Would-be protesters warned ahead PM visit

Would-be protesters warned ahead PM visit

The governor of Nakhon Ratchasima has called on residents to join in the hosting of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his visit Monday for a meeting on rice policy and help to prevent any protests as the trip had nothing to do with politics.

Thongchai Lue-adul made the appeal to preempt a repeat of an anti-coup protest that took place during Gen Prayut’s official visit to Khon Kaen on Nov 19, when five local university students disrupted his speech with gestures.

Gen Prayut was giving a speech at Khon Kaen provincial hall when the students, who were wearing anti-coup shirts, flashed the three-fingered protest against totalitarian rule adopted from "The Hunger Games" films. The students were eventually taken away by military officers.

Khon Kaen University students protest against the May 22 coup in front of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Khon Kaen provincial hall last November. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The premier is scheduled to attend a meeting of the rice policy and management committee at Phimai Agricultural Cooperative in Phimai district on Monday moring. 

After the meeting, he will hold direct talks with farmers representing rice, sugar cane and cassava growers to clarify the ways the government intends to help solve their problems and to listen to their plight.

Mr Thongchai said Monday’s visit, only the prime minister's second to the Northeast since the coup, was for agricultural purposes, not political ones. It was being held to allow those in the agricultural sector to express their opinions to the government. He said no one should try to ruin the occasion by using it as a venue to air political statements or propose constitutional changes. 

He said the prime minister's meeting would benefit farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima and other northeastern provinces. He urged people to help monitor “unusual movements” or dissuade dissidents from staging protests. 

Mr Thongchai said he believed the meeting will run smoothly as proper security measures were in force for the premier.  

The head of the PM's security team had already discussed security preparations, including riot control, with security personnel from the 21st Infantry Queen's Guard unit and local police. 

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