Thailand: Rights group criticizes Thai PM’s cardboard cutout gesture

• Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, known for his temperamental outbursts, has adopted a unique tactic to avoid tricky questions from reporters — leave a cardboard cutout of himself for reporters to quiz.
• But the gesture has been criticized by Human Rights Watch which said it shows the military junta chief’s “contempt of media criticism” in a country yet to restore democracy since a 2014 coup.
• Seventeen life-sized cutouts of Prayuth have been set up around the government compound ahead of Children’s Day on 6 Jan 18. They show Prayuth in various outfits including sportswear, work suits and traditional Thai attire.
• On 8 Jan 18, Prayuth spoke briefly at Government House before a cutout of Prayuth in a suit and tie was brought out. Prayuth, who is known for his abstruse sense of humor, then told journalists to refer any questions to the cardboard cutout.
• Prayuth’s government has announced it will hold a general election in Nov 18 after repeatedly delaying the vote.
• However, it has yet to lift a ban on political campaigning despite pressure from groups of all political stripes.

External Link : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics-primeminister/rights-group-criticizes-thai-pms-cardboard-cutout-gesture-idUSKBN1EY0PJ?il=0