Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 26. October 3 1977

Thailand—crimes against the people

Thailand—crimes against the people

Photo of people lying on the ground guarded by soldiers

This Thursday, October 6 marks the first anniversary of the bloody military coup that began in the early hours of the morning on that date in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. As most students would know, the Thai military replaced a democratically elected government that had held sway for three years, since the overthrow by a mass movement of Thais of the former military dictatorship in October 1973.

Most students probably ask the question, every time they see articles on Thailand, or other international issues, the question, "What the hell has all this got to do with me"? Our reply to such questions is that firstly, just because an issue arises outside the shores of this country is no reason for New Zealanders not to be concerned about it; secondly, that the denial of democracy and basic human rights to anyone in any country of the world should be of concern to all people; thirdly that the New Zealand government is closely connected with the Thai military government, a fact which deserves some attention because of various statements made about the connection by our Prime Minister, Rob Muldoon.

Photo of a person with blood on their face

We should be concerned that democracy in Thailand has been thrown out the door by violent means, that the country's constitution has been abrogated, that opposition of any description to the present Thai leaders is illegal, that workers, students and others still languish in gaol a year after the coup, that hundreds of students were shot down in cold blood during the coup and hundreds more wounded or forced to flee for their lives.

No decent New Zealander can support such things, obviously. The question to ask ourselves, therefore, is what can we do about it?

What can we do

We are not in Thailand and cannot directly influence events there. But we can help educate New Zealanders about what is happening there and, equally important, we can work bloody hard to ensure that New Zealand ceases condoning the actions of the military dictatorship through our government's stated support for them.

This is why the organisation, "Friends of Thailand" has been set up, initially in Wellington. Our "slogans" are Oppose the Military Dictatorship and Support the Thai People, we intend to write articles for newspapers and magazines, distributed leaflets, posters and other educational material and organise various actions (see advertisement on this page) which publicise the cause of the Thai people. We are a committee of 15 - 20 people, comprising students, public servants, workers and others. Both Asian and New Zealand people are working in Friends of Thailand.

Latest News:

Apart from the anniversary of October 6, 1976 coup, there art other things occuring on this issue that are of interest.

In the next few days, 17 student leaders and I trade unionist will be on trial for their lives in a closed military court in Bangkok. Charges against them range from "Lese Majeste" (offence against the King) through "being communists" to the "killing of government officials". Included among the 18 are 2 student leaders, Sutham Saengpratum and Orisa Irawonwut, whose cases have been publicised already this year. The 18, if convicted have no recourse to appeal and can be executed merely on the order of the Prime Minister, Thanin Kraivichien, placed there by the military.

Just like any other country, Thailand does not like to be embarrassed internationally by having its dirty linen aired overseas. It is therefore susceptible to international pressure, such as the sort we can demand that our government being to bear. Also, when Thai "dignitaries" visited New Zealand, they too can be pressured, as two members of the Thai Royal Family found out when they were presented with letters (one signed by female leaders of various organisations and the other by large numbers of academics from Victoria University) asking them to intercede on behalf of the eighteen.

Next March, the Thai P.M. is visiting New Zealand at the invitation of Muldoon. While visiting Bangkok a couple of months ago, Muldoon told reporters that "the future of New Zealand is woven in with that of Thailand". Friends of Thailand totally opposes that notion. Firstly, we believe that there should be absolutely no New Zealand support for the Thai military and secondly, we strongly oppose the idea that we are heading for a future similar to Thailand's unfortunate one, as Muldoon appears to imply.

We believe that, in the long term, the future of the people of Thailand is bright, that they will overcome the oppression in their country and move towards lasting and real freedom. The statement made six months ago by the leaders of the National Student Centre of Thailand (NSCT) coincides closely with our views ..........

"We, the NSCT leaders who have escaped from the bloody suppression campaigns of the reactionary ruling class, announce here that we will not bow to the fascist dictators. We will resolutely struggle, and adopt a concrete measure to claim the blood debt which the reactionary ruling class committee against the people. We will hold high the NSCT's glorious spirit of struggling for independence and democracy. We will unite with all classes of people, political parties, political movements and organisations, patriots, democrats, and struggle to achieve genuine independence and democracy".