PM the brunt of some mild mockery at varsity meet

[Lite Beer]

ANNUAL FOOTBALL MATCH
PM the brunt of some mild mockery at varsity meet
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha was at the centre of mockery during a political-satire parade at yesterday's 70th instalment of the annual football match between Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities.

The parade, a highlight of the inter-university event, went ahead despite the junta telling the organisers to be "cautious" about their satire's content.

Both universities had to report their theme and content to police before the parade started.

The Chulalongkorn parade moved into Supachalasai National Stadium - venue for the match - without any problem thanks solely to its non-political theme.

But security officials barred the Thammasat parade from coming in until its members decided to |give up banners with political messages.

Despite the warning and checks, the mockery was surprisingly |bold and explicit, especially Thammasat's floats displaying large caricatures of political figures.

The parade received a vibrant reception from the crowd, which occupied most parts of the stadium.

Thammasat's parade included a figure that looked like Prayut in military uniform. It was placed in front of a large grey pot containing human figures in multi-coloured shirts including red and yellow. It appeared the PM figure was trying to bleach the colour out of the shirts.

The Thammasat parade also featured a giant male figure with an open head containing letters. It was positioned in front of the stage.

When Prayut spoke, the background graphic was changed from a formal setting into an image of the premier surrounded by Teletubbies (a famous children's TV programme).

The organisers appeared to |be mocking him over accusa-|tions he uses the media excessively in an attempt to "brainwash" people.

The Teletubbies reference stems from social media pranks on the premier after he asked the public to help him design the background of his television programme.

The parade entered the stadium at about 2pm, and the day overall had a lively atmosphere, with students in a cheerful and friendly mood. They began gathering around the stadium shortly before noon in waves of yellow-red and pink.

There had been speculation that the National Council for Peace and Order had contacted the universities and requested that they refrain from political satire during the parade, according to a source from Thammasat's Student Union.

However, NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari insisted that the junta had not ordered a ban on political satire but just asked organisers to be "cautious" about the matter for fear it could lead to political disputes.

Last year, Thailand's oldest |traditional inter-university football match had to be cancelled due to concerns over student safety as the location of the stadium was close to a major People's Democratic Reform Committee protest site.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-the-brunt-of-some-mild-mockery-at-varsity-meet-30253625.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-08

[NeverSure]

But a recent survey showed that 94.7% of the people weren't amused by the floats.

[chooka]

I'm sure the trucks are rolling and the attitude factory is going to be working overtime. I bet prayuth is already throwing one of his world famous tantrums and breaking all his toys by now.

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure the trucks are rolling and the attitude factory is going to be working overtime. I bet prayuth is already throwing one of his world famous tantrums and breaking all his toys by now.

Hard to imagine this will be allowed to pass off without something being said or done.

The junta has overused the ' fear it might led to political disputes ' excuse and are clutching at straws to justify their actions.

Why not just stand up and be honest, ' we're in charge, end of.. '

[NongKhaiKid]

PM the brunt of some mild mockery. I'll bet his definition of mild will be vastly different to the rest of us.

[brewsterbudgen]

Encouraging to see signs of student dissent instead of supine acceptance. Hong Kong's students have been leading the way, but I doubt their Thai peers will show such courage. At least this is encouraging.

[noitom]

A hand tailored and manipulated instant Thai survey showed that exactly 94.7% opposed these floats. Who in their right mind would ever take Thai surveys seriously?

[NongKhaiKid]

The junta spokesman sad students were only told to be cautious but the BP website reports that soldiers blocked some Thammasat students from entering the stadium and seized their banner and that all floats were inspected by the police and the vice-presidents of both unis.

It's also reported that all the precautions didn't prevent critical banners being displayed once the game was underway.

Please don't tell me the junta will just laugh this off.

Edited February 7, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[ExPratt]

Good for them ,

[NeverSure]

A hand tailored and manipulated instant Thai survey showed that exactly 94.7% opposed these floats. Who in their right mind would ever take Thai surveys seriously?

Statistics prove that 94.7 of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[BigBadGeordie]

A hand tailored and manipulated instant Thai survey showed that exactly 94.7% opposed these floats. Who in their right mind would ever take Thai surveys seriously?

