| No Tears for a Thug |
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| Written by Giles Ji Ungpakorn | |
| Wednesday, 25 November 2009 | |
 Don't cry for Samak Sundaravej
Samak Sundaravej, who died Tuesday of cancer in a Bangkok hospital, was always a right-wing politician who believed in the elite system and never truly believed in democracy despite the fact that he served briefly as elected prime minister and minister of defense. He was the leader of the People's Power Party -- a surrogate party for the deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Once close to Queen Sirikit in the 1970s, he was on the side of dictatorship. His role in the 6th October 1976 bloodbath at Thammasat University and other areas in Bangkok was to urge various right-wing gangs such as the Village Scouts to attack students, workers, farmers and intellectuals who were liberals or socialists. Samak claimed that the graduate volunteer program run by my father, Dr Puey Ungpakorn, was designed for political agitation among villagers. His mouthpiece was the tank corps radio station. After the massacre at Thammasat University and the military coup that followed, he became Minister of the Interior. He introduced tough censorship and had liberal and left-wing library books burnt in the streets. His role in the 1970s is very similar to the roles of Sondi Limtongkul, whose ASTV television station has been transformed into the Thai version of Fox News, and Censorship Boss Satit Wongnongtuay today. Like Samak, they constantly tell lies and foment violence against their opponents, while destroying democracy. In 1976 Samak lied that there were Vietnamese soldiers in Thammasat as right-wing thugs massed to smash the students who were there only to protest the return of the former dictator Thanom Kittikachorn. Samak "knew" because he "saw" roasted dogs there. He also lied that there was a mass of weapons in the university. Today the Democrats lie about Thaksin, saying that in an interview with The Times of London he had insulted the king when he had actually groveled before the monarchy. The government has tried to block The Times interview transcript and has threatened the Thai media with lese majeste charges if they publish anything about it. No doubt this is so that Abhisit and his mates can tell lies without anyone being able to access the original transcript. They lie about a so-called conspiracy to crash the stock market on the part of the press, which was only legitimately reporting on the prolonged illness of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and use the lese majeste laws to circumscribe any kind of legitimate debate. No one needs to pretend that Samak had changed his politics by the time he became elected Prime Minister, leading the People's Power Party. As Prime Minister he lied on CNN and Aljazeera about the Tak Bai state crimes, saying the 78 men who suffocated after being stacked like animals in a truck after being arrested at a Muslim rally in southern Thailand were only weak from fasting. He lied when he said that only 59 persons of 2,500 killed during the so-called war on drugs were shot by police and that the rest were murdered by their colleagues. Nonetheless, Samak was illegitimately removed from office by the courts, the military and the conservative elites last year, for the "crime" of conducting a cooking program on TV, which was deemed a conflict of interest with his duties as prime minister. Samak was never a "hero of Freedom and Democracy." Neither are Chalerm Yubamrung, the interior minister, nor Panlop Pinmanee, a former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command who is widely suspected of perpetrating a grenade attack on a People's Alliance for Democracy rally at Sanam Luang recently which injured 12 people. The sooner Red Shirts distance themselves from these people, the more likely we are to be able to fight for real democracy. But Samak's association with the People's Power Party and the Red Shirts does not make the millions of ordinary Red Shirts into reactionaries like the PAD Yellow Shirts or the Democrats. We remain a people's movement for freedom and democracy. Giles Ungpakorrn, a Thai professor, was forced to flee Thailand in the face of charges of insulting the king.
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(18)
 written by Krathing Daeng , December 06, 2009
I believe Samak had to abide by the orders from the High Places, very much the same as all the Military dictators who became (appointed by the High Places) and had to follow orders. Thaksin was the one who viewed his frustration openly and as a result he was branded "not loyal to the Throne" end of story.
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written by Mungo Gubbins , December 04, 2009
Is that a neo-facist, human rights abusing, gay bashing, tax avoiding “billionaire champion of the poor's” red shirt you’re wearing there Giles? Or is it the teenaged Marxist’s cloud cuckoo-land variety?
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written by Daniel 333 , December 03, 2009
What garbled nonsense you write, Giles.
