Prayuth Chan-Ocha

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Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward Party, speaks to media as he announces the victory in Sunday's general election at the party's headquarters in Bangkok on May 15, 2023. Thailand’s Constitutional Court cleared the way Wednesday, Aug. 16, for Parliament to vote for a new prime minister more than three months after national elections by declining to rule on a complaint over the rejection of the winning party's leader, Pita. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn, File)

Reformer out, military back in as Thailand moves to break governing impasse

By Richard S. Ehrlich – Special to The Washington Times - The Washington Times

United Thai Nation Party spokesperson Akaradej Wongpitakroj talks to reporters during a press conference at the United Thai Nation Party Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. A pro-military party affiliated with the outgoing prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday it has agreed to join a coalition led by the populist Pheu Thai Party to form Thailand's next government. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Pro-military party says it will join populist Pheu Thai party to form Thailand’s next government

By Jintamas Saksornchai - Associated Press

Supporters of the Move Forward Party hold a portrait of Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. Thai parliament on Thursday set the date of the vote for prime minister next week, for the third time, as political uncertainty continues to grow more than two months after the general election. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) **FILE**

Popular vote-winning party in May election dumped from planned new coalition government

By Richard S. Ehrlich

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives to cast his vote during a general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 14, 2023. Prayuth, who served almost nine years in office after seizing power in a 2014 military coup, announced Tuesday, July 11, that he is leaving politics. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

Thailand’s prime minister, who seized power in a 2014 coup, quits politics after losing election

By Jintamas Saksornchai - Associated Press

A Royalist protester waves a Thai national flag in front of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 24, 2023. The U.S. ambassador to Thailand dismissed claims of American interference in recent elections as a "disservice" to the Thai people, saying Tuesday, June 27, 2023, that Washington does not support any individual candidate or political party. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

U.S. ambassador dismisses claims of American interference in Thailand’s elections

By David Rising - Associated Press

Volunteers and a police officer check ballots for Sunday's general election in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai election underway with opposition favored to top polls

By Grant Peck - Associated Press

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives at Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Prayuth, who has declared he will seek another term in office, said Tuesday he will dissolve Parliament sometime in March, which would mean the general election will be likely be held on May 7. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s prime minister suggests he will dissolve Parliament in March

Associated Press

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Goverment House in Bangkok, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/Pool Photo via AP)

How the Blue Diamond, a hot rock, led to a 30-year diplomatic row

By Richard S. Ehrlich - Special to The Washington Times

An anti-government protester climb on car beside a poster of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha must suspend his active duties while the court decides whether he has overstayed his legal term in office. The poster reads &quot;Time is over.&quot; (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

High court ‘suspends’ coup leader Prayuth in unusual move

By Richard S. Ehrlich - Special to The Washington Times

Buddhist monks wear face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus during a morning alms offerings at Marble Temple in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand gov’t negotiating to buy Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2021, file photo, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha holds samples of Sinovac vaccine during a ceremony to mark the arrival of 200,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine shipment at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Prayuth was not particularly lauded for his leadership last year against the coronavirus, but for much of 2020 Thailand fought the disease to a standstill, with low infection and death rates envied by more developed countries. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

Bangkok nightlife clusters expose Thailand’s virus stumbles

By BUSABA SIVASOMBOON and GRANT PECK - Associated Press

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives to speak to the media during a press conference at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand ‘land bridge’ could rewire trade, balance of power

By Richard S. Ehrlich - Special to The Washington Times

Thai PM ends presser by spraying reporters with disinfectant

Associated Press

Migrant workers from Myanmar flash the three-finger protest gesture while they hold banners with images of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi before participating in a march by Thai pro-democracy activists to the residence of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. The group joined the march after Prayuth met with the Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in Bangkok earlier in the week. Security forces in Myanmar have made mass arrests and appeared to use lethal force as they intensify their efforts to break up protests a month after the military staged a coup. (AP Photo/Fu Ting)

Thai marchers link their democracy cause to Myanmar protests

Associated Press

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha takes off his mask before the start of a no-confidence debate at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. The opposition parties are targeting 10 Cabinet ministers with allegations ranging from poor management to corruption. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

No-confidence debate begins in Thailand’s Parliament

Associated Press

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2020, file photo, Thailand's Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit gestures as he talks to media during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai officials on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, filed criminal charges against Thanathorn, accusing him of defaming the monarchy by broadcasting his criticisms of the government's efforts to secure supplies of coronavirus vaccine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

Popular Thai politician charged with defaming monarchy

By GRANT PECK and CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL - Associated Press

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 68, faces a balancing act to maintain his position of strength during 2021 while trying to adapt to an increasingly international public spotlight.
greets supporters as he walks to participate in a candle lighting ceremony to mark the anniversary of the birth of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. Thousands of yellow-clad supporters greeted Thailand's king in Bangkok on Saturday as he led a birthday commemoration for his revered late father, the latest in a series of public appearances at a time of unprecedented challenge to the monarchy from student-led protesters.(AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) (ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS)

Thai king, government look to rebound after rocky 2020

By Richard S. Ehrlich - Special to The Washington Times

A vendor wearing a face covering to help prevent the spread of coronavirus sells fish from a pushcart outside a produce market in central Bangkok on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. Thailand has kept the coronavirus largely in check for most of the year but is facing a challenge from a large outbreak of the virus among migrant workers linked to a major seafood market close to the Thai capital.(AP Photo/Adam Schreck)

After months of calm, Thailand grapples with virus outbreak

By GRANT PECK and CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL - Associated Press

In this photo released by Government Spokesman Office, a well-wisher hugs Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in Samut Songkhram province, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Thailand’s highest court is set to rule Wednesday on whether Prayuth has breached ethics clauses in the country’s constitution and should be ousted from his position. (Government Spokesman Office via AP)

Thai prime minister acquitted of ethics breach, retains post

By Grant Peck and Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul - Associated Press

Pro-democracy activists display a placard with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's head attached to a cockroach during a protest outside remand prison, in which some of the activists are kept, in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Thailand's government on Thursday canceled a state of emergency it had declared last week for Bangkok in a gesture offered by the embattled prime minister to cool student-led protests seeking democracy reforms. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai protesters’ deadline passes, but PM says he won’t quit

By GRANT PECK - Associated Press