Column: 'Interview with Khun Anupong Paochinda (Interior Minister)'
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Int: Hi, Khun Anupong. It seems very quiet in your department since there are no more demonstrations.
Anupong: Yes, I have to thank Governor Chadchart for that. He has made a masterstroke by designating certain areas in Bangkok as 'certified' demonstration sites. Away from the civilized world, no nuisance and roadblocks with currently expensive containers, first report neatly to the authorities, everyone goes home neatly in the evening so that things can be made sa-aat. But let's face it: it is not a solution for the demonstrations outside the capital, but there are hardly any. Or the mob has to drastically revise its strategy. However, I have the firm impression, supported by the intelligence services, that this is not the case.
Int: People keep focusing on Bangkok?
Anupong: Yes, and actually I don't understand that very well. In the rest of the country many more supporters of the protesters live, there is more space, and fewer police and army to intervene. 300 or 400 buses full of red trailers from Bangkok to, for example, Khon Kaen or Udon Thani would also really help the bus companies at the moment. But yes, probably less exposure in the national and international media. They want to make the government look bad and the chance that this will succeed in Bangkok is of course greater.
Int: But the government is united…?
Anupong: Definitely. Prayut, Prawit and myself have been able to read and write together for years. Prayut is the now suspended prime minister, Prawit deputy. prime minister and the head of the PPRP (of which neither Prayut nor I are members, thankfully) and I'm sitting comfortably in the lee. I'm not much of a talker, but more of a doer. When I was still in command of the Thai army, the command “Forward, Mars” was already one word too many, I thought. I also had that replaced by: 'PAI'. Nice to mention is that the whole people have taken over.
Int: The three of you are, or were, members of the so-called Queens Guard. What exactly is that?
Anupong: That's an elite unit in the army, commandos you could say that have the special task of protecting the queen at all times and from everyone, if necessary with your own life. You are therefore a member for life and it does not end when you retire. We are strong supporters of the monarchy and oppose any attack on it. The manpower has doubled in recent years because we now have two queens. And there is also a small new unit internally called MiaNoi Guard. Silent forces all but behind the scenes.
Int: You've often worked behind the scenes in the past, haven't you?
Anupong: Of course. The work of the military is usually not so visible, only when national security is at risk. But are you referring to a specific event in the past?
Int: Yes. In preparing for this interview, I came across documents that said that you had something to do with the establishment of the Abhisit government.
Anupong: That was a long time ago. You may know that the then red government was actually led by top chef Samak. That Samak could not be trusted by Satan. In the well-known student protests at Thammasat in 1967, he was still on our side, that of the army, working for a radio station that broadcast only anti-communist propaganda. And later he became prime minister for the same left-wing clique. In the interests of the country, this had to come to an end. Then I contacted Newin Chidchob and urged him in some backroom talks to get his party out of the coalition and support Abhisit. That was actually childishly simple. That is the same party as the party of his half-brother Anutin now. Newin received a hefty contribution to start a football club.
Int: You were in the same class at the police academy as Thaksin, I read.
Anupong: Indeed. And that's where my knowledge and experience starts. Thaksin had nothing to do with the police, with peace and order and with fighting corruption. He was just there for his career and building networks that he could later exploit. It was useful that we, especially Thaksin, were told exactly how to scam things.
Int: Didn't that also apply to you?
Anupong: Yes, sure. But you know. Then when you're accepted into the Queen's Guard, you know it's only because you're reliable and unflinching. And that you owe it to yourself.
Int: Really?
Anupong: Yes. I can cough up a whole laundry list of names who first sat on one side of the political spectrum and then moved to the other side without any embarrassment. And they were not penalized by the voters for that either. Samak was not alone. A small fight over a bottle of wine, a sexy gig or a few wrong words with a sip or while playing poker and voila… a new party is born.
Int: I understand from your words that the military is the only constant and reliable factor in this country.
Anupong: Yes, but I think there is an exception and it will surprise you from my mouth. I have a lot of respect for those boys and girls from Move Forward. You know. Thanathorn, Pita, Piyabutr.
Int: Really? Why?
Anupong: They had a good program in the previous elections. I thought 30 pages and they had thought about a lot of things. You can't suspect them of robbing the state treasury because they just don't know how to do it. None of them went to the police academy. What I liked was that they were looking for a solution for agriculture without simply giving money to all those farmers in the North East and buying up their rice. They were even against that.
