I'm not a dictator, says angry Prayut

[wabothai]

May be you are convinced that you are not a dictator, but the situation suggests that you are. Be brave and listen to what foreigners have to say might bring you a little more hapiness.

[falangjim]

He's so cute when he's angry.

[retarius]

What I find most interesting about this is that Yingluck was near universally hated in these comments, and Prayruth was nearly universally loved when he kicked her out. He seems to be losing support, at least among the farang community, but its not at all clear to me what he has done to merit the lack of support....he didn't promise early elections or early democracy did he? He introduced martial law and said any criticism of the coup or the government or himself would not be tolerated. He is only doing exactly what he said he would.

[visionchaser45]

dic·ta·tor

ˈdikˌtādər/

noun

1. 1.

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

[kiwikeith]

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.

The same world wide, billionaires running the countrys, PM of NZ a meryl lynch trader running blind trusts in the background.

Ukraine controlled by lunatic billionaires, politicians never do whats right for the people so no democracy world wide its a con word in the corporate corupt lunatic world.

[jacko45k]

Well, if he tells me so, it must be so, and I must believe it.

[JOC]

"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?

Quite a good point. Unfortunately it was the elected government breaking the law or at the very least letting the law be broken without holding the law breakers responsible. Of course they did hold the people with differing view points to them responsible. This is not equal protection under the law which happens to be a principle of democracy.

That my friend is one of many reasons why reform is needed.

Unless of course you preferred the daily terrorist attacks done with impunity killing innocent people because yingluck was elected?

A new election??

Or is that to simple??

If I remember correctly, one was supposed to take place in February!! But the voters was prevented from reaching the pollingstations by Suthep and his henchmen, while the army was watching from the sidelines, waiting for their turn!!

You hate the reds, you disapprove of the general and you don't like Suthep!!

Your solution please!!

[CMBob]

What type of dictator (benign or otherwise) is the only real question not decided. He perhaps is beginning to learn that actions and words do have some meaning.

[Muirton]

"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," asked the fascist dictator. Find the answer, go to jail.

[GAZZPA]

I really worry about the intelligence of these people sometime.

Do you? Let me clear that up for you,,, there isn't any...

[aripengu]

I think people should step back and look at the situation when the coup occurred. A corrupt government and the country spiralling towards civil war. If anybody believes Thailand was a true democracy before the coup they are sadly mistaken. Being a good politician is a contradiction in terms. Things may not be perfect but they are a damn sight better than they were 12 months ago.

Just because you put a cover to a boiling pot doesn't mean the situation has gotten better. Thais will solve their problems by talking to each other without taboos. The military would have been able to solve the security situation but they are sure as hell not trained for politics, besides that they clearly supported the yellow side during the protests. Thailand is in a transition from feudalism to a more civil society. At the moment it's still dominated by elites that think they are above the law, be it the Shinawatras or those surrounding the old power, they keep dragging those who actually work into their conflict of interests messing with people's lifes and not solving anything at all. I personally think Thaksin has still a lot of support because he has never been allowed to fail, that means loose actually an election, everytime his parties are removed from power they become stronger.

[JOC]

"I'm not a dictator, says angry Prayut"

Walks like a D-word

Talks like a D-word

It is a Duck!!

[noitom]

Reminds me of Nixon saying"I'm not a crook."

[Just1Voice]

I'm not a dictator, I only play one in real life.

[Larry001]

The man who brought this all on; has disappeared quietly... Suthep. Time will tell.

[alantheembalmer]

"I may not be 100 per cent democratic................." So what percentage would it be then?

[whybother]

"I may not be 100 per cent democratic................." So what percentage would it be then?

Take 1 away.

[sitti]

Of course he is a D. And many big things they promised are not happening. On top of that, Taksin and his people are benefiting the most from this situation.

[whybother]

Of course he is a D. And many big things they promised are not happening. On top of that, Taksin and his people are benefiting the most from this situation.

