UTN leader stands up for patriotism, tells ‘nation haters’ to leave

United Thai Nation (UTN) Party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has vowed to take action against “nation haters” if his party forms the next government, saying Thailand is a land for patriots and those who don’t like it can live somewhere else.

Mr Pirapan, the party’s No 2 prime ministerial candidate for the May 14 election, made the declaration during the party’s first major campaign rally at Benjakitti forest park in Klong Toey district on Friday night.

Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the party’s top PM candidate, led key figures at the rally. Those who took the stage included ML Chayotid Kridakon, head of the party’s economic team; Dr Rienthong Nanna, the ultra-royalist owner of Mongkutwattana General Hospital and chairman of the party’s committee on quality of life improvement; and party secretary-general Akanat Promphan, stepson of Suthep…