Army chief tells media to listen to “Nak Paendin” ultra-nationalist song

[webfact]

Army chief tells media to listen to “Nak Paendin” ultra-nationalist song

 

 

Thailand’s Army Commander-in-Chief General Apirat Kongsompong responded to a reporter’s question this morning about his view of the current political situation by suggesting the media listen to the old ultra-nationalist song “Nak Paendin” (Burden of the Land).

 

His comment was an indirect response to a question about the Pheu Thai party’s chief campaign strategist Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphant’s comment on Sunday that her party would cut defence spending by about 10% and would abolish military conscription if the party wins the election.

 

The lyrics of the song were written by Colonel Boonsong Hakrithsoek in 1975, when Thailand was under Communist threat after the fall of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.  Then, the country was embroiled in intense political conflict between left-wing students, labourers and right-wing extremists.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/army-chief-tells-media-to-listen-to-nak-paendin-ultra-nationalist-song/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-02-18

[Chang_paarp]

Quote

The song was repeatedly broadcast in Bangkok before and after right-wing extremists and police stormed the Thammasat University campus on October 6, 1976 in one of the country’s bloodiest political crackdowns.

I think he was issuing a warning about the coup that is not going to happen.

 

Edit to add. Quote is the last paragraph from the full article of the OP.

Edited February 18, 2019 by Chang_paarp

[rkidlad]

 

Looks like a bunch of 'farangs'. One of those farangs has even managed to steal himself a flag. Very patriotic.  

 

Edited February 18, 2019 by rkidlad

[DM07]

The Army threatening a journalist and a party, that might be elected in a (fair and democratic) election and decides to cut military spending, when they are in power!

 

 

Classy!

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

ultra-nationalist song

The very term conjures up images of backward, old-fashioned and archaic mindsets that no longer should have a place in a modern society. The fact that Gen. Apirat mentions this tune at all only goes to show what outdated dinosaurs he and many of his fellow top brass are and that the army is trailing almost 50 years behind the country's democratic development.

   

[davehowden]

The words "Milky Bar Kid" keep coming to mind.

[ocddave]

Do they get medals for every coup they are part of, or from killing their own citizens? I don't believe I have ever heard of Thailand going to war, so the medals are either obtained from suppressing citizens, or maybe they pick them up from the Amulet shop, and pin them on their own chest.

[Orton Rd]

Thais fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars

[Pilotman]

7 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Thais fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars

The Thais fought in parts of Laos during the Vietnam war, not in Vietnam itself.  They were actually declared neutrals during the war. They were fighting a communist backed insurgency on their own borders, that had little to do with the war the US were fighting.  However, they did host the US Air Force in country, but not officially. 

[Orton Rd]

Not as good as they like to make out then

[poohy]

Sounds like nasty piece of work, and running a even nastier bunch !

Its going to end in tears!

[bill1369]

4 hours ago, Pilotman said:

The Thais fought in parts of Laos during the Vietnam war, not in Vietnam itself.  They were actually declared neutrals during the war. They were fighting a communist backed insurgency on their own borders, that had little to do with the war the US were fighting.  However, they did host the US Air Force in country, but not officially. 

Actually, Thais did participate with the US in Vietnam fighting. See: In Buddha's Company, Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War by Richard Ruth.

 

That said, I think Orton Rd's post regarding participation in Korean & Vietnam wars was a criticism of a prior comment about Thai generals bedecked with medals. I hardly think any of the current crop of generals logged any time in either of those wars. So, yes, what do they receive all their medals for?

 

[webfact]

Army chief bristles over proposals to cut budget

By JITRAPORN SENNAWONG, 
KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong

 

Making critics enemies of the state dangerous, say analysts, as politicians told to listen to ultra-rightist song.

 

ANGRY WITH politicians proposing a cut in the defence budget, Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong ordered the ultra-rightist song “Nak Phaendin” to be aired every day on 160 Army radio stations across the country, but later withdrew the order.

 

 

The song, also played within military camps and the Army headquarters, was to air twice every day – at 7am and noon – before Apirat had a change of mind. The song is played at all Army barracks during lunchtime. The Army chief reasoned earlier that the anthem broadcast was aimed at encouraging everyone to be aware of their duties and responsibilities towards the country.

 

“All this time, some people have been critical and distorting the truth to create misunderstanding about the work of the government and the Army. So, all units should clarify it using the media in its hands,” Apirat said.

 

The order was issued yesterday almost immediately after Army top brass told politicians, including Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan from Pheu Thai Party, who are proposing a reduction in the defence budget as one of their policy planks, to listen to the song.

 

Several political parties during the electoral campaign have floated policies that affect the military. While the Army may have been strengthened in the past five years under the military-installed government, it also lost popularity with rising negative public sentiment over an increased Defence budget and the controversial military conscription.

 

The song, titled “Nak Phaendin”, means “burden to the country” and says one who is “worthless” or an “enemy of the nation” should be eliminated. The song was composed in 1975 by an Army officer and was part of the grand propaganda used against the communist movement in Thailand.

 

The song features lyrics that condemn any act of treason, including ungratefulness to the monarchy, instigating conflict among Thais and treachery.

 

In the notorious student massacre on October 6, 1976 at Thammasat University, “Nak Phaendin” was frequently played to justify the crackdown as well as to boost the courage of right-wingers who had engaged in elimination of the alleged threat.

 

Top Army members and leaders of the ruling junta yesterday also appeared protective of the Army’s interests in opposing the policy proposal to reduce the defence budget.

 

Junta chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday warned politicians to be mindful of their language during the electoral campaign. If they did not consider reality and the national interest, they would have to take responsibility for their actions one day.

