Samak Interview On Cnn

[Sparkles]

Last night on CNN there was apparently an interview with new PM Samak.Did anybody see it ? Anything worth reporting ?

[djinn]

Yes saw it

The lady journalist was rough with him asking quetions about killings of uni students and corruption pending case

Answers:

-Bad people lie about me; there were no students killed;then yes there was one (when the journalist spoke from TV footage...)

-Bad people lie about me; I am not corrupted look already 2 years the case is in court and no result....

The face of the journalist showed he didn't convince anybody

Not good for Thailand's image I fear

[A_Traveller]

In another thread I asked 'Where's the I don't know if I should laugh or cry emoticon?', given the present situation maybe someone herein with artistic sills could come up with one, I think we're going to need it, unfortunately, a lot.

Regards

/edit typo//

Edited February 11, 2008 by A_Traveller

[DavidS]

Yes saw it

The lady journalist was rough with him asking quetions about killings of uni students and corruption pending case

Answers:

-Bad people lie about me; there were no students killed;then yes there was one (when the journalist spoke from TV footage...)

-Bad people lie about me; I am not corrupted look already 2 years the case is in court and no result....

The face of the journalist showed he didn't convince anybody

Not good for Thailand's image I fear

Dan Rivers, who did the interview, looked pretty male to me.

[Briggsy]

Yes saw it

The lady journalist was rough with him asking quetions about killings of uni students and corruption pending case

Answers:

-Bad people lie about me; there were no students killed;then yes there was one (when the journalist spoke from TV footage...)

-Bad people lie about me; I am not corrupted look already 2 years the case is in court and no result....

The face of the journalist showed he didn't convince anybody

Not good for Thailand's image I fear

I didn't see it. I'm surprised he even addressed the questions as he usually just rides roughshod over reporters. He obviously doesn't have the slick PR machine that enabled Thaksin to avoid any tough interviews in the international media.

It's a pity his 1976 radio broadcasts are not available. They'd make some good fodder for his adversaries.

[Payboy]

Yes saw it

The lady journalist was rough with him asking quetions about killings of uni students and corruption pending case

Answers:

-Bad people lie about me; there were no students killed;then yes there was one (when the journalist spoke from TV footage...)

-Bad people lie about me; I am not corrupted look already 2 years the case is in court and no result....

The face of the journalist showed he didn't convince anybody

Not good for Thailand's image I fear

Dan Rivers, who did the interview, looked pretty male to me.

must be those steroids

[A_Traveller]

seems to get along with Thaksin..

As I noted elsewhere the two of them got into such a state with each other in the late '90s during the period of Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa government, that they were admonished to work together by HM.

Regards

PS Over the years I've met more than a few 'left of centre' politicians here, who would rate a high 'to the right of Attila the Hun' score elsewhere.

Edited February 11, 2008 by A_Traveller

[samtam]

There's a transcript of the interview with Dan Rivers in The Nation today. I don't think it does him, (Samak) any favours, and fuels the stereotype....

[KhunDave]

I think Dan Rivers set out to let Samak make a fool of himself, and largely succeded. CNN then compounded the effect by interslicing the conversation with clips from Samak's TV cookery show. The interview ended with the PM giving an extremely cringe-worthy pantomime wai. Not pretty.

[WongKarWai21]

you guys are mean he is a very good chef and he work very hard for thailand he have a good heart we most respect older people.

[Virin]

you guys are mean he is a very good chef and he work very hard for thailand he have a good heart we most respect older people.

Are you serious???? , he has been called "ไอ้ (ai)...." from all ages for long time, that tells lots of things.

[Virin]

you guys are mean he is a very good chef and he work very hard for thailand he have a good heart we most respect older people.

After my friends (all Thais of course) read your statement, we think this might be your sarcasm .

[djinn]

Yes saw it

The lady journalist was rough with him asking quetions about killings of uni students and corruption pending case

Answers:

-Bad people lie about me; there were no students killed;then yes there was one (when the journalist spoke from TV footage...)

-Bad people lie about me; I am not corrupted look already 2 years the case is in court and no result....

The face of the journalist showed he didn't convince anybody

Not good for Thailand's image I fear

Dan Rivers, who did the interview, looked pretty male to me.

Oooops sorry I saw an interview yesterday on Al Jazeera I think......

[djinn]

Or was it on BBC????

