PM defends Thaksin over racist remark about African women

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attempted to defend her father today. She claimed that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not intend to discriminate against or insult African women, as suggested by Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit.

The senator, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission, claimed that Thaksin had made some racist remarks about African women during his campaign rally in Chiang Rai.

When asked by a reporter today about Senator Angkhana’s claim, the prime minister responded by asking the media whether they found Thaksin’s remark racist.

She said that she is confident that her father is not a racist and has no intention of discriminating against people of other races.

She also asked the media to go back and listen carefully to what he actually said.

The prime minister explained that Thaksin’s remark was meant to send a message to Thai women, that they don‘t have to resort to plastic surgery because they are naturally beautiful and can become international models like African women.

She also said there is no need to advise her father about his public statements.