Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was in a mixture of moods yesterday as his team completed the Nikkei Forum in Japan.

 

It was a mixture of satisfaction and frustration. He was happy that the government was doing good work but annoyed that detractors - especially those on social media - were always picking a fight over nothing.

 

He praised the work done by the government in being a pivotal part of ASEAN and ASIA for the good of the people and said that work will continue. 

 

He accepted that some will agree and some will disagree.

 

But what is it about Thai politics, he asked, where people are always finding something negative to say. 

 

Prayuth had been pictured on the plane going to Japan and social media comment had been rife about what he was actually reading. 

 

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"What is wrong with Thai politics and social media?" he asked,  suggesting that they were always reading something into what he was reading!

 

His focus was on making a better Thailand and working for the good of the nation and it's place in the region, reported Thai Rath.

 

Sanook had several pictures with the caption "they're always making trouble".

 

Prayuth was speaking from the Palace Hotel in Tokyo where he was having lunch with his entourage.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that such mild outbursts, and sometimes more vituperative ones, have always been a feature of Prayuth's tenure since he seized power in a coup in 2014.

 

The former army general has never fully got used to criticism of his role and efforts as a politician.

 

Despite no longer being a general perhaps he misses the days when he could give orders and the subalterns would jump to attention. 

 

And there was no criticism of his actions. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-05-28

 

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Maybe it's nothing to you. But to other people, the widening wealth gap under your administration has very tangible effects. Real impact on their lives.

 

As for what you were reading on the plane, I would have expected a comic tbh. But maybe anything more complicated than a blank piece of paper would have overloaded your simple mind. 

 

In fairness, maybe the photo was taken before he was handed the crayons.

Surely an illegal coup is picking a fight over nothing? ????

Does he think the rest of the people in the world don't criticize their own governments?

he still doesn't realise that he failed on every front and that the country is thrown back for decades....More poverty higher debts, more pollution, more traffic accidents, more corruptions, less tourists, less expats, less freedom of speech., more discrimination, no civil Union Bill/Same sex marriage decisions, nothing done about flooding and more section 112 arrest for nothing... and he is proud he helped the country forward?? Maybe he can tell us what he achived for the welfare of the Thai people

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

But what is it about Thai politics, he asked, where people are always finding something negative to say. 

Oh dear. Where to start?

31 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

Does he think the rest of the people in the world don't criticize their own governments?

Few Governments in the World are made up of Army generals who are unused to criticism.

He wasnt reading...he was playing Wordle on a wide blank canvas!!

If it's too hot for you in the kitchen, you'd better get out.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But what is it about Thai politics, he asked, where people are always finding something negative to say. 

Ummmmm, let me think. The fact that you were NOT elected and continue to hold the entire country hostage! Everything about you is negative. Only positive I can deduce is it’s not as bad as Burma. You’re a joke mate! 

He can't accept criticism,  plain and simple, coupled with a short fuse.  Once a Military  General always a Military General, expecting absolute compliance and no back-talk or opposition.  This is why the Military need to stay out of politics and cannot ever effectively govern a country.

A soldier/general will remain a soldier/general alll day, even in politics.

That's his and Thailands problem. Completely blind and deaf against criticism.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It was a mixture of satisfaction and frustration. He was happy that the government was doing good work but annoyed that detractors - especially those on social media - were always picking a fight over nothing

Damn those truth sayers.

4 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

If it's too hot for you in the kitchen, you'd better get out.

He wouldn't know what a kitchen looked like.

What a freaking baby this man is.  He has never acted like a true PM, he has always lowered himself from his high pedestal and constantly fought at ground level, he has never acted within his ....oh wait he never has been a highborn, nor a Hi-So, he became one by his rank in the military, which he obtained by ....well it is debatable, and then he stole the rightful seat of democratic power when he overthrew the government.  Sounds more like Napoleon and that man from Germany prior to WW2 who died in a bunker......Yes Mr. PM you are looked down upon and made fun of by the media and the common people.  Time to move on and out of the country as your not wanted.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

....but annoyed that detractors - especially those on social media - were always picking a fight over nothing.

Hey, welcome to running one of the more democratically managed countries in the world, where you have to take the incoming complaints. We're lucky in Thailand to have a pretty much open press and social media, with a few caveats, to be able to to assess the good with the bad. Thin skinned leaders in such societies need to learn that that's the price of assuming leadership. Yeah, he could close down all the opposing papers and social media, like Putin, but he hasn't, and he won't -- as he has more fairmindeness than many give him credit for.  Or, at least more common sense.

 

Quote

Only positive I can deduce is it’s not as bad as Burma....

... or China, Laos, Vietnam, Russia, Belorussia, other Pinko nations. Christ, even Malaysia and Singapore have stricter laws than Thailand about what can be said openly in criticism.