Happily I don't drink else I would see flying pigs

[Sparkles]

Or was it on BBC????

Happily I don't drink else I would see flying pigs

Have just picked up the Bangkok Post and there is a transcript of the interview on the Editorial page.

2 points of interest, when pressed on the October 1976 protests he denied involvement and insisted there was only 1 student killed when in fact there were dozens and he was involved as Deputy Interior Minister and secondly his remark" I am myself.I'm the leader of the party. I run this country ; its me, I have my own thinking"

Throughout the interview he doesn't answer the questions, like most politicians, even when pursued.

Anyone seeing this interview, if the transcript is correct and I have no doubt it is, most people I think would be quite alarmed and might wonder is the best a country the size and importance of Thailand can do ?

[brahmburgers]

I read the interview in The Nation. Incredible!

Walter Cronkite was asked in retirement, who was the most articulate of the many US presidents he had interviewed in his long career. Walter replied, "Jimmy Carter" Well, I would venture that Samak is the most inarticulate current president of any country. Even when one considers English is not his native tongue, he comes across as brain addled.

If a majority of Thai voted for him, then that's what they deserve. And that same man will be directing policy and appointing dozens of others to important positions?! Good luck Thailand!

[Prakanong]

Or was it on BBC????

Happily I don't drink else I would see flying pigs

Have just picked up the Bangkok Post and there is a transcript of the interview on the Editorial page.

2 points of interest, when pressed on the October 1976 protests he denied involvement and insisted there was only 1 student killed when in fact there were dozens and he was involved as Deputy Interior Minister and secondly his remark" I am myself.I'm the leader of the party. I run this country ; its me, I have my own thinking"

Throughout the interview he doesn't answer the questions, like most politicians, even when pursued.

Anyone seeing this interview, if the transcript is correct and I have no doubt it is, most people I think would be quite alarmed and might wonder is the best a country the size and importance of Thailand can do ?

Importance of Thailand?????

Might be to the people here on TV and living there but even in Asia never mind the world its not that important.

Edited February 11, 2008 by Prakanong

[bendix]

I'm surprised this hasnt generated more discussion. I guess the quality of Burger Kings in Bangkok and Danny's woes are more important to most members.

The thing that struck me about the interview (and I've only read the transcript, not seen the real thing) is how easily the guy is capable of telling bare-faced lies, particularly about the deaths in the student riots. There has been follow-up today in the BkkPost with them getting rebuttals from academics, but of course the Post and Nation are too meek to take it on properly.

It's sad and a savage indictment of Thai politics, but I guess the old maxim is true. People get the leaders they deserve.

[DavidS]

I'm surprised this hasnt generated more discussion. I guess the quality of Burger Kings in Bangkok and Danny's woes are more important to most members.

The thing that struck me about the interview (and I've only read the transcript, not seen the real thing) is how easily the guy is capable of telling bare-faced lies, particularly about the deaths in the student riots.

He's read Orwell's "1984".

[Old Man River]

I'm surprised this hasnt generated more discussion. I guess the quality of Burger Kings in Bangkok and Danny's woes are more important to most members.

His comments on Oct. 1976's events were discussed in the Thailand's newsclippings section (Samak thread) along with grisly photos of more than one dead. Really, what can you say about something like this. It is like those that deny the holocaust ever occurred. People like this exist all over the world (unfortunately).

[Sparkles]

I'm surprised this hasnt generated more discussion. I guess the quality of Burger Kings in Bangkok and Danny's woes are more important to most members.

His comments on Oct. 1976's events were discussed in the Thailand's newsclippings section (Samak thread) along with grisly photos of more than one dead. Really, what can you say about something like this. It is like those that deny the holocaust ever occurred. People like this exist all over the world (unfortunately).

I am disappointed to that his interview hasn't created more interest with Thai Visa readers as the performance of this new Gov does affect every single person in the country. Unfortuantly the media in Thailand doesnt have the intestinal fortitude to take him on.Investigative reporters in Bangkok ?,no such animal.

[pampal]

And he still denies being Thaksin's puppet

[baabaabobo]

Oct 6 people angry at PM's CNN interview

NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS and PRADIT RUANGDIT (Bangkok Post)

Former student activists who experienced first-hand the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators on Oct 6, 1976, have been outraged by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's interview with CNN.

