Word: bangkok
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...government's mis-management of the rice situation is just one--though probably the most important--of many soft spots open to communist attack. Another is how taxes collected in the provinces seem to be spent almost exclusively on Bangkok. Pibul, however, has been able to retain power in a country where, according to French sources, 500 people out of a total population of 19 million receive 15 per cent of the national income. With no colonial exploitation, there has still been enough rice left over to provide the rest of the population with a living standard above that...
This situation could change in the event of an economic crisis. The only link between Pibul's Bangkok and the peasantry is a bureaucracy of civil servants for whom Pridi was a trusted leader and a defender of their interests against Pibul's military clique. Pridi is now in Red China, preparing, many believe, for a return. In a crisis, the bureaucracy would probably be the first to support his return, and they, if anyone, would be the ones to direct any possible awakening of the peasants from their political apathy...
...roar of modern war's destroying engines shook the gilded spires and jeweled pagodas of many-templed Bangkok last week. In answer to the Thai government's invitation, SEATO nations were staging their first joint maneuvers to show how fast they could come to the aid of their ally. A task force of U.S., British, Australian and New Zealand warships knifed northward through the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam. Crisp and impressive, 650 Philippine infantrymen rolled ashore from a U.S. seaplane tender in the harbor. U.S. Globemasters and Flying Boxcars, lugging men and arms from Japan...
Under cover of U.S., British and royal Thai jets, 6,000 U.S. soldiers rained down on Bangkok's Don Muang airport by parachute before the awed eyes of 250.000 Thailanders. Most impressive unprogrammed sight: the rescue in mid-air by one paratrooper of a comrade who jumped in the same stick but whose chute failed to open. Popeyed, rice farmers saw field guns and trucks larger than their houses drop from the sky. U.S. marines, landing from 30 helicopters, fought a mock battle against "enemy" strongpoints with flamethrowers and satchel charges...
...European NATO standards it was a small show, but by the third day, when some 28,000 men of six nations (France and Pakistan sent only observers) marched in colorful parade through Bangkok's streets, Thai officials felt that "Operation Firm Link" had shown their people that SEATO is much more than a "paper tiger...