Thailand PM Prayuth Chan-ocha walks out of press conference, asks cardboard cutout to hold fort

Bangkok: Thailand’s prime minister evaded journalists’ questions on Monday by bringing out a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself and telling the reporters to quiz it instead of him.

WATCH: Thailand's prime minister places cardboard cut-out of himself in front of microphone, tells reporters to "ask this guy" if they have any questions, and walks away. pic.twitter.com/tW28YGJ4tv

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 8, 2018

Prayuth Chan-ocha then turned on his heel and walked off, leaving the mock-up behind, to bemused looks and awkward laughter from the Government House press pack. The prime minister had briefly spoken to the media after attending an event promoting upcoming Children’s Day, but deployed his dodging tactic before anyone could ask him about a number of pressing political issues. “If you want to ask any questions on politics or conflict,” he said, “ask this guy.” [caption id=“attachment_4294851” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A life-sized cardboard cut-out figure of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, stands next to the microphone and faces the media after the prime minister left the scene, in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday. AP[/caption] It isn’t the first time Prayuth — a general who seized power in a bloodless coup in 2014 — has dumbfounded the media. In the past he has fondled the ear of a sound technician for several minutes during an impromptu news conference, flung a banana peel at cameramen, and threatened, with gruff humor, to execute any journalist who criticized his government. When it took power, his government, packed with military leaders, enjoyed considerable public support for ending a prolonged period of often-violent street politics. But as the junta’s rule has stretched on, criticism of its often-repressive policies and lack of transparency has grown markedly. Prayuth has promised elections in November, though he has made similar promises several times previously and then delayed the balloting.