DR. WENG TALKS: NO THAKSIN PROTECTOR?
Well am not really a fan of the current red tactics, no, there isn't any real strategy for any betterment. What looks red could easily be yellow – hey both want democracy with the king as the head of state -, but that doesn't mean that one has to concrete-caste one's mind.
So I took a stroll through Bangkok's neo-apocalyptic red zone in the hands of urban vagabonds (see the little photo essay below) and met Dr. Weng Tojirakarn, an approachable, from the outside pleasant man who at younger age led Buddhist students and was accused of being a communist. Authorities sent gunmen to kill him, he says. He fled.
From 1976 to 1980 he lived in the jungle and practiced as a doctor, whereas two thirds of the time he was down with malaria. Dr. Weng's the probably more reasonable voice within the red triumvirate. Here's our little chat – yes I tried to get a feel if the reds have outgrown Thaksin. Will the doctor make you switch sides?
Dr. Weng, the international media seem to buy your struggle, some even romanticize your movement, local media not. Why's that.
Because now today democracy is the mainstream of the world and this is a peaceful demonstration, we are a peaceful movement. Yesterday Abhisit would like to create war, and all the lies they accuse us of.
What lies?
That we want to overthrow the monarchy. They intentionally create absolute lies, it's the classic standard to denounce a political opponent since Pridi Banomyong. It's 78 years since the fall of the absolute monarchy, and yes it's a pity that Thailand had 23 coup d'états. In average every three years we have a coup, how can Thailand develop and protect the basic life of the people with equality of chance. I'm talking about economic chance, political chance, social chance, cultural chance.
But those issues need reform, not revolution. Why your upheaval now? Abhisit continued and improved many of Thaksin policies. Thaksin for himself copied many of the Democrats' polices, just renamed and repackaged them.
What about Suvarnabhumi Airport? Where is the rule of law? That was a terrorist act. They are terrorists and Abhist does nothing …
Yes but I asked about Abhisit's policies. We know, you want democracy, but people's life today is not that much worse than under Thaksin, is it. Why the rush?
No, Abhisit is fake, he's stupid. He pays like 600 to 800 baht to families, where is the equality? So you have to buy kids' cloths to join school activities, you have to pay more and more money, like 2,000 baht.
What would Thaksin do?
I'm not a defendant and not a protector of Thaksin, but people tell me he took their kids away from drugs. I don't know about extrajudicial killings of drug dealers, but four years on not a single case is proven. They still cannot sue him. Look, our political line is very obvious. We want democracy with the king as head of state. We want to get rid of the bureaucratic system. Thaksin created the strongest democratic system, but Thaksin is a byproduct.
Well plenty of people would counter that 1) Thaksin eroded independent organizations, 2) tried to get rid of checks and balances, 3) placed loyal people in key positions and 4) put the media under enormous pressure. That's not democracy.
Nothing is proven. Abhisit now closes down websites. Thaksin did not close websites. And now two TV journalists have been banned from TV show. These two ladies just told the truth. TV3's Thapanee Ietsrichai andWassana Nanuam.
But it's difficult to deny that Thaksin still is the backbone of your movement.
He is just a speaker. He's a good speaker and an ex-prime minister. Many remember him very well. Remember how they get children back from drugs, how they get cardiac surgery for 30 baht. The half million baht before no one could afford. Or many people have lumbar issues from the hard work, from bending over all day long. Thaksin helped. He finished the underground lottery and made it legal. Gangsters and the mafia lost huge profits, that's why gangsters and the mafia hate him, and drug traffickers. A certain portion of these bad people joined the PAD.
How come many people think Thaksin is exactly the opposite of what you say.
Because he is so arrogant. He created a lot of enemies. Intentionally or not, that's his personality.
Well he be back?
I'm not concerned about him coming back or not. I want democracy with the king as head of state. The government must work. I'm not at all concerned about Thaksin. Most people walked across Thaksin already.
But Thaksin himself said he wants to be given another chance to be back in power and prove himself. Well that must be what people want …?
That's his individual idea, his hope.
Is Thaksin a changed man?
I hope so. He may have learned a lesson from history, what is good, what is not good. What made him so many enemies. So many love him. So many hate him.
Thank you for your time Dr. Weng.
(BD: Well the only proof if Thaksin is outgrown will be a red election campaign without the playing of the Thaksin card/factor. And, if elected to lead a government, to not only concentrate on attempts to turn back time via legislative means to undo Thaksin's wrongs …)
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