Prayut tells the media to stop reporting about his ministers at nightclubs

[webfact]

PIcture: The Bangkok Insight

 

Thai media questioned their premier Prayut Chan-ocha about his ministers going to nightclubs where there have been clusters of Covid-19 infection that have now spread throughout the country.

 

The Bangkok Insight spoke of him being under pressure as he ordered the press to stop going on about it after a CCSA meeting yesterday. 

 

Ranting after the meeting at Government House the PM - Big Too as he is known in Thailand - also threatened legal action was a possibility for using the term "Thai Khu Faa Club" - a bit like saying a Mile High Club!

 

But he didn't deny that his ministers went to clubs though he said they should stop going "to the wrong pastures" at this present time. 

 

He said it wouldn't be his choice to visit nightclubs saying that he hadn't been out in 10 years. He said he was a "homeboy" who never left home though he used to do a bit in his youth. 

 

Meanwhile his DPM and health minister is one of those quarantining at present. That is the controversial Anutin Charnvirakul who famously called a foreigner a "dirty farang" for not accepting a free face mask last year.

 

He has been pictured flouting mask wearing regulations in the past. 

 

The PM said Anutin and others were doing OK and working from home with some video conferencing.

 

Everyone has to take responsibility for their actions said Prayut without saying specifically what Anutin or any other of his ministers had been up to.

 

Some reports elsewhere suggested the timeline of some senior figures were "unclear" intimating they may have been doing things they would rather keep quiet.

 

As he wagged his finger at the assembled ranks of reporters Prayut  threatened legal action.

 

He spoke of his ministers going to nightclubs as being "the chicken coming before the egg or the egg coming before the chicken".

 

He didn't appear to explain his analogies - but he looked both under pressure and combative as usual in confronting the Thai press. 

 

A couple of weeks ago he sprayed them with sanitizer then made a half baked apology.

 

One thing is clear, notes Thaivisa, he is under pressure as are many in his government and inner cabinet as the third wave of the virus causes great concern and increased financial and economic woes in Thailand.

 

And with the promotion of interprovincial travel at next week's Songkran festival now looking like a very bad mistake that pressure and calls to reverse earlier statements are only going to intensify.  

 

 

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[Snig27]

That whole answerable to the people in a *democracy* bit still seems to elude him. 

[YetAnother]

the title of the article should be : "prayut tells media to stop reporting"

[Thaiwrath]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

but he looked both under pressure and combative as usual in confronting the Thai press. 

 

A couple of weeks ago he sprayed them with sanitizer then made a half baked apology.

Commonly known as "Lost the plot" !

[AlfHuy]

Soon comes:

 

PM Orders......

[lemonjelly]

Should’ve put BKK and  other red zones into lockdown days ago rather than letting the inter-provincial bus loads of people spread the virus nation wide. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Isaan badly hit next.

[colinneil]

The media need to be careful, or maybe toys outa the pram time coming up.

Clearly Prayut dont like the media reporting about his cronies getting up to mischief.????????????????????

[petermik]

7 hours ago, rabas said:

 

The media needs to blast away with all they've got.

 

If they get too near the bone he will shut them down...control freak..

[keith101]

If he cant or wont answer those simple questions then its probably time for him to go and i doubt any legal action against reporters asking him about his cabinet that the country needs answers to would have a leg to stand on .

[ThailandRyan]

Keep deflecting Mr. Prayut.  Throw a few more tantrums, or better yet just resign in disgrace because of your abstract failures at leading the country or your cabinet. The truth hurts doesn't it.  

[rabas]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Keep deflecting Mr. Prayut.  Throw a few more tantrums, or better yet just resign in disgrace because of your abstract failures at leading the country or your cabinet. The truth hurts doesn't it.  

 

Firing Anutin would probably be enough. 

 

I would really like to know what power he has over Prayut. 

[FarFlungFalang]

Can't polish a Saturday!

[ParkerN]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

Keep deflecting Mr. Prayut.  Throw a few more tantrums, or better yet just resign in disgrace because of your abstract failures at leading the country or your cabinet. The truth hurts doesn't it.  

 

Indeed, the time for him to go is well past, and we all know who is responsible for the fact that he has not gone so far. The problem is that, supposing bullying, threats and (perhaps bogus) threats of legal action works in this instance, nobody will be able to say whether the same bullying approach might also be employed when the objective is less 'worthy'.

 

We know that Mr Prayuth's fortunes have taken a giant turn for the better since becoming unelected PM. What we don't know is how and by how much they have improved in what some would refer to as his 'time at the trough'.

