I'm not a dictator, says angry Prayut

[Lite Beer]

HUNGER GAME SALUTE
I'm not a dictator, says angry Prayut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Warns that 'unfounded antagonism towards the government' will destabilise country

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asserted yesterday that his government was not dictatorial although he admitted that it "may not be 100 per cent democratic".

He reiterated that he had no plan to set up a pro-military political party that would inherit power from his post-coup administration.

"Did I do anything wrong? Have I done any damage or wasn't the situation already bad when I took over?" Prayut said.

"I may not be 100 per cent democratic. But I want to ask if being 100 per cent democratic did anything good to the country? Find the answer for me," he added, appearing tense.

General Prayut, who led the coup of May 22 while serving as the Army chief, also urged anti-coup activists not to obstruct his government's work on national reform.

"I am ready to listen to any problem. They should tell me. But don't ask for democracy or an election now. I can't give it to you," he said.

The prime minister has been on the defensive following his first visit to the Northeast on Wednesday, when five students staged a protest in front of the stage where he was giving an address at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall.

The students from Khon Kaen University were arrested after making a three-finger salute at the PM. The salute is associated with the anti-coup movement.

They were later released after meeting military authorities and their parents.

"I don't want to punish them [the students] so they were merely reprimanded, released and told not to do it again because it does not benefit anyone," Prayut said.

He praised their courage but added that they should think of the country's future. He also warned that the students' future could be jeopardised if they had a problem with the law.

When asked if a pro-military party would be formed, Prayut said: "You have to ask people who said this. I have never said it and I have never thought about doing it. Don't report about this nonsense."

The premier was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Thailand Energy Awards 2014 presentation ceremony at Government House.

Prayut, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order, reiterated that there was no plan to lift martial law, in effect since the coup.

In his weekly national address last night, the prime minister warned that "unfounded antagonism towards the government", as well as continued conflicts, would destabilise the country.

"The complete and strong democracy that we are building will not be realised if we continue to quarrel without civility, and things will go back to the way they were," he said in the TV programme "Returning Happiness to People in the Country".

He said that in the current situation, exercising freedom of the press without boundaries would do more harm than good for the country.

"The government and the NCPO have never thought of using force towards the press, but all we are seeking is your cooperation and respect for the law," he said.

Prayut said his government was "just the facilitator" in the ongoing national reform movement.

"We are trying to get everyone involved in the reform process so that the outcome of our efforts can be enjoyed by all of us," he said. "The government is just a facilitator for all stakeholders to come together to address our common problems."

He said the government was acting as a referee or an organiser of the process, and was not a player.

"In sports, athletes must play by the rules while the referees or the judges are the ones enforcing these rules," he said. "On the other hand, the organiser is the one who makes sure that everyone involved in the competition, including the fans, are safe."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Im-not-a-dictator-says-angry-Prayut-30248329.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-22

[MJP]

I know the OP is about the "D" word, but please be careful using the "D" word.

I know, I'm very confused too.

[lewy67]

Despot?

[Snig27]

Sometimes it's better not to deny things too loudly.

Is this the sound of an increasing implosion?

[kaobang]

"I am ready to listen to any problem. They should tell me. But don't ask for democracy or an election now. I can't give it to you," he said.

he can,but he does not want

[Snig27]

"The government and the NCPO have never thought of using force towards the press, but all we are seeking is your cooperation and respect for the law," he said."

Crikey - what about the lawfully elected government?

[Thai at Heart]

I really worry about the intelligence of these people sometime.

[Fatty123]

''I may not be 100% democratic.''

In other news, Russia is a big country and the sun is hot.

[MJP]

I really worry about the intelligence of these people sometime.

We try our best. It's not easy this.

[jabis]

Not to predict the future here, but it has always been 'the interest of the people' (and often done either with the support of the layman or 'with the support of the layman') that has lifted the 'D' types to their reign.

[jaidam]

Doesn't matter what term he uses to describe his non-elected rise to power. What does matter, and will be well remembered, is the point in time when he lost the trust and support of the law abiding majority. That point in time was when he rewarded and heaped praise on a proudly corrupt police force for successfully finding scape goats and then threatening anybody(and mainly those that helped with early investigative efforts) that discusses the travesty of justice.

