Thailand Politics
Thai Government Investigates Anti-Prayut Protest in New York
Gen Prawit said the anti-Prayut demonstration should not have happened during the prime minister’s visit. Saying the demonstrators were not Thai.
The government of Prime Minister Prayut has said its launching an investigation into Anti-Prayut protest at the UN in New York City. Former classmate and friend Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Friday.
The investigation will focus on opposition party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit for possible involvement. After his party admitted he hired an American lobbyist firm.
Although the Future Forward Party explained the hiring of the Washington-lobbyist, the government would launch an investigation anyway, Gen Prawit said.
Gen Prawit said the anti-Prayut demonstration should not have happened during the prime minister’s visit. Saying the demonstrators were not Thai. Despite Thai activist Nachacha Kongudom interrupting his speech at the Asian Society.
The protest on Tuesday were recorded by Facebook user Chutima Liamthong. It shows demonstrators raising posters with messages calling for democracy in Thailand. Gen Prawit alleges the protesters weren’t Thai and had little knowledge of Thailand.
Gen Prawit said he had no idea if the investigation would find any legal violation.
Prime Minister Prayut has been dogged by Pro-Democracy Activist in New York.
Thai activist Nachacha Kongudom managed to get a protest sign into the building where Prayut was speaking. Security guards, escorted Nachacha away, by but not before she shouted at him.
Prayut went on to tell the audience that he led the 2014 coup sought only to end a bloody political conflict. Prayut was in New York primarily to attend a meeting of the UN General Assembly.
A billboard mounted on a building close to UN headquarters carried the message “United Nations Assembly: Don’t let democracy die in Thailand.”
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