The conviction and sentencing of Thailand’s former Deputy Interior Minister, Vatana Asavahame, on corruption charges bought back some fond memories for me.
Visiting Chiang Saen in 1994 I was struck by the sight of this tour boat on the banks of the Mekong River. A little bit of research uncovered that it was owned by a company called MP Tour and Travel which was itself was owned by none other than Vatana Asavahame. Vatana was a Mekong integration pioneer and was hoping to cash in on what he thought would be a lucrative tourist trade up the Mekong river to Sipsongpanna. I think he managed one or two high profile trips, but the Mekong rapids and regulatory restrictions imposed by Burma and Laos ultimately defeated him. He also built a shopping centre close to the Golden Triangle. It had a big statue of a horse out the front, a symbolic reference to a former era of upper-Mekong trade. But whenever I visited, the shops were all but deserted.
Since then others have followed in his Mekong path, carving out a more lucrative business.
Vatana was also rumoured to have another interesting Mekong sideline. Here is a quote from my book, The Legend of the Golden Boat:
In 1996 I also heard rumours that a prominent Thai businessman and politician [Vatana] was active in the export of water up river from Chiang Saen to China. Of course he claimed that the water was fuel, but it is likely that the fuel – imported into Thailand tax-free as a transit cargo – was profitably sold on the domestic market through his national network of services stations. (76)
Thank goodness Thailand is now entering a new era of judicial integrity when the shenanigans of the elite will no longer be tolerated!
That’s more the spirit! To my way of thinking, the great thing about this conviction is the damage it has done to his image. I don’t realistically expect him to spend even a day inside. If he wants to see out his day’s in the ‘pretty vacant’ Poipet, then so be it.
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Dear Walker: Don’t be too sure. It depends on whose side certain shenanigans are on and how judicial integrity leans toward. After all, integrity is not necessarily neutral.
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Ironically an Asavahame has been appointed to the government.
Why is the press silent? PAD too intent on getting Thaksin that they forget Vatana?
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I think the horse was more for himself, if I’ve got it right the Assa in his name standing for horse, Chinese surname Ma. As in, for the movie buffs, White Powder Ma.
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