Thai prime minister tells journalists to talk to his cardboard cutout

Source: The Hill | January 9, 2018 | John Bowden

Thailand’s prime minister reportedly left reporters shocked and amused at a press conference Monday by directing their questions to a cardboard cutout of himself — and then leaving.

Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that his cutout would take their questions, after which he “turned on his heel” and left the press conference, according to the Associated Press.

“If you want to ask any questions on politics or conflict,” he said, “ask this guy.”

The move was reportedly met with laughter from the government press corps, who were expecting to press the leader on government issues.

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Thailand’s prime minister has a strained relationship with reporters, and has in the past threatened to execute journalists who produce critical coverage of his administration, which was formed in 2014 after a coup.

“We’ll probably just execute them,” he said in March 2015. “You don’t have to support the government, but you should report the truth,” he added.

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Thailand’s government is classified as a military junta. Chan-ocha, previously an officer in the country’s Royal Thai Army, seized power in May 2014 from the country’s caretaker government after the previous leader had been removed from office.

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