Int: Sounds like advertising them coming from your mouth.
Anupong: Yes, but for me they were very wrong with their positions on the monarchy. They shouldn't have. Also because the majority of the population is not very well served by changes and certainly not by far-reaching changes. And I don't think there is an urgent need for those changes either. Is the monarchy responsible for the failing economy, poor education, floods and droughts, road safety, poverty, the number of teenage mothers, Covid, monkey pox, unreliable politicians?
Int: Yes, there are plenty of other problems in the country. That's for sure.
Anupong: Let's get to work then….
Int: That's right. I go to the office to work out the interview. Thank you for your time.
Chris de Boer is really an excellent interviewer! He really brings out the best in the interviewees. General Prayut, General Prawit and General Anupong, what nice and kind men they are! Thailand can be happy with such leaders! These interviews prove that once again!
Oh wait, another quote:
'In the well-known student protests at Thammasat in 1967, he (Mr. Samak) was still on our side, that of the army, working for a radio station that only broadcast anti-communist propaganda.'
That was in 1976. Indeed, those radio stations were owned by the army and shouted 'Kill the communists!' all day long. And they did!
Of course, Anupong was not talking about what happened in 1976, but about the unreliability of Thai politicians and the apparent absence of candidate screening.
He openly wondered whether a switch from Wilders to Groen Links in 2023 is conceivable just because Wilders could then become prime minister.
Not all politicians are unreliable, but Samak was indeed unreliable and it is certainly about what happened in 1976. That screening is there, but it is not about reliability or expertise, but only about loyalty to the Leader. The same goes for Prayut, Prawit and Anupong, not just Samak.
Samak Sundaravej was an instigator of the October 6, 1976 Thammasat University massacre which he later denied ("There was only one dead"), and he was briefly prime minister in 2008.
And GL group chairman of the Senate, Paul Rosenmöller, was a Pol Pot supporter. I wonder why people keep honoring the wrong people. In smart NL that is not a problem, but as soon as it comes to TH, fingers are suddenly pointing from NL. Start with yourself and your own country to get a better world.
Dear Johnny,
I don't think Rosemuller's example is really what I meant.
You would be right if Rosemuller were now sitting in the Senate for the PVV.
And let's face it: don't we all have childhood sins? And were we all aware of abuses 50 to 60 years ago as quickly as we are now?
In my youth, the fax was already an immense improvement in communication. Today's youth no longer knows what a fax is.
Indeed, not all politicians are untrustworthy, just as not all police and military officials are authoritarian communist-hunters.
Incidentally, I do not consider Prayut and Anupong as politicians, but as ministers/former generals. They have never practiced the profession of politicians and are not even members of a political party. So who that Leader is in your response is a mystery to me.
It happens in many more countries that a man or woman becomes a minister, prime minister or president without ever having been a politician.
Of course I have absolutely no idea whether a politician is a 'profession', but in my humble opinion it can't be a 'profession' either.
More like being in the right place at the right time with the right interest and friends, colleagues whether or not sincere.
Decision-making by people like this, who are often, but not always in the personal interest, are seen by the masses as positive or negative, also in 'less friendly countries', but depending on which side you are on.
History [coincidentally 'our' Pm's profession] often teaches that decisions, whether or not made on impulse or well thought out, have made the world what it is.
Good chance that the 'wrong' men of today will be worshiped in a hundred years' time and vice versa some will be condemned.
It can be.
All those generals always make me so happy, Anupong (อนุพงษ์, anoe=phong, literally: little +…something) too of course. Together with his comrades-in-arms saved the country from destruction, and they bear the title of general until their death. Those are the people who bring peace and order, sometimes with a heavy hand, but it's all well-intentioned, isn't it? And those who listen carefully have nothing to fear. Get in step.
And let's not forget that Thailand is a real network country, armed forces that have their tenta… connections everywhere from lawnmower to petrol pump, management board, supervisory board or a fun palace. Then you are close to the plebs and you know how to chart the right course. All that networking, and the heroism, you can also reap the benefits of that in the form of nice watches, cars, houses or other pleasures, aren't you? Corruption is especially something for Mr. Meow, the cunning fox. And for the right vision and strategy you don't have to be with the orange party either, no, the country's future is best off with the tough, powerful, reliable and resolute gentlemen in green, white, brown or other colored uniform with many stripes, stars and medals. Of course you don't reach those positions for nothing!
Chris made me happy again today and gave me hope for the future.