Dictatorship or not, there is no questioning that the guy is a bully, and as recent revelations show, is just as slimy as the clan he booted out. Quite why they didn't pick somebody with morals and without hundreds of millions of very questionable baht in the bank to "clean up" the country is a mystery. A complete own goal, and this one didn't hit the crossbar.

[Fatty123]

Not to predict the future here, but it has always been 'the interest of the people' (and often done either with the support of the layman or 'with the support of the layman') that has lifted the 'D' types to their reign.

Good idea, just use the letter 'D'.... Oh wait...it coul be ifficult to emonstrate opinions if the leaer or Thaivisa bans the letter ' '.

[chooka]

Prayut should give up politics as he is obviously terrible at it and take up a career as a stand up comic. He is absolutely a gifted and brilliant comedian.

[MJP]

Not to predict the future here, but it has always been 'the interest of the people' (and often done either with the support of the layman or 'with the support of the layman') that has lifted the 'D' types to their reign.

Good idea, just use the letter 'D'.... Oh wait...it coul be ifficult to emonstrate opinions if the leaer or Thaivisa bans the letter ' '.

[Fatty123]

Dictionary definition of the 'd' word:

a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

[jabis]

Not to predict the future here, but it has always been 'the interest of the people' (and often done either with the support of the layman or 'with the support of the layman') that has lifted the 'D' types to their reign.

Good idea, just use the letter 'D'.... Oh wait...it coul be ifficult to emonstrate opinions if the leaer or Thaivisa bans the letter ' '.

Just going with the flow. E: look a couple of posts above

Edited November 21, 2014 by jabis

[harada]

I seem to remember a US president of the 1970's saying something similar.

[MJP]

This is going to be a tough one!

[ColdSingha]

Quite why they didn't pick somebody with morals and without hundreds of millions of very questionable baht in the bank to "clean up" the country is a mystery. A complete own goal, and this one didn't hit the crossbar.

maybe they couldn't find one

[Scully]

Not to predict the future here, but it has always been 'the interest of the people' (and often done either with the support of the layman or 'with the support of the layman') that has lifted the 'D' types to their reign.

Good idea, just use the letter 'D'.... Oh wait...it coul be ifficult to emonstrate opinions if the leaer or Thaivisa bans the letter ' '.

I'm beginning to think this new leaer is a ick.

[jabis]

Dictionary definition of the 'd' word:

a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

Well 'Doo Dek' -> a child, if we dwell down to the alphabetics

[Mango Bob]

I think he the one who needs to go for some reeducation. They can teach him the definition of D

[MJP]

Dictionary definition of the 'd' word:

a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

Well 'Doo Dek' -> a child, if we dwell down to the alphabetics

Well 'oo ek' > a child, if we well own to the alphabetics.

. . . is acceptable.

[The stuttering parrot]

Note to the PR people for the general .

Please engage brain before putting mouth into gear!

Clearly the three finger salute and the detention of the 5 students and their attitude adjustment session has backfired on the general and the junta.

Get use to it general the press wants their freedom of speech back and the country wants their democracy back.

He's not happy these days because he is now waking up to the fact that the 93% popularity polls are just propaganda fantasies and the more the junta crackdown the more criticism he's getting from both in and outside Thailand.

Democracy mightn't be the best system general but it sure as he'll beats whatever runs second!

[jabis]

Dictionary definition of the 'd' word:

a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

Well 'Doo Dek' -> a child, if we dwell down to the alphabetics

Well 'oo ek' > a child, if we well own to the alphabetics.

. . . is acceptable.

Wait an hour and I can't pronounce nor write anything with a letter ee

[Bluespunk]

""I may not be 100 per cent democratic. But I want to ask if being 100 per cent democratic did anything good to the country? Find the answer for me,"

Has anyone actually tried it yet?

[tingtongtourist]

What next? A ban of people crossing arms in public?

This is the bodylanguage of someone not happy more so than 3 fingers.

[MJP]

Far too many words beginning with D in this thread already.

Just leave the D off the front.

[kaobang]

""I may not be 100 per cent democratic. But I want to ask if being 100 per cent democratic did anything good to the country? Find the answer for me,"

Has anyone actually tried it yet?

"The complete and strong democracy that we are building will not be realised if we continue to quarrel without civility, and things will go back to the way they were,"

random statements about democracy,it seems.whats next

Edited November 21, 2014 by kaobang

[ColdSingha]

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. :~ Winston Churchill