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ASIA HAND
Recollections, revelations of a protest leader
By Shawn W Crispin

enough support and was looking forward more than normal, and the 1997 constitution allowed him to because it was drafted with the purpose of giving the PM a strong hand. He cut off this bridge between the elite and himself. That's why people were pissed off.

So then after paving the way for the coup, your relations with the CNS are now already strained?

I wouldn't say strained. I would say they don't trust me. They are


looking at Thaksin, who was an exceptional phenomenon, and they thought that by kicking Thaksin out, life would go on as usual. That's the reason why they are calling in former Thaksin politicians to come see them. They are saying, you may go set up a political party, he can set up a political party, they can combine their parties, run the country, but you have to remind yourself all the time who is the boss. That's the way it's always been and that's the situation now.

So you're saying that former politicians in Thaksin's camp are such political opportunists that they're probably willing to play by the CNS's rules?

As long as you have a place for professional politicians who get into politics to become a minister and skim off commissions on government projects, they will be happy to work with you. Even if the Democrats become the main government, the Democrats would never take away this bridge because they know the game. The risk lies in what direction I take. That's the reason they are looking at me with a dubious eye.

So what are the chances that you turn against the CNS and organize new street protests?

No, it's difficult. The reason I was able to mobilize such a large number of people was because of Thaksin. There is no longer a Thaksin. The more sensible way of doing it would be to educate the middle classes more and more.

But where the [coup makers] have misjudged the situation is this: they don't understand that the middle class in the past and the middle class today that rallied against Thaksin are completely different. They are smarter, they understand the issues, they know.

Now the people that are starting to criticize Surayud are the middle classes here. They are complaining about Surayud, they are saying they have been betrayed by the CNS, that they have been betrayed by Surayud, that all their efforts [through last year's street protests] have gone down the drain. That will be an important factor.

Where is Thailand heading politically?

If you look at what's going on over the last couple of weeks, [the CNS] cannot find the proper solution for [General] Sonthi to continue his reign.

Do you think he has long-term political ambitions?

He wants to protect his ass, that's for sure.

With this more conscious middle class, do you think there is potential for new mass street protests?

No, because they need a leader, and I happen to be the de facto leader.

You obviously have a reform vision; why aren't you interested in entering politics?

Because I still have my vices. I don't want to be scrutinized on my private affairs. As long as I don't hold political office, what I do doesn't matter. Seriously, I would not be good in political office because you cannot speak your mind in political office, no way. I am better off being a third force, counterbalancing some [politicians], balancing [political] factions, and creating a situation where either side does not take things to an extreme.

Did you know the coup was coming?

I swear to God I didn't. Not at all. I was planning a major rally because I saw Thaksin had left the country for so long. Thaksin changed his plan to come back earlier, so I decided to change the rally by informing all the PAD [People's Alliance for Democracy] members to move ahead a couple of days. So we agreed to do it on [September 20].

On the night of the 19th, I was staying at my home, washing myself, doing meditation, praying to the Lord Buddha, and I was just about ready to let go of everything to be ready for tomorrow, my last battle. Then all of a sudden at 8:30 or 9 the coup happened. Interestingly enough, the news of the coup was widely known at around noon, but I didn't know anything about it. I learned about it through the news.

Did Thaksin ever try to reach out to you from behind the scenes to try to do some kind of a deal?

Yeah, he was trying to offer me some money. A cabinet minister was talking in the vicinity of 500 million to 1 billion baht.

What did you say?

[Sighs] Maybe I should have taken it. [Laughs hilariously] It was beyond that point already. There are certain spots in your life that once you go beyond that it doesn't matter how much money. It makes no difference anyway. Thaksin was so used to buying people off, he underestimated me.

Notes
1. Sondhi Limthongkul is the founder of the Manager Group, which through its holdings owns Asia Times Online.

2. Pre-cadet Class 10 refers to soldiers who studied with Thaksin at the elite military academy and represent his support base in the armed forces.

Shawn W Crispin is Asia Times Online's Southeast Asia editor.

(Copyright 2007 Asia Times Online Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)

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