Prayut questions real motive of distributing 'red bowls'



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday questioned the motive of the former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's planned distribution of "red bowls" to his supporters to celebrate the upcoming Songkran water festival, saying distributing basins is more appropriate as they could be used to store water.

He asked why the bowl has to be in red colour.

“Any colours whether they be in red or yellow can be used to hold water. Or using red colour will feel more pleasant to bath than other colour,” he said.

Gen Prayut was asked to comment on the confiscation of thousands of red bowls at the houses of three former Pheu Thai MPs last week by the military.

The bowl carries messages of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

One message reads “Happy Songkran Day 2016” and another reads, “Although the situation is heated, it’s hoped that brothers and sisters would be soothed by the water.”

Gen Prayut said he has ordered security officials to see if the distribution defies any order, or is illegal.

He said if investigation shows the act is not a defiance of law, then they are not guilty.

However he said he would ask whether what they did is appropriate.

“Sometimes some acts are not illegal, but do they deserve to be carried out . It is what Buddism says one should be ashamed to commit sin” he said.

He said if the distributor really has good faith, why not thinking of basins as they could be used to store water.

Meanwhile Thaksin yesterday posted on his Instagram admitting that the confiscated bowls are gifts that he prepared annually to distribute to people on Songkran festival.

He said the distribution of bowls was what he has practised every year on this event and he never saw this could shake national security.

He said the military says it will charge the three former MPs and insisted them to say where they get all the bowls from.

There was no need to insist them for the answer as it was all clear that the bowls carry his name and the Pheu Thai MPs are distributors, Thaksin said.

He added they better not waste time on this but should take care of the southern violence, the rampant drug trafficking problem, and drought.

They should better work to fulfill the wish of the taxpayers who paid them, Thaksin said and added he was ready to face whatever charge to be pressed as now he has been pressed with numerous charges already.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158131

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-04

Let's see..............

You know you've got problems when somebody as deceitful, loathsome, and utterly corrupt as Thaksin has the moral high ground. The fact that old battle axe from Chiang Mai is staring down a sedition / insurrection charge shows just how depraved the NCPO has become. Even if it is only scare tactics, it is absolutely immoral for them to get so heavy handed about water bowls

Old Taksin has certainly got a lot of publicity from this. Not a bad return from a few plastic bowls. His message has been well distributed it seems via the good PM

Here we have two gems of wisdom from the opposite sides of Thailand's political power struggle.

We have Prayuth paranoid and confiscating red bowl because he is scared they may cause a revolution. Or why not yellow bowls eh? Interesting alternative to immediately quote there dear general. Also quoting the buddha against sinful thing...what? Handing out plastic bowls?

Then we have ol square head "He added they better not waste time on this but should take care of the southern violence, the rampant drug trafficking problem, and drought." - Drought eh Mr T? So could you have given a gift other than bowls used to waste water with?

Thailand I hope a bright, open minded and intelligent new leader is being made and will come through in the next decade. You need it!

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

(BIBLE, Proverbs 29:11)

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1459745399&section=11

Thaksin Tells Junta to Mind the Drought, Not His New Year Gifts

BANGKOK — Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Sunday the military government should focus on dealing with the country's problems after soldiers seized thousands of red plastic bowls he and his sister sent supporters as a New Year gift.

The junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who toppled Yingluck's government in a 2014 coup, has reacted skittishly as Thaksin has become more vocal in his opposition to the military government this year.

On Saturday, troops took the bowls from the offices of three former members of parliament of the Shinawatra-backed Puea Thai Party in the northern province of Nan.

Edited April 4, 201610 yr by metisdead
14) You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Please only post a link, the headline and the first three sentences.

now where did i put that yellow bowl?

Couldn't the General just declare all red bowls illegal?

Why bother to investigate?

What next? Ban Santa outfits, because they're too red?

Edited April 4, 201610 yr by BritManToo

For Christ's sake , no one tell him what colour the fire engines are !

What a sad chap indeed to let such triviality get to him........................thainess?

i bought my dog a new red bowl today!

I want one for my dog

Once again he fails the first rule of PR: never give the other side any free publicity. Rule 2: if by chance they get some, don't comment on it to risk extending the discussion. Trivial crap but he can't seem to stop biting.

The police confiscating the bowls and the sedition charges that have been laid was on the BBC News web site this morning. So the international media have picked it up and it is making Thailand look very bad.

Once again, Prayut has a bad case of foot in mouth and is taking Thailand back into the dark ages. I wonder how long before he pulls the plug on the internet completely?

The police confiscating the bowls and the sedition charges that have been laid was on the BBC News web site this morning. So the international media have picked it up and it is making Thailand look very bad.

Once again, Prayut has a bad case of foot in mouth and is taking Thailand back into the dark ages. I wonder how long before he pulls the plug on the internet completely?

There little facebook banning stunt not long after the coup faced severe backlash. Thais are too used to their (relative) internet freedom. If they pulled the plug on the net then even their most ardent of food picture taking bkk high sos would turn on them.

I'd love for him to even suggest it.

Next, distribute red underwear, like those on Superman... with quotes of Thaksin!

A post commenting on moderation has been removed.

"“Any colours whether they be in red or yellow can be used to hold water. Or using red colour will feel more pleasant to bath than other colour,” he said."

I believe he said it...exactly like that!

What a storm in a water- bowl!

This government just wastes the publics money with absolute nonsense!

Thaksin is of Chinene origin,so red is lucky for them( that's what they believe). This year is red fire monkey year. Lanna is red country. Red bowls are nice. Red for the republic. Red hot! Red for blood.

Yellow is for spineless cowards?

Gen Prayut said he has ordered security officials to see if the distribution defies any order, or is illegal.

He makes the law as he goes along, so this should work out just fine...

He said if investigation shows the act is not a defiance of law, then they are not guilty.

And then he returns the bowls?

he's already said he'd be fine if they were yellow so it's a colour issue

Marmelade jars, calendars, and now red bowls! When will these vicious terrorist acts ever stop?

The general should ban all things red in color......half moron and half idiot...

Edited April 4, 201610 yr by chuang

Thank you, Mr. PM, for clarifying the rule of law under your leadership.

Step 1: seize private assets

Step 2: determine if a law or order was violated

Step 3: (we can only speculate) issue new rules retroactively

Edited April 4, 201610 yr by phoenixdoglover

Next, distribute red underwear, like those on Superman... with quotes of Thaksin!

The point being?

Red Mist?

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

(BIBLE, Proverbs 29:11)

calling the pm a fool is punishable, be careful.

The bowls were to be handed out with a bag of soil and a bottle of water which were to be added together and used for mudslinging, seems to have worked without the distribution taking place.

What a complete farce!

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

(BIBLE, Proverbs 29:11)

calling the pm a fool is punishable, be careful.

Oh, I'll be certain to give your comment all the consideration it deserves.

Edited April 4, 201610 yr by phoenixdoglover