PM Prayut in Italy: Cheers, jeers and photo ops (Friday)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was cheered by supporters and jeered by anti-coup protestors in Milan, but the best photos show him looking comfortable with world leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was cheered by supporters and jeered by anti-coup protestors in Milan, but the best photos show him looking comfortable with world leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting.
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Thursday evening update
A protest greeted General Prayut as expected, but there were also high-profile meetings with Asian leaders, like this one with the Chinese leadership. Photos from AFP and Government House. (Note: The first photo appears to show more than one demonstration, the largest one being an anti-racism protest. If you know Italian, it would be nice if you can confirm this on our Facebook page.)
Friday morning
Here is an update from this morning's Bangkok Post
Gen Prayut, Mr Abe meet in Milan (Photo by Government House)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha met for bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Milan Thursday after being greeted in Italy by protests against the military takeover he orchestrated.
During their meeting, Mr Abe congratulated Gen Prayut for assuming the premiership and promised to strengthen ties with Thailand at all levels, according to a Thai News Agency report, which differed from Japanese versions of the same meeting. Mr Abe also invited Gen Prayut to visit Japan.
Gen Prayut urged Japan to invest in technology, including high-speed rail, satellite and water-management projects in Thailand, and raised the issue of a possible seaport and industrial zone at Dawei, Myanmar.
Gen Prayut also held talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalap said the Chinese premier pledged to cooperate with Thailand in developing roads and basic infrastructure in the region.
Dr Yongyuth said more details will be discussed by a joint panel on trade and investment of the two countries next month in China.
He said the Chinese premier invited Gen Prayut to visit China.
The prime minister arrived in Milan on Wednesday for his first outing on the world stage and was greeted by democracy activists Thursday. They urged the European Union to increase pressure on the regime that has stifled dissent since seizing power on May 22.
While the small anti-Prayut demonstration was only a minor bump for the premier, Italian protesters took a tack that went largely unreported in local media – and was not mentioned by Gen Prayut's spokesman.
Italian demonstrators were there to demand justice for Italian photo-journalist Fabio Polenghi, a Milan native who was shot dead by the Thai army during the crackdown on red shirt street protests in May, 2010.
The soldier who fired the shot has never been identified.
Thursday evening
Cheers, jeers and photo ops
Online reporters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was cheered by supporters and jeered by anti-coup protesters in Milan where he met with world leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha shows the Thai flag to the media. REUTERS
A group of Thais with a national flag and posters were waiting for Gen Prayut when he arrived at the Starhotels Rosa Grand Wednesday, Thai News Agency reported from Milan on Thursday. They gave him flowers as his entourage arrived at the hotel.
Gen Prayut said he was impressed with the greeting following reports about a planned rally against him during the Asem summit, TNA added.
Not surprisingly, this group of supporters greeting the prime minister at his hotel was the preferred photo sent out by the Foreign Ministry.
The rally by Thais and Italians still took place Thursday in Milan, with demonstrators urging the European Union to increase pressure on the Thai government to restore democracy. They also demanded justice for Fabio Polenghi, an Italian photographer killed during the crackdown on red-shirt protesters on May 19, 2010.
Morning story
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha landed in Italy early Thursday (Thailand time) and was greeted by Italian foreign ministry officials and Thai dignitaries. (Photos by Government House)
Europe protests target Prayut
Online reporters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived in Italy early Thursday (Thailand time), facing imminent twin protests: In Milan against the coup and in London over the Koh Tao murder investigation.
Gen Prayut and party booked into the Rosa Grand near the Piazza Fontana in Italy, self-described as a "luxury four-star hotel in Milan". You can get a junior suite worthy of a prime minister's party for as little as 18,089 baht per night according to the hotel's website.
Anti-coup protests aimed directly at Gen Prayut were scheduled in Milan by Thai exiles and supporters on Thursday (late afternoon Thailand time).
Exiled Thai academic and activist Junya Yimprasert, one of many who fled Thailand in the face of a lese majeste charge, said Wednesday, "There is no sign that Prayut has any intention of allowing Thailand to return to the democratic process."
The labour activist added, "The EU should not have given him a visa to travel here and they should not be engaging with him. They should be telling him to restore democracy in Thailand immediately."
Immediately after his arrival in Milan, the prime minister met the government's "Team Thailand" in Italy, and Thai businessmen who are in Milan for the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF), on the sidelines of the Asem summit.
The EU has been sharply critical of the coup, but its governments agreed last month that there would be little point in barring Gen Prayut from the Asem summit, as they used to do with leaders of the Myanmar junta.
Earlier Gen Prayut warned foreigners not to meddle in the investigation or proceedings of the Koh Tao killings and put heavy restrictions on "cooperation" promised by police during a tense three-hour meeting on Tuesday with the ambassadors of Britain and Myanmar.
Teams of officials from the two countries will be allowed only to observe progress in the murder case, not interfere with the Thai investigation process, the prime minister said just before leaving for Milan and the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) summit.
"They will have to respect our processes," he said. National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang earlier met British ambassador Mark Kent and Myanmar ambassador Win Maung.
Gen Prayut said the police will not have to notify the envoys about every single aspect of the judicial process, but the diplomats can ask for clarification on issues if they have any questions.
A major protest is planned in London on Friday in front of the prime minister's residence, a traditional rally point.
The Downing Street protest is expected to demand that the British government insist that Thailand open an independent investigation into the Koh Tao killings.
Pol Maj Gen Paveen Pongsirin, deputy commander of Police Region 8, said the investigation report into the killing of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller last month is complete.
Myanmar nationals Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin have been charged with the murders and detained for the past 12 days.
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