Votes: +3
Samak was an abhomination who would not have been tolerated in a more sophisticated country for his manners alone (regardless of his right wing stance and behaviour around the student massacres) Why Thais respect bullying thugs like Samak and Chalerm because they possess 'sharp tongues' is beyond me. His declaration that corruption was the Thai way (and therefore outsiders should mind their own business) before the recent election summed him up. A low life. However, what makes me laugh is the idea that you imply he was not an ally and puppet of Thaksin but somehow apart from him. I suppose when it suits (my guess would be the not too distant future when this buffoonish relationship proves fruitless) you'll be declaring that Hun Sen was no ally either. Thaksin beds down with anyone who futhers 'cause Thaksin'. And, as the expression says, you lie down with dogs, you get fleas. Another issue...as others have pointed out, the Times interview was never 'off-line' in Thailand and has been readily available since issued. @ John Francis Lee...Thailand is daily coming more and more to resemble Burma. Really, what a stupid comment. Thailand is in a mess due to the fact that Thaksin was in essense becoming more dictatorial by the day. Ironically, nothing short of a coup could remove him. Thousands killed in extra-judicial killings. The repression of free press. Illegal land deals and the hiding of assets. The list is endless. Thais, 'the yellow shirts" became a force in reaction to the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore followed by Thaksins declaration that he need not pay tax on the sale. This is what prompted the mass demonstrations and Thaksins subsequent use of the Forest Rangers to break up (and incite) violent actions against the demonstartors. Thaksin (like the budding dictator he was) constantly using the threat of violence on the streets when he was the one instigating it. After Samak was removed from office, the PAD demostrators closed the airport in reaction to Samaks replacement as prime minister. In an act of flagrant provocation, Thaksin's dopey and unqualified brother in- law, Somchai. If that had not happened the airports would never have been closed...but who actually bothers to report what really precipitated the PAD actions? Finally, it's funny how no-one seems to comment on the fact that in the Times article, they pressed Thaksin on the idea that he should have/could have offered to pay tax on the multi-billion dollar sale of Shin Corp (after all, a fortune built on the backs of the Thai people, the people he supposedly cares so much for,wasn't it?). He skirts around and avoids the issue them finally declares that he did nothing wrong. He is such a greedy, self-absorbed fool that he still cannot see that the idea of having offered 30% (?) to the Thai government at the time would have purchased him huge political milage...and still left him with a fortune. So much for the man of the people, the defender of the helpless against the elite. The most delusional aspect regarding Thaksin 'supporters' is the idea that anyone but Thaksin himself bought his own downfall. Blame the PAD, blame the Democrats, blame the supposed elite all you want...he bought it on his own head. report abuse
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written by mykantree , December 03, 2009
"Samak was removed from office for the "crime" of conducting a cooking program on TV, which was deemed a conflict of interest with his duties as prime minister."
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How I wish Malaysian politics were more like that of the Thais! Malaysian politicians are promoted for being racist, corrupt,rape,money laundering,murder,liar, almost any and all crimes imaginable. I guess Malaysians are infinitely more stupid and are political ignoramus. For how else could they have voted such politicians and their political parties into power one election after the next? report abuse
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The military and court installed Abhisit Vejjaiiva government has shown it has neither the motivation nor the competence to build a healthy and sustainable Thai society
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written by Chinese Malaysian Neighbour , November 28, 2009
I am utterly taken aback by this intensity of mutual hatred among the seemingly amicable & homogeneous Thais in the land of smiles. Political & class differences can really do untold damage & harm to intra-community harmony never mind that this may be between seemingly close sibblings like our much-admired Thais. Add this already potent mix with ethnic & religious differences like what you get in my native Malaysia ( mainly Buddhist/Christian & more advanced-thinking urban, business cum professional non-Malays (mainly Chinese) versus the more dogmatic & almost to the verge of being bigotry, almost 100% Muslim, rural but politically & militarily over-bearing Malays), no wonder Malaysia becomes potentially a tinder box waiting to erupt at any time soon. Good lucky Thais, you just ain't know how minute your national problems are compared with your southern neighbour! May heaven blesses our likeable Thai brethrens!
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written by Jackle , November 28, 2009
Thank you to "deplorable" ThaiPPl, you are the one who knows everything. A big hands for you.
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written by Goodriddance , November 27, 2009
One corrupt,incompetent,despicable scumbag down .
Votes: +4
Bring on the next one ( and hell knows Thailand has more than its fair share). report abuse
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written by Goodriddance , November 27, 2009 One despicable scumbag down. Bring on the next one (and god knows Thailand has its fair share) report abuse
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His courage and sharp tongue showed Thais could stand up even when the military and courts suffocated their rights.
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The military and court installed Abhisit Vejjaiiva government has shown it has neither the motivation nor the competence to build a healthy and sustainable Thai society or form mature relationships with its neighbors. Samak showed that Thailand could adapt. I miss him. report abuse
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written by Steve in Thailand , November 27, 2009
"The government has tried to block The Times interview transcript"
Votes: +1
I've seen no report that the Thai government has tried to block the interview transcript - and it's still available to me here in Thailand now the same it has been since it was published. The first article based on the interview was blocked and remains blocked here. From what I've seen, MICT (the relevant ministry) has no problem at all blocking whichever sites it chooses - and there are many - even if the content re-surfaces elsewhere and (as this article has been) translated into Thai. Many are puzzled that MICT didn't also block the transcript given that it seems to undermine what the Thai government claims about Thaksin's words as represented in the article - but the fact remains that they didn't. report abuse
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written by TA , November 26, 2009
May he rest in peace.
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written by Shan , November 26, 2009
It would have been so easy, Giles, to write something sensible and straightforward about Samak's death. Like WHAT a crook and fascist he was. But you messed it up.
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And sealed it with an amazing sentence: "But Samak's association with the People's Power Party and the Red Shirts does not make the millions of ordinary Red Shirts into reactionaries like the PAD Yellow Shirts or the Democrats." Thank you, no more questions... report abuse
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written by Thai PPL , November 26, 2009
Everything is going down and down because of the one who everyone know. He wants to destroy his nation. Hopefully, he is the next.
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written by John Francis Lee , November 26, 2009
The Democrat/military/PAD putsch in Thailand is inexorably moving toward the permanent imposition of the ISA (Internal Security Act) and toward the indefinite postponement of elections.
Votes: +2
Thailand is daily coming more and more to resemble Burma. It's a sad, sad thing to see and a disaster for the long-suffering Thai people. report abuse
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written by Reg , November 25, 2009
Readers might want to also see this on Samak: http://thaipoliticalprisoners....an-rights/
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