PM urges protesters to hold off rallies until Covid-19 crisis has ended

By The Nation

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on anti-government groups to consider putting off plans to hold rallies at least until the Covid-19 outbreak is over.

 

He added that Thais should unite in ending the Covid-19 crisis before focusing on political issues.

 

He made this appeal in a televised address on Thursday (September 17) evening.

 

Anti-government groups have been planning to hold a major rally in Bangkok on Saturday to demand amendments to the charter, dissolution of the House and an end to intimidation of government critics.

 

Prayut said rallies at this time would put Thailand at the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections, which would affect the livelihoods of more than 10 million people and further exacerbate the economic situation. He warned that people should not do anything that would prompt another lockdown.

 

The prime minister said he has heard protesters’ call for changes, adding, “I respect your opinions, but today Thailand is feeling the pain that we have to urgently tackle first, and that is to mitigate the economic losses brought on by the outbreak. We should not worsen the situation.”

 

Prayut also warned that political unrest would delay economic recovery, as it would dent investors’ confidence and deter tourists from visiting Thailand once the borders are open. Rallies will also shift the government’s focus from solving economic problems.

 

He explained that many places are already experiencing a second wave of infections, but Thailand has been able to successfully curb transmissions thanks to the collaboration of related parties.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394716

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-17

 

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The covid is reason we gonna stop the protests.

 

Yeah, that's the ticket

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“I respect your opinions,

More BS from this man's mouth, it's never ending !

But but Uncle your deadliest disease the country is facing forget covid it never started here ???????? 

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Prayut said rallies at this time would put Thailand at the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections, which would affect the livelihoods of more than 10 million people and further exacerbate the economic situation.

I'm sure there's no plan to release any of those in quarantine with Covid into the rallies. Is there?

Would be pretty handy for our illustrious leader to be able to say, "I told you so," don't you think?

So there is local COVID?

20 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on anti-government groups to consider putting off plans to hold rallies at least until the Covid-19 outbreak is over.

Wants them to put them off until they are dead

That's typical, using a cheap excuse that they stop what's needed.

 

He doesn't want to lose his power and income, including all his army friends and family members who are currently high society members.

 

  

But Uncle Tu there is no Covid-19 in Thailand so how can there be a second wave from the protestors gathering? Unless maybe...

More hot air from the glorious leader, safely steering SS Thailand through the stormy seas ????

 

23 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Prayut said rallies at this time would put Thailand at the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections

And where would the infection come from? Busy city Bangkok life has been back to normal for a while. 
 

An even better way to stop the second wave would be for you to quit. You haven’t got much longer anyway. Now seems a great time to step down.

3 minutes ago, pkrv said:

But Uncle Tu there is no Covid-19 in Thailand so how can there be a second wave from the protestors gathering? Unless maybe...

More hot air from the glorious leader, safely steering SS Thailand through the stormy seas ????

Apparently, the guy is so full of it that it smells through the screen. 

How sweet. He cares about his people and their health. Long live the Prime Minister! 

I'm 100% convinced that he isn't worried one iota about the military stepping in (again) to maintain the peace, should protests kick off in ernst, and thus push his snout out of the trough he has basked in since  rising to power after the last protests. 

He's predictable if nothing else, spends all week saying no problem with the rally then all of a sudden it's the third horseman of the apocalypse, man is a complete cretin and I wouldn't trust him to run a bath... 

Let me look in the file cabinet for the proper heading.
Hummm, here we go:
 

"Never let a good crisis go to waste."

 

Filed!

i saw the estimated 20,000 attendance double to estimated 40,000 a couple of days ago, maybe doubled again ? starting to get a bit worried perhaps 

The students should wear masks and be safe. That's all that's needed. I think the rain from that depression might be the way the protests are dampered if indeed it does get to BKK.

 

On a side note, I wonder if the regime has people monitoring the student activity online. In the past there was lots of talk about the single gateway that would limit Thailand's freedom online. But the regime also was building a group of cyber people supposedly back then. I wonder if they can monitor traffic coming from Thammasat and other universities where a lot of students are interested in these protests.

34 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I'm sure there's no plan to release any of those in quarantine with Covid into the rallies. Is there?

Would be pretty handy for our illustrious leader to be able to say, "I told you so," don't you think?