Statistics prove that 94.7 of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Did you make that up? Or do you have the statistics to prove it?

[chainarong]

One must congratulate the organizers of this satire, if you look closely , the comparison are hardly the same, the ones in the picture are far more handsome than the P.M. one could even believe that there is a slight resemblance to former P.M. Yingluck, however it is also noted that no one took the slightest notice of veiled threats from the Junta and possibly the finger sign probably was used convey their reply , which in a Democracy is quite normal anyway.

[tx22cb]

It's amazing how these battle-hardened decorated soldiers seem to have such fragile sensitive thin epidermis.

I hope they don't peruse TVF, 'cos some of the comments will cause apoplexy.

[waitforusalso]

This looks more like blatant dissent, not mild mockery. Good to see even the sons & daughters of the yellows don't support them.

Translation: May we have democracy, when will it be returned.

[jaidam]

It's amazing how these battle-hardened decorated soldiers seem to have such fragile sensitive thin epidermis.

I hope they don't peruse TVF, 'cos some of the comments will cause apoplexy.

Battle hardened, through a life sat on the sumptuous kid leather seats of imported luxury vehicles. Reminiscing their latest battle achievements which was rolling over like an on-heat poodle for the Japs 70 odd years ago.

Indeed the difference between the civilized world's military and here, is that the former is a meritocratic organization largely concerned with the defense of the nation, while here is more closely related to a mafia-like criminal organization which primarily focuses on personal enrichment, accumulation of power and hounding perceived enemies and dissenters.

[pmarlin]

It's amazing how these battle-hardened decorated soldiers seem to have such fragile sensitive thin epidermis.

I hope they don't peruse TVF, 'cos some of the comments will cause apoplexy.

Maybe the problem is that they are not battle harden and those decorations are just ribbons and not earned.

[Pib]

Tell you what, this bloke getting all bent out of shape over a little friendly chiding. Just wait till his dictatorship has ended and he is facing retribution for his deeds, he should save all his gaskets for that time, rather than blow them willy-nilly over nothing.

There won't be any retribution as the new charter/constitution will surely include words granting immunity/amnesty to those involved in the coup...same thing happened in the last coup.

[tbthailand]

When Prayut spoke, the background graphic was changed from a formal setting into an image of the premier surrounded by Teletubbies (a famous children's TV programme).

Prayuth and teletubbies... classic! made my day...

[retell]

Oh ooh

[Rhys]

Always towards victory

[binjalin]

Some banners were confiscated an article 'elsewhere' say's

[Ricardo]

Excellent, a healthy sign of democratic student dissent, far better than people using grenades or snipers, and I hope that the PM takes it in good spirit, as he should.

[rubl]

Some banners were confiscated an article 'elsewhere' say's

Even the OP here has

"But security officials barred the Thammasat parade from coming in until its members decided to |give up banners with political messages."

[ratcatcher]

P.M. Prayuth would be well advised to read the poem "IF", by Rudyard Kipling.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175772

It might give him a better perspective and perhaps a little tolerance..

[binjalin]

Excellent, a healthy sign of democratic student dissent, far better than people using grenades or snipers, and I hope that the PM takes it in good spirit, as he should.

you mean like confiscating banners? not letting them into the stadium? sanitizing? that's the sort of 'good spirit' he has?

[Commerce]

P.M. Prayuth would be well advised to read the poem "IF", by Rudyard Kipling.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175772

It might give him a better perspective and perhaps a little tolerance..

Or even Gray's Elegy?

The curfew toll the knell of parting day.

[Just1Voice]

I'm surprised that the news doesn't say he's in the hospital recovering from a massive spike in his blood pressure from the students in the stands with their Democracy statement.

[rubl]

With Thai students liking Teletubbies and the British influence I'm sure they'll soon make new suggestions to the PM

2015-02-15

"Why sheep could be fitted with WiFi sensors"

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31188251

[Thailand]

Apoplexy comes to mind!

He won't like that at all but now it has happened the students may well take heart and step it up, then what will the junta do?

[Eric Loh]

Thammasart U living up to their reputation as hotbed for political activism while Chula U remain conformist and elitist. Got to be proud of the TU kids for having guts.