What big things have they promised?

[empireboy]

I don't see how being ratified by HM that it can be a dictatorship? What am I missing?

[Baerboxer]

"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?

"Crikey - what about the lawfully elected government that were acting illegally and unlawfully?"

There you go, sentence completed.

Respect for the law will be something new, as would democracy.

[whybother]

I don't see how being ratified by HM that it can be a dictatorship? What am I missing?

A lot.

How does being "ratified" make any difference?

[ScotBkk]

As said' about Dictatorship. Thai democracy only serves the people well if they keep in line to obey, conform and comply to the rules without hesitation.

[Ozziepat]

True power in Thailand has always existed outside of elected government(s). You will know a reform effort is serious when [by virtue of constitution and laws] the military is placed firmly under civilian control, all authority to govern is clearly vested in elected representatives and an effective set of checks and balances is adopted and subsequently respected. Short of this, Thai "democracy" will remain a sham.

[Baerboxer]

The man who brought this all on; has disappeared quietly... Suthep. Time will tell.

The man who bought this all on in 2010 and 2013/4 is keeping a low profile at the moment - waiting his chance like any cunning predator.

[Pundi6446]

The writing is on the wall

[Docno]

A plea for understanding and sympathy from a brother-in-arms...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWnaBKExPMQ

[2fishin2]

I don't see how being ratified by HM that it can be a dictatorship? What am I missing?

HE allowed his opposition party to paralyze the country

HE allowed that leader to go into the monk hood without prosecution

HE overthrew a democratically elected prime minister

HE threw away a country's constitution

HE purged the country's government of all the old political party's members

HE arrested members of opposition political party and had them sent to military camps for HIS reeducation purposes

HE has forbidden any opposition to HIS views

HE is attempting to censor and control the media

If you dont understand how this equates to being a dictator that has stolen the country of Thailand from its people, then there's not much I or anybody else can say to you

HE is a dictator. Period.

[transam]

Dink I better stay away from this dopic................

[ABCer]

Tatsujin, 2fishin2 and eeworldwide.

Apology, but my multiquote reply is not working. I am referring to #77 #120 and #79.

All other posts of 1 - 2 lines are just in good humour. Some are very good. Had a good laugh.

But seriously speaking, guys, I may admit and concede the following.

1) For a couple of months BEFORE the coup I was calling for it to happen. The country was hurting. People were hurting. Business and economy were hurting.

2) When the coup has happened I was satisfied - the hurt stopped. Some semblance of Law, Order and Calm has returned.

3) The leader of the coup had turned out to be not so bad. Not too stupid. Not too bloodthirsty. Not too brutal. Not too vindictive. Not too ambitious.

Actually, the guy has my sympathy, because he will be blamed for all the failures in future. 'What failures?' you may ask. - Better ask yourselves - what did you expect from him or anybody else?

He was right telling those students - HE CANNOT GIVE THEM DEMOCRACY!!! Nobody can. Because democracy is not a mango, not a jack-fruit, not a rambutan or a lychee - this is not a Thai fruit...

Democracy doesn't grow on trees. Thais NEVER had it. And most likely NEVER WILL.

The 'D' word, the 'C' word, the lack of 'E' word and many other words are not in Thai language, so to speak. Thais prefer vowels.

Try to reconcile your wishes with what can be. Tnan maybe this General will not look so bad to you. Maybe even the 'D' word will be not so 'dirty'?

After all Democracy is not the only form of rule. And nobody proved it is the best form in any country.

When you have the 'D' and 'C' words entrenched for 2,557 years, when they ARE THE SYSTEM and it is somehow working - let it be!

No elections, no coups, no reforms can change the system from without. And in the absence of 'E' word you cannot change it from within.

It is a nice day outside. I am going out for a swim. Please, do not sink my boat. Wait till I die and then start a REVOLUTION...

Thanks.

Edited November 22, 2014 by ABCer