I guess I think like you and I'm not much into conspiracy but I don't trust those behind the regime. All they need is a volunteer to mask up most of the time and unmask around the leaders. 

I urge PM to resign.

 

Same effect.

Had he and his cronies not drafted up such an undemocratic Constitution the first place none of these would be happening.
Step down problem solved.

 

1 minute ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

Had he and his cronies not drafted up such an undemocratic Constitution the first place none of these would be happening.
Step down problem solved.

 

 

haha problem solved? no chance. thailand has had around 20 constitutions since the 1930s. just look at the recent political history of thailand, it goes from one malfunctioning administration to the next, and will in all likelihood continue to do so due to the polarised electorate and hierarchical traditions and culture, not to mention the inherent corruption.

20 minutes ago, mark131v said:

He's predictable if nothing else, spends all week saying no problem with the rally then all of a sudden it's the third horseman of the apocalypse, man is a complete cretin and I wouldn't trust him to run a bath... 

Could you trust him to run out of sight on a moonless night? 

wise words. 

 

58.  

2 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Could you trust him to run out of sight on a moonless night? 

Yes I reckon he could do that if it was particularly overcast night but not any bath filling duties, definitely not bath filling he aint got the intellect for it... 

Well general, is Thailand free of CV19 as you like to sprout about, or have you been feeding the population a string of BS and concerned that a few mass gatherings might see it esculate - now that would be a b ugger, wouldn't it. 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Prayut also warned that political unrest would ... dent investors’ confidence and deter tourists from visiting Thailand once the borders are open.

Hey Pinocchio Chan-o-cha, it's neither political unrest nor the virus that deters tourists and investors from visiting Thailand!

 

No Pinocchio, IT IS YOU AN YOUR CORRUPT GANG who is doing this!

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

He added that Thais should unite in ending the Covid-19 crisis before focusing on political issues.

That's why the Covid-crisis never will end as long the army clinches on power.

 

He and the army create the paranoia and hysteria, and keep it alive, they cultivate xenophobia and hate against foreigner, and keep the borders closed. It's all political, it's all for their own benefit, power and wealth. He and the army are the cancerous ulcer which kills the country and its economy.

Well - perhaps there ISN'T much Covid19 in Thailand.

 

I mean - the hospitals are functioning normally and not overwhelmed... 

 

Nobody is dying of it, so whats the issue?

 

Let em protest!

'COVID first': Thai PM warns protesters against raising virus risks

By Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, wearing a face mask, attends a family photo session with new cabinet ministers at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military-backed prime minister warned protesters on Thursday against heightening COVID-19 risks as they planned large anti-government demonstrations for the weekend.

 

Demonstrators have held two months of near-daily rallies to demand former junta leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's removal and changes to a constitution they say were designed to extend military dominance after an election last year.

 

Prayuth, a former army chief who says he was fairly elected, said in a televised speech that he understood the grievances but urged demonstrators to put "COVID first" for now.

 

"When you gather in mobs, you are creating an enormous risk of new infections. And with that, you also create enormous risk to the livelihoods of tens of millions of fellow Thais," he said.

 

"Your protests delay economic recovery because you affect business confidence, and you affect the confidence of tourists to return to our country when we are ready to receive them."

 

Thailand has not seen a local coronavirus transmission for 14 days since Sept. 3, when a prison inmate tested positive after over 100 days of no new local cases.

 

Foes say Prayuth is exploiting the health situation.

 

"COVID is the government's last card, the only trick left up its sleeve, to undermine the legitimacy of the protests," said Anusorn Unno, a protester and lecturer at Bangkok's Thammasat University.

 

Protest leaders expect tens of thousands to gather at that university on Saturday and march to Government House on Sunday.

 

The university said last week it would not allow the gathering on its campus. Police also said marching to Government House could break a law prohibiting large gatherings near restricted sites.

 

The demonstrations, though largely peaceful, have revived memories of more than a decade of intermittent unrest and protracted street rallies that culminated in a 2014 coup led by Prayuth against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

 

(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-18

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

yep, hopping the protesters will go away, and give you and your army friends more time to fill your banks before the mighty fall, which I don't think will be long. 

If Prayuth had read the weather forecast, he would say go ahead and demonstrate all you want this weekend......