Toppled Thai PM 'can't eat noodles' without our say: junta chief

AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's junta chief Thursday said the military is keeping such a close eye on ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that she would be unable to eat a bowl of noodles without their permission.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army general, was justifying the decision to have soldiers search a convoy taking Yingluck to a ceremony for her ancestors in her northern hometown of Chiangmai earlier in the week.

The following day she was pictured eating noodles in the town, a political stronghold of her wealthy but wildly divisive family.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go," Prayut told reporters Thursday, indicating the military would continue to monitor her movements.

He said the military's decision to halt Yingluck's convoy was part of providing security for the former premier at a turbulent time.

Prayut has built a reputation for his off-the-cuff remarks and eccentric metaphors since seizing power in a coup last May.

Authorities last week said Thailand's first female premier -- and sister of billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- is banned from travelling abroad as she faces criminal corruption charges over her administration's controversial rice subsidy scheme.

She was retroactively impeached last month by the country's military-appointed parliament over the populist programme, which funnelled cash to her rural base but cost billions of dollars.

The impeachment brought an automatic five year ban from politics. Prosecutors also said she would face separate criminal corruption charges over the scheme, a move that could see her jailed for up to ten years.

Experts say the impeachment and criminal charges are the latest attempt by the country's royalist elite, and its army backers, to nullify the political influence of the Shinawatras, whose parties have won every election since 2001.

The clan draws the loyalty of urban working-class voters and farmers from the country's north and northeast, who applaud the Shinawatras for recognising their changing social and economic aspirations.

Since seizing power, Thailand's military have banned political gatherings, censored the media, arrested and detained opponents and ramped up prosecution under the country's controversial lese majeste laws.

The junta says it will hold fresh elections in early 2016 once reforms to tackle corruption and curb the power of political parties are codified in a new constitution.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-02-12

A bully pushing for a reaction. Then the junta can say that they need to stay until the 'trouble' stops. Best thing is to do nothing.

Just when it looked as though he might be leaning towards a bit of tact and diplomacy in the wake of the Japan visit, he shoots himself in the foot with this nonsense. Whoever is providing his PR advice should sacked, pronto.

from just a couple weeks ago, ...

"Today, have I ever restricted anyone's rights? Have I ever done that?" asked Gen. Prayuth,

It looks like the General is "outing" himself...

Toppled Thai PM 'can't eat noodles' without our say: junta chief

I would have hoped he has learned his lesson by now and stop these metaphors.

Unfortunately I have to be subjected again to the wise opinions of the TVF members.

Better to just freeze her bank accounts and let her eat whatever she wants whenever she wants.

from just a couple weeks ago, ...

"Today, have I ever restricted anyone's rights? Have I ever done that?" asked Gen. Prayuth,

It looks like the General is "outing" himself...

Toppled Thai PM 'can't eat noodles' without our say: junta chief

Yes but he is not restricting her movements. Just watching them. So I guess he isn't "outing" himself after all.

This sounds like something Little Kim would say.

Bizarre statement.

Will come to haunt him.

Fool.

intimidation

It was a joke ... the press are keeping such a close watch on her the army just have PTP get a paper or call a reporter!

Who do you think took the picture in the noodle shop and put it in the paper?

Just when it looked as though he might be leaning towards a bit of tact and diplomacy in the wake of the Japan visit, he shoots himself in the foot with this nonsense. Whoever is providing his PR advice should sacked, pronto.

I think he is providing it to himself, more hats filled on his resume the better, e.g. general, PM, etc.. Your logic still stands, though.

Un-elected military leader on a powertrip. No danger there.

This is news

Mama Mia!

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

PS Churchill : "In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity"

The maestro of happiness and reconciliation.................what is Uncle Too eating tonight?

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

So there we have it. All those referring to Orwell were actually over-estimating what is actually the double-speak of a mere bouncer, with "security" for noodles. Noodles on a world stage. Fine thing indeed.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

If the NEPM thought he was being misquoted by journalists he would have them arrested and intimidated.

I would have hoped he has learned his lesson by now and stop these metaphors.

Unfortunately I have to be subjected again to the wise opinions of the TVF members.

Naa.

He hasn't learned any lessons.

He's a simple minded autocratic buffoon.

He can't even keep up with the homework of 6 year old students.

By his own admission.

And I for one, hope he continues to show the world what's he's made of.

"Unfortunately I have to be subjected again to the wise opinions of the TVF members."

Why unfortunately?

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

If the NEPM thought he was being misquoted by journalists he would have them arrested and intimidated.

Really .. AFP journalist!

from just a couple weeks ago, ...

"Today, have I ever restricted anyone's rights? Have I ever done that?" asked Gen. Prayuth,

It looks like the General is "outing" himself...

Toppled Thai PM 'can't eat noodles' without our say: junta chief

I have to find the actual Thai text as inside the article it says "If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go" rather than "can't eat noodles". Now the "cannot go" seems to fall under Martial Law and as such the PM isn't restricting.

I'm sure the legal advisors of Ms. Yingluck, those knowledgible chaps, would agree with this

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

If the NEPM thought he was being misquoted by journalists he would have them arrested and intimidated.

A new abbreviation? I missed that, what does it stand for

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

I guess since its an english language forum, and the OP is in English, and the statement is made in the OP, its reasonable to assume that posters might respond to it.

I would have hoped he has learned his lesson by now and stop these metaphors.

Unfortunately I have to be subjected again to the wise opinions of the TVF members.

Costas, there are some who need to be closely watched in TV and sadly , you are one of them. You are so biased that it at times is pathetic.

Just when it looked as though he might be leaning towards a bit of tact and diplomacy in the wake of the Japan visit, he shoots himself in the foot with this nonsense. Whoever is providing his PR advice should sacked, pronto.

It's rare for us to see eye to eye on things, but on this we can.

From what I can see, the higher up the ranks you go, civilian or military, the less that tact, diplomacy and simple common decency and common sense seem to apply.

It's always that "now I'm here, I can do whatever the <deleted> I want" attitude.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

Again. Did you hear that in Thai?

I guess since its an english language forum, and the OP is in English, and the statement is made in the OP, its reasonable to assume that posters might respond to it.

True.. my comments are to do with miss translation and deliberate change in emphasis.

Just because it's from AFP doesn't mean it's 100% accurate, does it?

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

Have a camera in her bog so she can't even have a shiite in peace!!

from just a couple weeks ago, ...

"Today, have I ever restricted anyone's rights? Have I ever done that?" asked Gen. Prayuth,

It looks like the General is "outing" himself...

Toppled Thai PM 'can't eat noodles' without our say: junta chief

Yes but he is not restricting her movements. Just watching them. So I guess he isn't "outing" himself after all.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go," Prayut told reporters Thursday, indicating the military would continue to monitor her movements.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go," Prayut told reporters Thursday, indicating the military would continue to monitor her movements.

Why would they do that? Do they think she might try skip the country?