Thai PM receives 3 finger salutes for his birthday from “well – wishers”

Thailand’s PM is celebrating his birthday with “well – wishers” displaying the 3 finger salute to his motorcade. The pro-democracy demonstrators didn’t hold back their displays of discontent as his motorcade made its way to the Government House. The Dern Thalu Fah, or Walk Through the Sky, demonstration group used loud speakers as they shouted, “Prayut, get out! Down with feudalism, long live the people!” along with demanding the controversial lese majeste law to be abolished.

Pm Prayut arrived at the Government House to chair the meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, in which it is expected to make a decision on Songkran Festival activities, as well as new Covid-19 risk assessments of the Kingdom’s provinces.

But high-ranking military officers and government officials bombed the expected meeting with best wishes for the PM, who in turn, handed out luang Pu Thuad and Ajarn Thim amulets to his fans, along with temperature measuring devices.

The CCSA meeting has long been anticipated as its results could give the “go ahead” for certain activities to be planned in advance for Songkran. Just now, however, the traditional activity of water splashing for the Thai New Year has been banned over concerns of the Covid virus spreading.

Pattaya bar and business owners are also anxiously awaiting the CCSA’s decision on whether Chon Buri province will be downgraded to a “green” zone, which would allow such establishments to stay open past midnight. In pre-Covid times, Pattaya fell under special administrative zones, which allowed businesses to skirt the normal law of closing at midnight.

But, due to the second wave of Covid and the Emergency Decree, businesses in the tourist-laden city have had to close down, with owners saying it hurt their revenues. As of now, the CCSA has renewed the Emergency Decree, dashing hopes of such bar and business owners seeing later closing times.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post