Volume 23, Number 20 · December 9, 1976
How Tyranny Returned to Thailand
By William Shawcross
Dr. Puey Ungpakorn is one of Thailand's most distinguished economists and, until the military coup of October 6, was rector of Thammasat University in Bangkok. He himself narrowly escaped death at the hands of a right-wing lynch mob and managed to get on a plane to London, where I talked to him. He believes that 'civil war is now inevitable' in Thailand. Thai democracy has been destroyed—in part by the institutions and the attitudes which the United States created in order, ostensibly, to 'save the country for the free world.' Dr. Puey believes that 'disputes within the army will increase, so will the gap between rich and poor. Relations with our neighbors will deteriorate and thousands of people who tried to make democracy work will join the insurgents in the hills.'
Feature, 3852 words
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