Comments on: Thailand’s mad junta

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:46:45 +0000

Update from Oct. 1 (BP): Burma “has developed its own military regime for a long time to protect its national interests,” said Sonthi. >> Hard to believe that anybody could make such an idiotic statement.

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:04:21 +0000

James, that is certainly a possibility. On the other hand, it might really reflect real differences between the two – also referring to the recent army c-in-c succession saga. I suspect that each actually preferred a different candidate between GenAnupong and GenSaprang. These differences may be subtle (reflecting their roles as a temping PM and a coup-maker, trying to dismount the tiger) – but could be quite critical…

By: bruno

bruno — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:39:45 +0000

Good comment from Sonthi.
At last, why did he say only China and Korea that want resources from burma.
Why didn’t he say how much they have been squeezing the neck of Burma.

anyway, it’s impressive that he still knows that burma is its neighbor.
At last, he still cares for Relationship.

By: Blogger Jotman

Blogger Jotman — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:44:34 +0000

When I read what Sonthi said… makes me want to puke. And consider his position in Thailand!

Now there is a post concerning this outrage up on my blog.

By: krid

krid — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:33:11 +0000

Jon, I agree that someone making it to c-in-c and pulling off a successful coup can’t be entirely stupid, but he probably should have been even smarter, such as planning his own graceful exit and following through with strengthening democracy and civil society instead of disenfranchising (through martial law and intimidation) much of the population for fear of the “old powers”. As I don’t see the coup as a solution I can’t have sympathy for a coup maker so I’m certainly biased. But in my view Sonthi has failed to belie my first negative impression of him through word or action, acting instead on what looks like fear of reprisals and stumbling through a situation that’s over his head. The Nation and The Bangkok Post have reversed their opinion as today’s editorials show and the general looks more and more isolated. Sonthi is not Saprang but he might still be dangerous when cornered.

By: James Haughton

James Haughton — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:21:48 +0000

Sidh S (15) Thanks for the link. Certainly singing a different tune for the international than the national audience, aren’t they?

By: jonfernquest

jonfernquest — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:47:37 +0000

Krid: “It will be a cold day in hell before we see any investigation into the drug war, Tak Bai, Krue Sae, southern disappearances with any uniformed perpetrator being brought to justice.”

Along with “police reform” which they tabled two times for a couple of days and then promptly disappeared. Still waiting for one of those valiant academics to do a PhD dissertation on this topic, which far outranks all the postmodernist discourse stuff you see nowadays in importance. It’s amazing how many city dwellers are completely unaware of what happening in the countryside of their country.

“…he’s of very limited intelligence…”

Even though I don’t like him and certainly hope that he stays out of politics, the fact that he pulled off a bloodless coup and transition period compared to 1992, indicates that he is neither: 1. mad, nor 2. stupid.

It will be interesting to see if he manages to wriggle himself into the cabinet. I’d still like to see good demographic studies on opinions and attitudes before attributing things to massive analytical categories like the “Bangkok middle class.”

By: krid

krid — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:48:44 +0000

Jon, the drug war was perpetrated by the military and the police under Thaksin’s guidance, vehemently supported by the coup-condoning Bangkok middle class. It will be a cold day in hell before we see any investigation into the drug war, Tak Bai, Krue Sae, southern disappearances with any uniformed perpetrator being brought to justice. It doesn’t matter what any “enlightened liberals” have to say in these matters as their voice in the mass media has been effectively silenced by the ruling dictatorship (unless they speak out ONLY against Thaksin).
Sonthi has shown that he’s a loose cannon (pun intended), having thought no further than order tanks to roll into Bangkok. His wavering in selecting a new c-in-c and regarding his political ambitions, his recent quoting of mass murderer Mao as a role model and numerous other statements over the past year show that he’s of very limited intelligence, overly ambitious without the ability to plan ahead, and thus very dangerous. The recent statements which have been give a scathing dissection in todays Bangkok Post editoral only again show how undifferentiated and one-sided his thinking is and how close his relationship with the criminal repressors of the people of Myanmar. And the unbridled power of such an individual is a clear and present danger for the democratic development of Thailand, whether this statement makes me an “enlightened liberal” or not.

By: serf

serf — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:02:38 +0000

The General who did everything in his power to ensure that Thailand has to put up with even more refugees, economic migrants, cross-border criminals, the drugs trade, malaria and other diseases. The Myanmar Junta is essentially too lazy to deal with its own problems, so it exports them to Thailand to deal with. The Thai Junta cooperates in that process in exchange for a few measily contracts and golf games. It may be a good deal for Thailand’s elite, but its a lousy deal for everyone else.

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:45:56 +0000

If GenSonthi’s interview was for a Thai audience, here’s PMSurayud’s UN speech, with references to Myanmar, for the international audience:

http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/thailand-en.pdf