Home Politics Prayuth Names Thaksin as Plotter Behind Protests

Prayuth Names Thaksin as Plotter Behind Protests

Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha referred to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra by name Thursday. He habitually makes only indirect reference to the political figure whose influence has been a target of the military regime.

BANGKOK — Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha today accused the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement of plotting the recent resumption of public protests against his military regime.

After a heated exchange with reporters at Government House who pressed Prayuth to name the person he thinks is behind the gatherings, the junta chief blurted out the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains immensely popular in parts of Thailand despite the coup that deposed him 10 years ago.

“Who’s doing this? Who’s supporting them? Who’s plotting all this?” Gen. Prayuth said. “Firstly, it’s foreign lobbyists. Who? Thaksin!” 

The reporter encouraged him, “Yeah, that’s the way to do it!”