From my research (which has been a little hurried given the impending festivities) there still seems to be no sensible explanation on how Sonthi’s secret billion baht coup fund was spent. I am not an expert on the financing of military operations, but the claim that it was spent on food and drink seems absurd.
Enough of the silliness. This is a story that warrants some serious investigation. There has been some brief discussion in the Bangkok Post but, from my quick survey, nothing at all in The Nation. I would have thought that the fearless anti-corruption advocates at The Nation would have been all over this like a rash. And how are the Thai language papers dealing with the story? Any updates would be very welcome.
7 responses so far ↓
1 anon // Dec 21, 2006 at 2:50 pm
Generals have expensive tastes in food and drink. Didn’t Big Jord brag about routinely drinking X0,000 baht bottles of wine?
Besides, we shouldn’t blame the generals. Didn’t the King himself recently vouch for them and tell everybody they were good people? To question them is most inappropriate.
2 Thai Radio // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Spent in parlours maybe?
3 Cosmopolitan // Dec 21, 2006 at 8:12 pm
People who call questions ‘inappropriate’ usually have an interest in preventing them from being answered. It is absurd to suggest that questions should not be asked about the financial dealings of a military regime that has assumed power through a coup de tat. Just because the King’s word is sacred it does not mean that those he places confidence in are as well. A bit of moral courage and intellectual integrity here would be beneficial for Thailand, its people and for new perspectives on it. There is neither courage nor integrity in suggesting that it is ‘inappropriate’ to ask questions of a military elite. It only serves their interests and it is most questionable to assume that their interests are the same as most king-loving Thais.
4 polo // Dec 21, 2006 at 11:05 pm
Interesting article on coup:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HL22Ae01.html
excerpt:
If anyone, Prasong should know what the coup plotters first envisaged, because the former air force squadron leader was one of five serving or retired senior military figures who hatched plans to oust Thaksin as early as July, he told Asia Times Online. Interestingly, the five original plotters, while obviously including army commander Sonthi, did not include former prime minister, army commander and now chief of the Privy Council Prem.
The highly respected Prem was widely regarded by the media as the backbone of the September 19 coup, though he is now quite active with the new military rulers. Nor did the original five coup makers include Surayud, who was only informed that he would be appointed interim prime minister by the coup makers about aweek before he took office “somewhat reluctantly”, as he later told the Thai press.
“The coup was the only way we could see to rid Thailand of Thaksin – our only option,” Prasong said. “It was not planned because we thought Thaksin was planning his own coup to bolster his military status, but just to stop him. We considered other options, but this was the only way we could think of to stop him.”
Prasong and other military sources have also painted a picture of the events leading up to the September 19 coup. First, the commanders of all the armed services – army, navy and air force – were summoned to a meeting with King Bhumibol at his Hua Hin palace, his normal residence, south of Bangkok. Strangely, Supreme Commander Ruengroj Mahasaranont failed to show up for the meeting. Ruengroj was suspected of being too close to Thaksin, and later appeared to teeter on the brink of loyalty to both sides as the coup started.
5 Kirk Sato // Dec 25, 2006 at 2:33 am
Alright enough intellectual justification on this ordeal, here is a good concise words for you all. Trusting the military to get rid of your corruption problem is like a facist cannon ball on a scapel wound job. Plus you didn’t see how the smart “old gingers” blew 800 billion bath on the SET for the sake of “king and country”? A stupid undemocratic choice happened when people gave their democratic freedom, so stop complaining
6 Surang Saitip // Mar 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm
This Sondhi money is another proof that all Thais are basically corruptible, so Thais of all walks of life should quit accusing each other of being corrupt. We are, indeed, all corrupt.
7 Observer // Mar 21, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Cosmo: I think Anon was being sarcastic, although it doesn’t really come across in this format.
Polo: Just because Prem’s cronies insist that Prem wasn’t involved doesn’t make it true. I wouldn’t beleive a single thing Prasong says in any case.
Surang: The military mafia going on another crime spree says nothing about Thais in general. The military may well be the most corrupt institution in the whole country. There are plenty of non-corrupt Thais, but it is difficult for them top do much in a system that provides barriers to accomplishing things legitimately and incentives to graft. Change the system and you will change the people. Thais are no different than anyone else.
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