Thai Student Writes

I am a Thai who, since I was born, have lived under a corrupt and oppressive military dictatorial government. On the 14th October, 1973, my brothers and sisters fought with their bare hands against the armed soldiers until the tyrants were expelled from the country. Then we obtained democracy which meant that people could make decisions about the fate of their country. Thai workers gained more power to deal with their employers and could form a labour Union. The farmers who are 80% of the total population and live in poverty, were going to have the benefit of land reform being planned by the democratic government at that time. The press and common men have freedom to criticize the government.

Unfortunately this lasted for only 3 years. On the 6th October, 1976, a group of military leaders who saw the labourers' fighting against their exploitation as chaos, land reform as communistic, thus took over the country by arms and abolished democracy and human rights.

Now they are saying that Thailand is peaceful and no-one is complaining. Who would complain at the risk of being jailed or executed? Even the press is heavily censored. Moreover, the government also allowed the corrupt tyrants of pre-1973 revolt to come back to Thailand with honour.

The military dictatorial government has forced students, workers, peasants and intellectuals into the jungle to take arms. This results in two armed groups fighting each other at the expense of common men's lives who could not carry out their usual activities but have to live in tears.

I am one of the Thais who have to live under fear from both sides. I could be jailed for unlimited period by the government because I am saying the truth about what is happening in my country. As for the people in the jungle who use arms I cannot cooperate with them.

What I can do now is ask you to not give support to the violent people of both sides because they are murderers.