Goresan Ngawur

I and my Thai friend just talked about him during our way back home from little party yesterday night and, today, BBC headlined his detention. He was arrested when casting his vote in Bangkok ’s gubernatorial elections in connection with current uprising against the Thai government. Wait, who is he, anyway? How important is he to know? VERY IMPORTANT, YOU WILL SOON KNOW WHY.

He was former military officer and governor of Bangkok. He was also the member of anti-leftist Young Turks, clique he established with some military colleagues, which involved in 1976 Massacre in Bangkok. It was a demonstration orchestrated by leftist student to oppose the appointment of previously exiled former dictator Thanom Kittikachorn as a monk. Samak Sundaravej, previous Prime Minister of Thailand (Jan - Sep 2008), was also alleged to have sent paratroopers to stop the demonstrations although he severely denied it.

In 1980s, he joined radical sectarian Buddhist movement called Santi Asoke and henceforth started to live as vegetarian celibate who has no worldly goods. Santi Asoke is also known for its very strong stance against corrupt government. In the end of 1980s, he formed Palang Dharma Party (PDP), which successfully brought him to the position of Bangkok’s governor and member of parliament. Chamlong retired from PDP in 1995 when the incumbent government collapsed. He appointed Thaksin Shinawatra to replace him to lead increasingly waning PDP.

PDP then became the nucleus of Thai Rak Thai Party, Thaksin’s political vehicle, which won overwhelming victory in 2001 elections and made him a Prime Minister.

Here, we have to understand that Thaksin and friends were mainly supported by people living in rural area. Chamlong joined the right wing People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and supported military coup against corrupt Thaksin’s government in 2006. Thaksin was successfully ousted and his Thai Rak Thai’s Party was banned. Some members from it formed People’s Power Party (PPP) and won December 2007 elections and made Samak Sundaravej Thai’s Prime Minister.

Samak Sundaravej’s government was alleged to be Thaksin’s proxy and tried to protect Thaksin from imprisonment, thus PAD resumed the demonstrations in August 2008. This time they brought together thousands of PAD supporters. They claimed for:

- The resignation of Samak Sundaravej as Prime Minister
- The amendment of constitution to reduce parliament’s members which eventually reduce voices from pro-Thaksin rural area
- The government’s responsibility in failing to reacquire Preah Vihear’s temple from Cambodia which resulted in conflict between them

After seizing airports and blocking roads, Chamlong ordered the seizure of Prime Minister’s building in August 29th. Samak Sundaravej finally had to withdraw from his position since his appearances in cooking program in Thai television was againts article 267 of Thai constitution.

PPP’s Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother in-law became new Prime Minister in September 18th 2008. PAD had warned that demonstrations would be continued since Somchai was just another proxy of Thaksin. Today, Chamlong was arrested and police is still looking for the leader of PAD, Somdhi Linthongkul, the first one to wear yellow shirts in demonstrations to symbolize his loyalty to the King of Thai. Bangkok Post reported that Prime Minister Somchai was not behind this.

Here, we understand that Chamlong has been playing crucial part in Thai’s political arena even since 1970s. He was ally of Samak in 1976 and Thaksin in early 1990s and contributed to their downfalls in 2000s. It is always interesting to observe Thai’s politics and I am so eager to see what will happen after this.

Anyway, now you know who is Chamlong Srimuang, you might not need to know him to get employed in prestigious companies, but hey you can talk about him in cocktail party and everyone will think you are cool and smart. Please keep in your mind that I am not in the habit of doing this.

Image was take from here.

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Tags: Chamlong Srimuang, PAD, Samak Sundaravej, Thailand 2008 Political Crisis, Thaksin Shinawatra

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pm and is filed under Articles in English, Politik. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.