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Firebrand Thai PM opens old wounds

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, center, talks at a news conference at his house in Bangkok on Dec. 23. PHOTO: AP

When Samak Sundaravej became Thailand's prime minister on Feb. 6, pundits wondered how long it would take the right-wing firebrand to put his foot in his month.

Not long at all, it turns out.

For two weeks, the 72-year-old Samak has turned the spotlight on his past with comments that have shocked Thailand and focused debate on a massacre of student protesters three decades ago.

The pugnacious prime minister publicly denied any role in the carnage of Oct. 6, 1976, and told CNN in a recent interview only "one unlucky guy" was killed that day -- even though historical records show almost 50 perished.

Violence was unleashed that day on leftist student demonstrators gathered to protest the return of ousted prime minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, one of the so-called "Three Tyrants" -- national leaders who were ousted by a student-led uprising in 1973.

Footage from the time shows security forces and right-wing paramilitary troops firing weapons into the campus of Bangkok's Thammasat University. Protesters were shot, beaten, hung and set ablaze. Bodies were mutilated and dragged around a soccer field.

According to the official record, 46 people were killed and hundreds more were injured. Some human rights groups and witnesses suggest the death toll was in the hundreds.

Media have seized on the incident to criticize Samak, academics have organized lectures to discuss the rarely mentioned subject and it was brought up repeatedly in parliamentary debate last week.

Analysts said Samak's remarks so early in his tenure could undermine his premiership, threatening to turn even his allies against him.

"It has become a hot issue that might be a rallying point, bringing his current political allies and his opposition together," said Kanokrat Lertchoesakul, a professor at Chulalongkorn University. "It's an emotional issue for many people across today's political spectrum."

Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee and Chaturon Chaisaeng -- allies of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and now supporters of Samak -- are among many contemporary politicians who were leftist student leaders in 1976.

On Saturday, Chaturon said Samak "should gather accurate information before speaking" about the incident.
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