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WORLD NEWS Thursday 6 June 2019

Thai coup leader uses ballot box to stay as prime minister

BANGKOK (AP) — When But his hallmark was not his
Prayuth Chan-ocha led a trendiness, but rather his
military coup to take over temper.
Thailand's government Thailand's former top mili-
five years ago, he wore a tary officer was unused
dowdy officer's uniform. A to being questioned and
five-year makeover trans- frequently threw tantrums
formed him into a politi- when pressed by the me-
cian, now styled in a well- dia as prime minister. He
tailored Western suit or an once threatened reporters
elegant silk "suea phrarat- with execution in a moment
chathan," a Thai spin on that displayed his quixotic
the Nehru jacket. sense of humor rather than
The now-retired general, real intent.
who has run Thailand with Another time, he produced
absolute power since the a life-size, cardboard cut-
2014 coup, completed his out of himself and told the
transition to a civilian lead- media, "If anyone wants
er Wednesday when Parlia- to ask any questions on
ment chose him as prime politics or conflicts, ask this
minister of the new govern- guy. Bye, bye." He then
ment. marched off, leaving the
As the leader of the junta cardboard cutout in his
and government for the Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha smiles after speech for the opening ceremony of place.
past five years, Prayuth Anti-Human Trafficking Day in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Prayuth's first term in office
scrapped the constitution Associated Press was largely smoothed by
and restricted civil liberties his government's crack-
with limits on media, politi- delayed elections. Finally become prime minister addressed to the nation. down on opponents and
cal gatherings and public held in March, the vot- without directly running for "Uncle Tu" even sought civic freedoms, the rubber-
dissent. What began as a ing was conducted un- political office. the youth vote, including stamp legislature he hand-
strategy to suppress resis- der campaign and vote- On the campaign trail, Pra- during an awkward pho- picked, a newly drafted
tance to the coup evolved counting rules weighted yuth would break into song, to shoot at Government constitution and a law he
into a means to weaken to Prayuth's advantage, wooing supporters with self- House with a popular all-girl enacted making all of his
opponents before much- including allowing him to written saccharine ballads pop band. actions legal.q

Russian, Chinese leaders hail burgeoning ties

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian both face mounting ten- the 75th anniversary of the
President Vladimir Putin on sions with the U.S. D-Day landings.
Wednesday hosted Chi- Moscow's ties with Wash- Putin, who attended 70th
nese leader Xi Jinping for ington have declined anniversary commemora-
Kremlin talks that reflected sharply over the Ukrainian tions in France five years
increasingly close ties be- crisis, the war in Syria and ago, has not been invited.
tween the two former Cold the allegations of Kremlin Russia was not involved in
War-era communist rivals. meddling in the U.S. 2016 D-Day but the Soviet ef-
Xi called Putin his "close presidential elections, while fort was crucial in defeat-
friend," noting that they China is engaged in a spi- ing the Nazis on the Eastern
have met nearly 30 times raling trade war with the Front.
over the last six years. The U.S. The Russian leader empha-
trip marked Xi's eighth visit "Protectionism and unilat- sized that Moscow and Bei-
to Russia since he took the eral approaches are on jing have the same view
helm in 2012. the rise, and a policy of on many global issues, par-
"We will strengthen our mu- force and hegemonism is ticularly noting their shared
tual support on key issues," increasingly taking hold," Xi opposition to Washington's
Xi said, sitting next to Putin said. withdrawal from the Inter-
in an ornate Kremlin hall. Putin and Xi were meeting mediate Range Nuclear Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi
Relations between Russia in Moscow as world lead- Forces (INF) Treaty, a key Jinping enter a hall for the talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia,
Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
and China have become ers gathered on the south Cold War-era arms control Associated Press
increasingly close as they coast of England to mark pact.q