 

Prahut will always be known as an illegitimate leader. And this will always lead boored media writers to have their lead ins as the reason why things are so bad. I suggest a fairly elected leader 8 years ago would not have done better, with this Covid situation, than has Prayut. But we'll never know. And, of course, we'll always hear, "How can a military general govern effectively"? Might I suggest Eisenhower? Or even Grant? These guys didn't get to their positions by being dummies. Yingluck? Got her position through family name, and that, sadly, voters never are smart enough to elect the right person, particularly when the right person isn't even in the election (the current American dilemna).

 

No, Prayut, just wade on with the slings and arrows of political leadership. Just hope you get a fair biography in the end.

Wait until "Old father Time" gets into the driver's seat. Him and his ghastly grinning sidekick, Promprow the flour seller, will make local lives a living hell.

 

it's called free speech.

19 minutes ago, JimGant said:

Hey, welcome to running one of the more democratically managed countries in the world, where you have to take the incoming complaints. We're lucky in Thailand to have a pretty much open press and social media, with a few caveats, to be able to to assess the good with the bad. Thin skinned leaders in such societies need to learn that that's the price of assuming leadership. Yeah, he could close down all the opposing papers and social media, like Putin, but he hasn't, and he won't -- as he has more fairmindeness than many give him credit for.  Or, at least more common sense.

 

... or China, Laos, Vietnam, Russia, Belorussia, other Pinko nations. Christ, even Malaysia and Singapore have stricter laws than Thailand about what can be said openly in criticism.

 

Prahut will always be known as an illegitimate leader. And this will always lead boored media writers to have their lead ins as the reason why things are so bad. I suggest a fairly elected leader 8 years ago would not have done better, with this Covid situation, than has Prayut. But we'll never know. And, of course, we'll always hear, "How can a military general govern effectively"? Might I suggest Eisenhower? Or even Grant? These guys didn't get to their positions by being dummies. Yingluck? Got her position through family name, and that, sadly, voters never are smart enough to elect the right person, particularly when the right person isn't even in the election (the current American dilemna).

 

No, Prayut, just wade on with the slings and arrows of political leadership. Just hope you get a fair biography in the end.

Ike and Ulysses earned their right to lead the United States, whereas these clowns are bumbling gangsters who were implicated in human trafficking, and forced the brave and rare incorruptible Thai cop who proved it to run for his life. The documtary is on You Tube

https://youtu.be/76hxGsXN2EI

IMO he aught to come and live in the "real world" not Wonderland like some Mad Hatter!

Think he is getting in a practice flight before the imminent urgent departure that's bound to come ????

Prayut hates social media for calling him out for all the wrongs he done and all the good he hasn't done. Unlike the Thai press such as TV, Radio and Newspapers he cannot control what is said on social media and he doesn't like it. Would he ever put a block on Facebook, Twitter et al in the same way the Chinese and other countries do? Thankfully it's unlikely but one never knows his limits.

 

Going to assume that he is not trying to save the coffers and travel budget cattle class with the unwashed poor

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Damn those truth sayers.

.....and those damn troublemakers.

They're everywhere. 

it's odd that he thinks this is a Thai phenomenon - he doesn't know social media makes problems for all politicians all over the world?

looks very much, like he was flying on a vip jet burning around $5000 worth of fuel per hour.

At the same time he asked people not to take their kids to school by car, because it's needless 

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

looks very much, like he was flying on a vip jet burning around $5000 worth of fuel per hour.

At the same time he asked people not to take their kids to school by car, because it's needless 

You are right of course, he should have gone to Japan on foot, along with all its entourage. Flying a "vip jet" as you say is what most prime ministers around the world do, not so much for comfort as for efficiency: take off at any unscheduled time they please as required by emergencies or other pressing matters, for example. May I also add that, as you surely know, prime ministers do not organize their own trips and do not check how many dollars per hour they cost.

 

I am certainly not a fan of Prayuth, of the way he came to power, of the objectionable new election rules, and so on. However, I view comments like yours as absolutely populistic and a perfect example of the way that social media is pervaded by people who are out just to get likes from other social users. Which, I am sorry to say, is exactly Prayuth's point. Also sorry to see you stoop so low, when I do respect many other of your posts.

 

I doubt if he cares what so ever. If he encounters a trouble maker they disappear or go to jail.

 

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

.However, I view comments like yours as absolutely populistic and a perfect example of the way that social media is pervaded by people who are out just to get likes from other social users.

And per the just above, as Maynard G. Krebs would say: You rang?

On 5/28/2022 at 9:27 AM, webfact said:

He praised the work done by the government in being a pivotal part of ASEAN and ASIA for the good of the people and said that work will continue. 

What a Megalomaniac, praising himself and those HE controls. ????

On 5/28/2022 at 9:27 AM, webfact said:

He accepted that some will agree and some will disagree.

Some ? the majority of Thais despise him and his lackeys.