Applaud but do not stand, take selfies politely, and chant ‘keep fighting PM Prayut’ are commands stated in the schedule of a conference between the Prime Minister and government school teachers.

 

The schedule of the conference called The PM meets his teacher friends,’ to be held on 13 May 2016, includes orders for participants to chant together ‘keep fighting PM Prayut’. The schedule has been widely shared on social networks.

 

The schedule for 2 pm ends with: “When the PM enters the conference room, everyone is invited to give him a welcoming applause (it is not necessary to stand). When the PM sits on the sofa, stop applauding.” 

 

For 3.15 pm, the schedule reads: “The PM finishes speaking, the moderator says ‘thank you’ (at this point there will be a hand signal) and everyone shall chant together ‘Keep fighting PM Prayut’.”

 

The conference is apparently a meeting between government school teachers and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta head and PM.

 

The schedule is available for download on the website of Secondary Educational Service Area Office 1.

 

The schedule also states that while the PM is walking in, the participants should not stand up or raise their hands to take a photo. The schedule only allows participants to take photos politely from a sitting position.

 

After the schedule became a news story, Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnnerd, a junta spokesperson, told the media on Thursday that the conference organizers do not have to please the junta to that extent, adding that the point of the conference was just to create a common understanding between the government and teachers, according to a Matichon Online report.