 

[ParkerN]

Just now, rabas said:

 

Firing Anutin would probably be enough. 

 

I would really like to know what power he has over Prayut. 

 

Pick a card, any card...

 

[holy cow cm]

I order you to silence or I will sue you because my side can do no wrong. Chuwit needs to let the real proof rip and help El Fathead and his cling-ons find the exit door. His day will come and Anutin not wearing masks a lot of the time makes a mockery of the whole mask issue.

[pattjock]

I thought that you had to be quarantined in a hospital if you tested positive but these ministers are allowed to stay at home??

[Andycoops]

1 hour ago, Snig27 said:

That whole answerable to the people in a *democracy* bit still seems to elude him. 

He doesn't know the meaning of the word democracy, I bet he can't even spell the word.

This is an unelected military man who expects do as I say, not as I do and that goes for the rest of his Muppets as well.

[BritManToo]

12 minutes ago, rabas said:

Firing Anutin would probably be enough. 

I would really like to know what power he has over Prayut. 

Anutin leads the second largest party of MPs.

Prayut needs his support to have a clear majority.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, lemonjelly said:

Should’ve put BKK and  other red zones into lockdown days ago rather than letting the inter-provincial bus loads of people spread the virus nation wide. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Isaan badly hit next.

Went out in Patong on Thursday night, prior to the major lockdown happening, and there were quite a few people who had come down from Bangkok, of course not knowing that the lockdown was to come.

 

A week before that there were big parties at several locations, with many of the attendees being from Bangkok and out of town.

 

Now there is a lockdown because of a coronavirus scare in Patong/Phuket – – how stupid can this government get.

 

Probably answered my own question because stupid is as stupid does.

[DLock]

[trainman34014]

23 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

He doesn't know the meaning of the word democracy, I bet he can't even spell the word.

This is an unelected military man who expects do as I say, not as I do and that goes for the rest of his Muppets as well.

He and the rest of them know exactly what Democracy is and have not the slightest intention of allowing it to prosper in Thailand. These people are only one small step away from doing what the Burmese Military filth are doing right now if they feel threatened !

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

One thing is clear, notes Thaivisa, he is under pressure as are many in his government and inner cabinet

I think it's just about now that we are seeing the total and utter disaster of appointing anyone with the surname general into a position of government with absolutely no knowledge of the subject they are responsible for , other than knowing the salary

[sherwood]

You need to tell your boys to stop visiting these nightclubs Big Daddy, telling the media to stop reporting the visits just aint going to cut it. Clowns the lot of em.

[bermondburi]

 "Thai Khu Faa Club"

 

so sue me....????

[trainman34014]

10 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I think it's just about now that we are seeing the total and utter disaster of appointing anyone with the surname general into a position of government with absolutely no knowledge of the subject they are responsible for , other than knowing the salary

Soldiers do not belong in any Parliament....anywhere !

[Enzian]

Reading some of the reporting on a certain club in Thong Lor this morning, I had to wonder how some of the comments could NOT be actionable (by the club) under the existing legal system.

(And in other news, China delenda est.)

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Everyone has to take responsibility for their actions said Prayut without saying specifically what Anutin or any other of his ministers had been up to.

Everyone? 

<exits stage left>

[connda]

1 hour ago, pattjock said:

I thought that you had to be quarantined in a hospital if you tested positive but these ministers are allowed to stay at home??

They are special people.  Special people don't need to follow the same rules and 'little people' and commoners.

[tifino]

"... and Stop pointing those naughty accusing Toes at us, you minions... "

[connda]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

I think it's just about now that we are seeing the total and utter disaster of appointing anyone with the surname general into a position of government with absolutely no knowledge of the subject they are responsible for , other than knowing the salary

That, as well as appointing anyone with a billion baht to ministerial positions that should be filled by qualified candidates.  Like appointing a construction magnate to be Health Minister as opposed to a doctor with qualifications and experience in Public Health Administration.

The fact that a construction tycoon manages the affairs of the Ministry of Health paints a clear picture of the extent of Thai cronie capitalism that not only drags Thailand down, but also is extremely dangerous as unqualified people are required to address a global health crises. 
But - special Thais and Thai companies can now grow cannabis and manufacture CBD oil although its still illegal for any average Thai to grow their own for medicinal purposes. 
"Don't worry about people getting sick and dying, look over here!  CBD oil! My friends get rich making CBD oil!  Maybe we'll let the dying have some on their death beds."  <Or not>