Bloody repression will leave lasting scars-1992 Thai coup Nate Thayer

Bloody repression will leave lasting scars

MAY 21 1992

BANGKOK POST SPECIAL AFTERNOON EDITION

by Nate Thayer of AP
TAXI drivers and stockbrokers, students and noodle vendors
reacted with defiance when once again the military intervened to
block Thailand's road to democracy. And they vented their rage
when a military clique turned its guns on civilians to retain
power.
  While nobody is yet predicting that the military's days are
over, an opposition stronger than ever has emerged to an army
long seen as politicised and not particularly effective on the
battlefield.
   Images of soldiers gunning down unarmed protesters and
striking women with their rifle butts will be seared into the
minds of millions. Even some soldiers and security officers are
openly expressing disgust.
   "You cannot shoot down the people like falling leaves. I
cannot accept what I saw with my own eyes," said Pol Maj-Gen
Uthai Asvavilai, a senior police official at the scene where
demonstrators were gunned down early on Tuesday morning.
   "If I am forced to act against my conscience, I will take off
my uniform," he said.
   "We cannot forget soldiers using weapons payed for by
taxpayers shooting down Thai citizens," said Jatuporn Prompan, a
26-year-old university student.
   It appears that a small group of army generals orchestrated
the crackdown on a broad-based coalition of pro-democracy
demonstrators who took peacefully to the streets to demand the
resignation of Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon.
   At least 40 people have been killed and more than 600 injured
since Sunday night.
   Each volley of shots into the crowd seemed only to galvanise
the protesters. More and more came out to support the protests.
   Thousands also rallied in provincial capitals as word spread
of the bloodshed.
   Coups and military intimidation have been regular features of
Thai politics since the military helped topple absolute monarchy
in 1932. But this time, the civilians they tried to cow into
submission wouldn't budge.
   "No more military mafia!" was a popular banner strung across
downtown streets occupied by more than 100,000 demonstrators,
even after troops opened fire.
   A recent article by Robert Karniol, an editor for the
respected military journal, Jane's Defence Weekly, characterised
the Thai military as "incapable of organising an effective
defence against conventional attack."
   He said "the few officers who recognise this are ignored by
senior staff distracted by non-military pursuits."
   After a coup in February last year, Suchinda promised to crack
down on corrupt government officials. He ordered investigations
of a number of ministers of the previous government who were
later branded as having amassed illegal wealth.
   Many Thais were outraged when the same officials were
reappointed to Suchinda's newly formed government last month,
allegedly by buying their way back into the government.
   Thailand's increasingly affluent middle class has especially
grown intolerant of a military who seem more focused on muscling
their way into political power than defending the country.