Prayut election billboard draws criticism
published : 6 Dec 2018 at 08:16
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Online Reporters
A giant billboard next to the main highway in Ratchaburi province is the target of complaints that supporters of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha are breaking the laws on election campaigning.
Activist Veera Somkwamkid said he will take proof of the billboard to the Election Commission and file a formal complaint on Thursday.
In a savage post on his Facebook site, Mr Veera directly linked the billboard to Gen Prayut's professed "zero tolerance" for corruption.
He called the billboard "campaigning without fear".
The billboard openly supports Gen Prayut to stay on as prime minister following elections which could take place next year.
Ironically, the sign praises Prime Minister Prayut as "scrupulously honest".
The billboard was first spotted by Rangsit University president Arthit Ourairat, an ex-politician. He posted the photo above to his Facebook account on Wednesday.
Chaturon Chaisang, a leading opposition politician and core member of the Thai Raksa Chart Party, said the billboard was an obvious violation of the election laws.
In a post on his Facebook page, he called for an anti-corruption investigation.
The origin of the billboard was unclear. It appears to be an obvious violation of the order by Gen Prayut's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that forbids all electioneering.
Vocabulary
- campaign: to take part in a planned series of activities (a campaign) designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party - รณรงค์หาเสียง
- corruption (n): dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority -
- electioneering: the activity of making speeches and visiting people to try to persuade them to vote for a particular politician or political party - กิจกรรมหาเสียงของพรรคการเมือง
- forbid: to state that something is not allowed, according to a rule, law, or custom - ห้าม
- ironically: strange or amusing because it is very different from what you expect; showing that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying - ประหลาดและน่าขัน, กระแทกแดกดัน
- proof: information, documents, etc. that show that something is true - การพิสูจน์
- savage: extremely violent, wild or frightening - ป่าเถื่อน, โหดร้าย
- tolerance: the willingness to accept somebody/something, especially opinions or behaviour that you may not agree with, or people who are not like you - การยอมรับความคิดเห็นของผู้อื่น, ความอดกลั้น
- violation: an action that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc. - การฝ่าฝืน
