Thai students taunt ‘Rolex General’ in burst of dissent
Bangkok: Thai students with huge banners and caricature puppets delivered the latest satirical swipe at the junta’s number two – known as the “Rolex General” for his collection of undeclared luxury watches.
The watch scandal has seized a kingdom growing weary of military rule and sparked a spate of creative protests that are challenging the junta’s stranglehold on dissent.
Yesterday, students leading an annual pre-football match ceremony in Bangkok wheeled a series of massive parade floats around the pitch -- including several poking fun at junta No. 2 Prawit Wongsuwan.
The 72-year-old general has been the target of public ire ever since a photo of him lifting a hand to block his eyes from the sun revealed a diamond ring and a pricey Richard Mille watch was circulated in December.
Since then, online sleuths have unearthed photos of the junta bigwig wearing some 25 luxury timepieces that he allegedly failed to list when declaring his assets.
One parade float yesterday showed a puppet in the general’s now iconic sun-blocking pose, with a glittering ring and watch beaming from his massive paper mache hand.
Students marching alongside were linked together by chains and held banners saying “Stop making fun of the watches”, in a nod to the junta’s efforts to suppress the scandal.
Another float mocked Prawit’s excuse that he borrowed the time- pieces from friends – an alibi now being probed by an anti-graft agency.
The football parade, held annually ahead of a match between rival universities Thammasat and Chulalongkorn, is often provocative and political.
In recent weeks, a growing number of activists have taken to the streets to defy a junta ban on protests and call for elections.
The generals promised a swift return to democracy after seizing power in 2014 but have repeatedly delayed poll dates.
“Thais are becoming exhausted with the military regime. Prawit is a simple indicator of what these people think is wrong with the (junta): impunity and double-standards,” said Thailand-based political analyst Paul Chambers.