During the interview on Saturday, Mr Samak said that on Oct 6, 1976, only one person was killed in the violent crackdown on protesting students and other demonstrators by the authoritarian government of the time.

Apichart Sakdiseth, a Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, said Mr Samak had totally distorted the facts about the bloody Oct 6 crackdown.

''In the massacre that took place in the heart of the capital 30 years ago, the official number of people killed was 46 and hundreds of others went missing.

''They're historical facts that people around the world have learned,'' said Mr Apichart.

It was internationally known what led to the Oct 6 bloodshed, who were involved, who the masterminds were and its unprecedented and significant repercussions upon Thai society, he said.

Mr Apichart urged all people involved in the events of Oct 6, including former student activists, academics and relatives of those killed, to come out to defend the facts.

Former student activist Suthachai Yimprasert, now a history lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said he assumed Mr Samak intentionally gave the wrong information to escape the accusation that he was also responsible for the 1976 massacre of student activists and other protesters.

''I don't want to debate the facts with him. He should know himself that this isn't the first time he has lied,'' said Mr Suthachai.

The history lecturer said there were two major sets of events on Oct 6, 1976.

First, soldiers and police surrounded Thammasat University and killed 46 students, wounded hundreds others and arrested more than 3,000 people.

Then, in the evening, there was a coup d'etat. All newspaper offices were closed for three days. They resumed publication on Oct 9, and none reported the massacre. Consequently, the casualty figures reported later on were rather confusing.

However, Mr Suthachai said it was not good for a forum to debate the facts about the Oct 6 massacre.

He did not want Mr Samak's incorrect remarks to be the starting point of political conflict.

At least Mr Samak was an elected prime minister, said Mr Suthachai. Academia and the public should give him a chance to run the country as a democracy, he added.

''I still want him to run the country smoothly. But if he is found to be corrupt, then we should come out against him,'' said Mr Surachai.

Jaran Ditapichai, a core member of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship of Thailand and former Thammasat student who was arrested on Oct 6, 1976, insisted there was clear evidence that more than one person was killed on that day.The prime minister had given incorrect information, he said.

[Lithobid]

''I still want him to run the country smoothly. But if he is found to be corrupt, then we should come out against him,'' said Mr Surachai.

I'm a little hazy, doesn't lying on international television count as corruption? Or is that type of corruption acceptable.

[paulyonthemove]

I watched the interview and was shocked that such a man is in control of a country like Thailand. He dosent seem to be much of an intelect. However, there is proberbly a method in the madness to the replys he give to the questions asked. Futhermore, he can't be completly stupid because he hasnt got were he is by cooking!! As for the denial of more than 1 person killed during the demonstrations in 1976, that is about as bad as the denials by the military junta in Burma about the number of people killed there. I love Thailand and have a lot of respect for the people. However, i fear for this contry and where it may be going being run by politicians such as Mr Samak.

Buda/God bless Thailand

[jumnien]

It's funny that Sonthi's Army gets so little of the blame for murdering Thai citizens, yet civilians such as Samak get tagged with the atrocity. Too many folks drinking the Thai Army kool-aid!

[bendix]

Is it just me, or is there a remarkable resemblance between our new Prime Minister and Springfield's finest cop?

[Dave the Dude]

Is it just me, or is there a remarkable resemblance between our new Prime Minister and Springfield's finest cop?

DOH

Good spot Bendix

Your a 'Legend on your own Lunchtime'

[otherstuff1957]

^^^ Was anyone actually killed in the coup? If so, I didn't hear about it!

If you're referring to the military's involvement in the Oct '76 massacre they were not necessarily the prime culprits:

From Wikipedia: The attack and massacre was led by Thai military and police units, but especially by the brutal right-wing paramilitary Red Gaur and the royalist Village Scouts

Edited February 12, 2008 by otherstuff1957

[chiang mai]

Having only been in office for two days the writing, by virtue of the CNN interview, is clearly on the wall for all to see. Politicians do say some daft things at times but Samak's denial of the deaths in question beggars belief. His Day 2 admission that saving 500 million baht in health care/medication costs by breaking international drug company patents is nothing when compared to the billions that will be lost through exports that could be embargoed as a result.

It looks like it could be a seriously bad four years ahead for everyone, especially the Thai's. Coup twenty six (?) anyone?

Edited February 12, 2008 by chiang mai