend-able.  They are a joke.  They are just squandering time and goodwill for a few bucks.  Now that is shamelessly selfish. 

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by yellowboat

3 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Have not seen a junta supporter on this forum in weeks.  The last two did not have much in the way of debating skills.  They just accused people who wanted universal suffrage and free speech as selfish.  The junta no longer has anything defend-able.  They are a joke.  They are just squandering time and goodwill for a few bucks.  Now that is shamelessly selfish. 

Well, if you look at the reactions to the posts on page 1 our dear junta supporter steven100 has reacted with "sad" and "confused" to a number of posts so he's still hanging in there.

Hey Steven; why not post a proper defense of the pathetic dinos in power instead of all the beating around the bush?

22 minutes ago, Becker said:

Well, if you look at the reactions to the posts on page 1 our dear junta supporter steven100 has reacted with "sad" and "confused" to a number of posts so he's still hanging in there.

Hey Steven; why not post a proper defense of the pathetic dinos in power instead of all the beating around the bush?

I stand corrected.  Thought he was ordered back to barracks.  I do miss his man crush photos of supreme leader.   

 

I do feel that he is an okay guy who can be reasoned with more so than others.  He also will debate where the good general uses his privilege of rank to hide behind others.   The junta leaders could learn courage from him.

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by yellowboat

4 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

I stand corrected.  Thought he was ordered back to barracks.  I do miss his man crush photos of supreme leader.   

 

I do feel that he is an okay guy who can be reasoned with more so than others.  He also will debate where the good general uses his privilege of rank to hide behind others.   The junta leaders could learn courage from him. 

You're right, I miss him also. Those sycophantic fawning photos of the junta leader were hilarious!