Prayut slams the door on prime minister debates

[webfact]

Prayut slams the door on prime minister debates

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Junta chief says his vision is clear and he finds no need to take part in these ‘political’ attacks

 

DISMISSING growing calls to join the prime ministerial debates, junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said firmly that he attached no importance to these calls for him to outline his vision, arguing the debate stage was more about politics than policy discussions.

 

“I’ve long been prepared for this. But today, I just don’t see the necessity to take part,” Prayut said yesterday during his weekly press briefing, when asked about the calls for him to participate in the televised debates. “It’s not about me being scared. It’s just that we only see them attacking each other. There’s no substance. This is no debate.”

 

Prayut, who is now the sole prime ministerial candidate of the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party, stressed that he would not join any of the debate sessions. 

 

“I’m not scared,” the junta chief said. “It’s just that I’m working. I don’t have time for this eloquence thing.” Prayut is known to be short-tempered with limited oral communication and public-speaking skills. So, while most PM candidates from all parties are living up to the election hype and joining the debates to show their leadership vision, all eyes are on the general, waiting to see how he would skirt the challenge.

 

Other contenders have been picking on Prayut for his absence from the prime ministerial debates. 

 

Political scientists, meanwhile, want all candidates, including the general, to outline their vision to help voters make up their minds before casting their ballots.

 

‘Self-sufficiency philosophy’

 

In response, Prayut said plainly yesterday that his vision has been clear all along and can be seen in the government’s tagline: “Security, Prosperity and Sustainability”, which he said was based on the self-sufficiency philosophy of the late King Rama IX.

 

“That’s all for my vision,” Prayut concluded before elaborating that his government in the past five years had already laid out all the work on national strategy as well as other relevant legislation.

 

Prior to Prayut’s outright rejection of the debates, his affiliated party, Phalang Pracharat, had appeared reluctant to send him to the debates, citing legal implications given his current status as the PM and head of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

They have sent a query to the Election Commission but the agency has yet to give a reply on the legality.

 

In a related development, rivals of the coup-installed regime today go on trial in cases whose outcomes could have long-term effects on their political lives.

 

Pheu Thai ally Thai Raksa Chart today is scheduled to face the Constitutional Court for allegedly undermining the constitutional monarchy system by nominating Princess Ubolratana, the elder sister of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, as its sole PM candidate.

 

If ruled guilty, the party could be dissolved and its executives could face a ban from politics for life.

 

Key Thai Raksa Chart leaders would not join any political rallies today, party member Weng Tojirakran told The Nation. They would see how the situation evolves before resuming their activities, he said.

 

Constituency candidates, however, would carry on with their campaigns, he added.

 

The leader of another anti-junta party, Future Forward chief Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit, will meet the attorney-general today after having been accused by the NCPO of violating the computer crime.

 

Thanathorn and two other party members have been accused of entering false information into the computer system, after they criticised the junta’s bid to recruit former MPs to the Phalang Pracharat Party in an online livestream last year.

 

The trio could be detained today if ordered by the court, according to Thanathorn. 

 

Pro-right organisation iLaw yesterday pointed out this should not result in disqualification of the three from running in the election, as it was not the final judgement of the court.

 

However, the lawsuit and the imprisonment would have an impact on the fortunes of Thanathorn and the party, as they would have to divide their attention between the election campaign and fighting the case, iLaw said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30364840

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-27

[Thaiwrath]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I’ve long been prepared for this. But today, I just don’t see the necessity to take part,” 

 

“I’m not scared,” the junta chief said.

[cornishcarlos]

Can't debate if all the opposition is locked up or banned from politics, so he's correct that there's no point !!! This is the only transparent thing about the Junta, but they don't seem to have an issue with blatant cheating and manipulation of the process ????????

[Puchaiyank]

People speculate about how intelligent and articulate these candidates might be.  Let's have the debates to remove all doubt...

[Justgrazing]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prior to Prayut’s outright rejection of the debates, his affiliated party, Phalang Pracharat, had appeared reluctant to send him to the debates, citing 

His propensity to go off like a grenade offering out folk who have the temerity to question him .. 

[Samui Bodoh]

"...I’m not scared..."

 

Yes, you are.

 

Once again, the cheating cheater who cheats rears his ugly head.

 

Sad, sad times for beloved Thailand...

 

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“I’m not scared,” the junta chief said. “It’s just that I’m working. I don’t have time for this eloquence thing.”

Prayut is known to be short-tempered with limited oral communication and public-speaking skills.