 

General Prayut, who toppled an elected government in the 2014 coup and is now a premiership candidate of the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party, stressed that the Army had made enormous contributions to the country. Besides protecting the national sovereignty, they had also played a role in other areas such as disaster relief and drugs control, he said.

 

Junta No 2 and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said briefly but firmly: “Listen to the song that the Army chief mentioned. Listen to it.”

 

Two social science experts voiced concerns yesterday, suggesting that the invocation of the anthem pointed to a perilous situation.

 

Paul Chambers, an expert on military affairs and a lecturer at Naresuan University, told The Nation yesterday that the Army chief’s allusion to the song is extremely dangerous if he was suggesting that those politicians were an enemy of the state or was threatening to stage another coup.

 

Anusorn Unno, dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, said that Apirat was trying to distract the public from criticism about the size of the Army’s budget and the conscription programme.

 

“By mentioning this song, General Apirat conveniently turns critics of the Army into enemies of the state,” the expert said. “But we have to be clear that the Army is just a state apparatus to protect sovereignty. The Army is not the state itself. It has to be accountable.”

 

Anusorn said what the Army chief was doing was dangerous. Indirectly calling Army critics “Nak Phaendin” is tantamount to inciting hatred, which should be the last thing he wants given the fact that the country is already plagued with political division, the expert said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30364353

 

 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-19

[BuckBee]

The army need a good licking at this election ... just a shame the whole political barrel is rotten !

Edited February 18, 2019 by BuckBee

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“All this time, some people have been critical and distorting the truth to create misunderstanding about the work of the government and the Army.

according to him, thailand is one big army camp

[Sticky Wicket]

The disconnect is staggering

[yellowboat]

Did not know Thailand was at war.  Other than just a lot gum flapping, I would say nothing good is happening in the country.  Its moribund state remains as it has since military rule. 

Edited February 19, 2019 by yellowboat

[Lungstib]

Its interesting that the very rational and obvious idea of a reduction in the size of an extremely bloated military, in a country with no war, brings about a return of a song linked with the murder of students. If a group of students suggested this was the best way to deal with right wing military extremists there would be sedition charges in days. The very idea of a free and fair discussion going into an elections scares these people to death. 

[TheFishman1]

Cut funds o no I need the money TIT

[attrayant]

National pride is a ridiculous thing - almost as ridiculous as religion.  As George Shaw said:
 

“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it.”

 

Inanimate objects, such as flags or tracts of land, should not be objects of pride or respect. Have pride in your own positive accomplishments and respect your fellow humans (those who have earned it), and everything else falls in line after that.

[rott]

12 hours ago, Pilotman said:

The Thais fought in parts of Laos during the Vietnam war, not in Vietnam itself.  They were actually declared neutrals during the war. They were fighting a communist backed insurgency on their own borders, that had little to do with the war the US were fighting.  However, they did host the US Air Force in country, but not officially. 

You sure about that Mr P? Long time ago I met a guy (friend of the then BIL) who I was told had been with the Thai army in Vietnam.

Will see if anyone remembers.

[IAMHERE]

With that defense spending budget, I'd expect them to be invited to join NATO.

[mikebell]

Thus speaks Thailand's next PM-in-waiting. 

[Zack61]

Another candidate for a future role as a self installed PM. 

[randy723]

the army has no need to be in politic and should not be involved in running the country only protecting it. 

[ncc1701d]

Sounds as though he has gotten his way all his career and now that there is the suggestion he shouldn’t get what he wants he spits the dummy and reacts like a 7 year old. How these people get through the system to any high rank is beyond me.

[spidermike007]

How dare you suggest we get less money for our toys, and the ability to reinforce our power. We are the army. We must remain powerful!

 

The reality is, that Thailand needs a powerful army, about as much as an Alaskan fisherman needs imported salmon. And the last thing in the world the Thai people need is an army leader, at this stage of the game. Prayuth needs to be shown the door, in an adamant fashion. The people need to boot out these fools, and do it is such a way that it will be remembered. They are not popular, they are not needed, they are not wanted, and they are despised by most of the nation. Let us hope the people will have the good sense to show put them out to pasture. The nation needs to move forward, and that is impossible with the incompetent army in charge. 

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, rott said:

You sure about that Mr P? Long time ago I met a guy (friend of the then BIL) who I was told had been with the Thai army in Vietnam.

Will see if anyone remembers.

I'm told by another TV member that there was a few, didn't know that and never read it before. I will stand corrected if true. 

[Khun Paul]

The sad reality is that Thailand gets governed by people whose only claim is that they control thousands of people who will do what they are told when they are told. Forgetting that is these very people plus the rest of the population that provide the means for them to strut about .

If the army IS reduced my any amount , the Chief will not suffer a salary loss ( he is not paid per capita ) just that the expensive and in my view completely unnecessary toys may not be brought , they have enough wasteful enterprises and if they enter politics the Army personnel should lose their Military salaries . A man or woman cannot have TWO bosses and WORK efficiently. But as this is Thailand WORK  is an oxymoron

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

It has to be accountable.

Which of these are accountable to the Thai people's sovereignty granted by the Constitution?

• General Prayut as Chief of the NCPO and PM.
• General Prawit as Minister of Defense.
• Article 44 of the military's Interim Charter grants absolute power to the junta.
• Article 48 of the military's Interim Charter grants amnesty for all acts committed by military coup.
• Thai taxpayer funds distributed by a junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly.
• Military State of Emergency in the southern Muslim provinces that overrides human rights.

See a pattern?