Prayut: No holds barred for children

Prayut: No holds barred for children

As Children's Day is four days away, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday he had no plan to curb their freedom when they visit Government House on Saturday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha listens to questions from reporters in a press conference held after the first cabinet meeting of the year at Government House on Tuesday. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The general said he would follow his predecessors' tradition of opening his office to young visitors on Saturday so they can get a glimpse of his room. Children should feel free to do whatever they want on the occasion, he said.

''[Children] can sit on my chair and use my desk. They can even sleep [in the room]. I will join the activities,'' he told reporters after the first cabinet meeting of the year.

But the general seems less forthcoming at the press conference when it came to questions involving speculation about his cabinet and the army.

Gen Prayut dismissed news about a cabinet reshuffle and was even perplexed that he had been linked to a military reshuffle.

''The one who can change the cabinet is me,'' he said. ''Nobody will resign and I won't let them."

Pressure has recently mounted for three of the active generals in the cabinet to resign from their ministerial positions. They are Commerce Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikaya, Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Khumchaya and Deputy Education Minister Lt Get Surachet Chaiyawong. It was further speculated that a cabinet reshuffle would clear the way for a quick promotion of his younger brother, assistant army chief Gen Preecha.

''The press should not report groundless stories,'' he said.

He also faced the question of a possible coup during the session.

"No coup. No resignation. No reshuffle. Nothing. I can confirm that,'' he added. ''Please don't write fiction," he added.

Despite the no-coup guarantee, he said tanks and military equipment would roll into the capital but the public should not panic.

They will be in Bangkok for Children's Day to give the youth a chance to know more about security matters, he added.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT