THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Prem, Yingluck seen side by side for second time

Prem, Yingluck seen side by side for second time

The media spotlight was focused on Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as they met publicly for the second time yesterday.

Prem was a guest of honour at the gala dinner hosted by the Yingluck administration at Government House last evening. Held under the theme “Love Thailand, Move Thailand Forward”, the Bt10-million event was held to thank people and organisations for helping the government with its flood-relief efforts, sources said.

Yingluck and Prem were first seen publicly last month at a function held to celebrate the Army’s 420th anniversary.
The chief royal adviser, accompanied by fellow Privy Council members, was greeted by the prime minister and Deputy Premier Yongyuth Wichaidit upon arrival at Government House at about 5.45pm. Yingluck and Prem then sat down in the Ivory Room at the Thai Khufa building for a brief chat in the company of Yongyuth, some privy councillors and Cabinet members.
About 10 minutes later, Yingluck and Prem left the room together and walked over to the Santi Maitri building to listen to the Youth Orchestra of Yala Municipality perform. They then greeted other guests before stopping once again to listen to the orchestra perform the song “Rak” (Love), which was composed by His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 
Prem has previously been attacked by politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party and their red-shirt supporters for allegedly being behind the 2006 military coup that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s older brother. 
Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua, one of the leaders who had also attacked Prem during the red-shirt protest, was also seen speaking to the Privy Council chief. 
Yesterday’s event was broadcast on the state-run Modernine TV and NBT.
Foreign diplomats, top bureaucrats, business leaders, privy councillors and military commanders were among the more than 500 guests attending the event, which also featured the Thailand Philharmonic and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra.
Meanwhile, opposition Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalsut said yesterday that he and other Democrat MPs were in black because they were “in mourning” for the government’s decision to hold an event like this. 
About 200 people, led by activist Chaiwat Sinsuwong, gathered at the Misakawan Intersection, not far from Government House, yesterday evening to protest against what they said was a waste of taxpayers’ money. 
 
 
 
 
 
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