According to the article, a PM of Thailand found an innovative way on how to avoid questions at news

conferences. It involves using a cardboard cutout to do the job.

The PM Prayuth Chan-Ocha briefly spoke to an audience before the life-sized figure was brought out. He
said “if you want to ask any questions on politics or conflict, ask this guy”, and then walked away.

There was a military coup in 2014 led by Mr Prayuth after which he was named a PM later that year. The
government promised to hold nationwide elections back then but they have been repeatedly pushed
back.

On Monday ahead of Children’s Day on Saturday, the PM was speaking to Thai families and reporters.
The cutout should be there on the day when children will be given access to the official residence and
the PM’s office. The reporters hoped to ask some hot political questions. However, they were left only
with a cutout of Mr Payuth in a handshake pose. The newspaper reported that he, however, spoke to
some hand-picked audience of children at the residence. He said about the importance of engaging
young people to get in line with 21 st century democracy and that Thailand shouldn’t be afraid of politics
and needs to create a new generation of politicians. It is reported that a lot of students who protested
against the military leadership of Thailand have been arrested or jailed in the past few years.