ABOVE: AFP photographer Marco Bertorello attended a demonstration Thursday against Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on the first day of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting. Photo: Marco Bertorello / AFP
Those photographs from international news media of protesters holding signs denouncing junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha? Don’t believe them because they were totally fake, the prime minister’s office has announced. After all, you can put any old sign into the hands of a farang, and they’ll march down the street holding it.
After the world’s media reported protesters in Italy denounced junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha as a “criminal” while European leaders refused to meet with him, a government spokesman today said it was all a hoax.
And so our slide into Bizarro World continues.
According to spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd of the prime minister’s office, some Thai dissidents in Italy seized the opportunity to dupe some hapless Italians protesting against racism into holding the signs, whom they then took photos of.
“There have been claims on social media and a number of websites, especially on a website called Thai E News, about images that attempt to depict a protest against Gen. Prayuth and his delegates,” Sansern said in Khaosod English. “Let me stress that these claims are false.”
Pretty effective scam, as it apparently fooled seasoned photojournalists from international news organizations, such as Agence France Presse.
In non-Bizarro Land, media such as AFP continue to report Prayuth was greeted by demonstrations against the coup he orchestrated and failure to hold anyone accountable for the 2010 death of Italian photojournalist Fabio Polenghi in Bangkok.
Signs held by protesters alternately described Prayuth as a “criminal” or “dictator.”
Today’s suggestion was the latest departure from consensus for Thai authorities.
This week alone the recently retired general contradicted the British government’s assertion it had summoned a Thai diplomat over the Koh Tao murder investigation, and state-media contradicted Japanese accounts of a meeting between Prayuth and Japan’s Shinzo Abe.
Related:
Milan protests label Prayuth a ‘criminal’
Prayuth reportedly denies British summons of Thai envoy over Koh Tao investigation
Prayuth plays down British offer of help in beach murder probe
Elizabeth Polenghi, 51, sought justice in Thailand
AFP: EU condemns coup, cuts official contacts
Inquest determines army bullet killed Italian photographer in 2010