As a Thai man, I'm surprised he has thin skin.

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

arguing the debate stage was more about politics than policy discussions.

demonstrates his intelligence (lack thereof) ; what does he think they debate ?

[rkidlad]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“That’s all for my vision,” Prayut concluded before elaborating that his government in the past five years had already laid out all the work on national strategy as well as other relevant legislation.

But the people wanna hear more about your strategies on lottery tickets and deck chairs, etc. 

[colinneil]

Wont the debate, in case he spits the dummy out, and threatens to punch somebody in the mouth, making him look even more ridiculous than he looks now.

[bluesofa]

15 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Wont the debate, in case he spits the dummy out, and threatens to punch somebody in the mouth, making him look even more ridiculous than he looks now.

Is that possible for him to be more ridiculous than now?

[Hayduke]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“I’m not scared,” the junta chief said. “It’s just that I’m working.

 

Yes....and like everyday, Uncle and his Junta mates are busy working.

[jerojero]

Coward. Nuff said.

[nickstav]

I hope that young Thais, especially university students, take this election very seriously. They must actively get involved and convince their older family members that these tactics harm Thailand. They have to be willing to put it all on the line, no matter the cost. It is their futures at stake. If you want to be free you have to be willing to die for that freedom. That is what freed Ukrainians from being puppets of Russia. They're still paying the price, but they'll win out in the end. Thailand still has a third world mentality in many ways and technological advances alone won't cure that.

[kotsak]

A blurting person who can debate?

 

[Eric Loh]

Liken a prawn; no spine no backbone and head full of shit, Nuff said. 

[Cadbury]

National leaders are not meant to be afraid of public debate. Except the National leader of Thailand it seems. He is not setting a very good example of what leadership is about.

If he does not have the courage to face debate one must wonder what cowardice would be shown if he had to defend his country or lead it into battle. It is reasonable now to assume he would lead his army from the rear.

[Sir Dude]

No surprise here on this one. Debating is something he has never done and is an alien concept to such a command driven and blind obedience control freak. He would have an episode and lose it due to his intolerance and lack of patience to get his seriously flawed ideas across. Would be a slaughter and they know it...more chance of a snowman in hell than getting this guy to discuss something. 

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

National leaders are not meant to be afraid of public debate. Except the National leader of Thailand it seems. He is not setting a very good example of what leadership is about.

If he does not have the courage to face debate one must wonder what cowardice would be shown if he had to defend his country or lead it into battle. It is reasonable now to assume he would lead his army from the rear.

An astute comment. Probably a recipient for today's 'punch in the face' award.

[rkidlad]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

he junta chief said. “It’s just that I’m working. I don’t have time for this eloquence thing.”

Exactly. Why bother with this 'eloquence thing'. That's for 'politicians' who stupidly believe people voting for them will actually make a difference to the outcome of this election. 

 

 

[neeray]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut slams the door

Don't let it hit you on the way out !!!!

[ReMarKable]

Prayut has been sponging off the Thai people for years as a do nothing general and a do nothing non-elected PM.  Maybe he should practice the self-sufficiency philosophy himself and earn his keep.

[tingtong]

“Security, Prosperity and Sustainability”,

only Prayut has a different action plan to achieve this then king Rama9...

 

1. Security: take control the army, no one can touch you

2. Prosperity: buy useless submarines, etc, and pocket the under the table bribes.

3. Sustainability: if cant postpone election any longer, in case a loss refer back to Point#1

[Mainhattencitizen]

5 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Of course he is scared, the fool.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut is known to be short-tempered with limited oral communication and public-speaking skills. So, while most PM candidates from all parties are living up to the election hype and joining the debates to show their leadership vision, all eyes are on the general, waiting to see how he would skirt the challenge.

Speaks volumes !

[dcnx]

Absolute terrified pig.

[nikmar]

[Cadbury]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut slams the door on prime minister debates

The PM has shut the door on himself entering public debate. The print and electronic media should now shut the door on any further publicity for the PM (including his bumptious weekly broadcasts) until after the election. Just in case it is deemed to be political which it almost certainly would be.

[jayboy]

His refusal to take part was of course predictable.

 

What I find frustrating is the complete silence of opposition politicians on the issue. Unless I have missed it the likes of Thanathorn, Abhisit, Sudarat, Korn etc have said nothing. This should be an opportunity to skewer Prayuth for his cowardice in refusing to take part. It all seems too deferential and insipid.

[sammieuk1]

He may be more interested in a imposters debate ????