NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY
'Uncle Too' in popular demand at Govt House
WIRAJ SRIPONG,
JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRUNG,
PANYA THIOSANGWAN
THE SUNDAY NATION

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday showed his softer side while interacting with kids during National Children's Day celebrations at Government House, while urging them to be respectful and united.

BANGKOK: -- The event, staged primarily outside the Thai Khu Fa Building, was a vibrant and fun occasion, offering a great number of educational activities including information about the Asean Community.

Prayut - or Uncle Too as kids called him using his nickname - first attended a Khon-mask play of the epic Ramayana performed by youth artists from the College of Arts.

He then took a group of 34 children's representatives - including from the deep South and pupils from Prayut's alma mater, Bangkok's Wat Naunoradit School - on a tour of Government House.

After arriving at Santi Maitree Building in the compound, the PM was warmly welcomed by many kids. He conversed amiably with them and posed for selfies, even as the media throng captured his every move.

Prayut even carried a puppet with him on stage while addressing the audience at the Santi Maitree Building about the need to respect differences in ideas and build a strong and united Thailand.

He urged children to study hard, be obedient to their parents and observe the 12 main Thai values, which his government has been promoting.

He sang with an orchestra, which included the famous 1950s song "Jong Rak" (Just Love Me), which is about respecting and loving someone unconditionally and which ends by telling the young one to "love our country as I do".

Many children were overjoyed to meet Prayut and expressed their best wishes to him.

Rungsan Deesawai, 15, a talented Khon artist, said he was grateful to have a chance to perform in front of the premier and he wished him very good health.

Pornsuda Siribuntat, 7, from Chantaburi, also wished him good health.

PM's chair

The organisers of the event arranged for 2,000 kids to sit in the PM's chair.

The first one to sit on it was Chaichai Thongprasri, a Nonthaburi schoolboy with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Earlier yesterday, Prayut presided over the National Children's Day celebration event at Sanam Seu Pa and urged children to do six things: Don't lie, don't wake up late, don't resist going to school, love your parents more, don't play computer games late at night and finish homework before watching television.

At Parliament, National Legislative Assembly vice president Surachai Liangboonlertchai presided over the celebrations there, while NLA President Pornphetch Wichitcholchai offered the day's motto - "be united and disciplined in concerted efforts to develop the country and democracy".

Many famous people, including Thailand national football coach Kiatisuk Senamuang and his AFF Suzuki Cup-winning team, were also on hand to greet the children.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters was also a popular site for the day, as parents and their kids looked at and took photos at awesome displays, including tanks and aircraft.

They also attended other fun activities and exhibitions.

Excited young crowds were spotted at 15 venues under the Royal Thai Navy and the Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, the latter highlighted by an air show.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Uncle-Too-in-popular-demand-at-Govt-House-30251656.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-11

I confew. Which one is the prime minister?

A Chucky Doll would have been more appropriate

If Thaksin was in charge of this National Children's Day celebration he probably would have tried to sell the doll that is on the picture to the kids (with a 400% profit margin)

Not another Thai PM with a puppet

i wonderw hat the children were told about ASEAN ?

ASEAN is a group of nations organised, led and directed by Thailand ?

I am not saying a thing!

"Uncle Too" is just TOO much for me.

An allegory of the NLA?

and his adoring fans were in awe of dear leader.

First there was the dear beloved leader. Then there was brother one, then there was uncle two. I wonder if Prayuth brother is uncle one

Wow, just like the last Thai PM but the last one was the puppet and the puppeteer was operating remotely from Dubai. What a coincidence. The puppets even look the same!

Not another Thai PM with a puppet

Seems like he is ready to allow elections now.

WOW he could be the new Yellow Wiggle. Nah he would probably stage a coup and have wags and Dorothy sent to the attitude adjustment factory.

WOW he could be the new Yellow Wiggle. Nah he would probably stage a coup and have wags and Dorothy sent to the attitude adjustment factory.

Now after this kids let me show the tanks and guns we have brought along for children's day.

This is how you can become PM one day!

i wonderw hat the children were told about ASEAN ?

ASEAN is a group of nations organised, led and directed by Thailand ?

You can be pretty sure the fact that ASEAN was inaugurated at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok wasn't underplayed... Nor that the ASEAN Declaration is more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration.

Edit: typo

I hope the kids all had a great time , one must also keep in mind they haven't much to look forward to when they become adults , so enjoy Kids while you can.

We shouldn't be so surprised to see puppets at Government house. The new constitution is making them mandatory.

'Uncle Too' in popular demand at Govt House for the Local Jailhouse!!!!

Good..another tool for parents in disciplining the kids: "Be good or I'll ask Uncle Too to come around"

Uncle Too a puppet in one hand and a gun in the other

Wow, just like the last Thai PM but the last one was the puppet and the puppeteer was operating remotely from Dubai. What a coincidence. The puppets even look the same!

Similar IQ too ?

WRAHAHA!!

It get better and better! That picture is definitely worth getting up early!

Just a thought but does anyone know how the children who went to Govt Hose were selected ?

Were they in any way representative of Thai society or just selected from the families of those and such as those ?

What a miserable grumpy old bunch Thaivisa posters are!!

Yesterday was childrens day, and I bet all the kids, who attended had a jolly good day!!

Well done to the organizers to put in the effort to make it a memorable day for the children!!

Not a fan of Prayut, but nice to see, that he has a softer side. Remember this was about childrens day, so leave the political rhetoric out for just one day.

Now, I have seen it all!

You can see his lips moving .

starting to like the guy.... quite a character.

.