Word: sarit
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Wells on Wheels. Spurred by the discovery of hidden Communist arms caches and reports of Red supply drops by parachute in the northeast, Premier Sarit Thanarat has begun a crash program to counteract Red influence in the area. Earmarking $300 million in development funds, he has already sent out two of a planned twelve mobile development units to drill fresh-water wells, bulldoze new roads, and dispense medical care. Under the guidance of Thailand's sharpest and most aggressive young civil servants, who once shunned the northeast as a kind of Siberia, schools are being built and electric generators...
...Sarit's speed has been characteristic of his rule since he seized power in 1957. "Anybody can stage a revolution," he said then. "The trick, once the revolution has been staged, is winning public approval." Sarit has succeeded admirably...
...Sarit came into prominence as a hard-drinking, hard-wenching army field marshal who once showed up at an embassy dinner party in Bangkok carrying his own liquor, with the complaint that his host's hooch was second rate. Cirrhosis of the liver and the responsibility of power calmed him down. Though he once was involved in various devious deals, he slashed corruption to the minimum. "He wants his name in the history books, not his money in a Swiss bank account," an observer explained...
...through the transcript for 2½ months after formal arguments ended, finally found (by 9 to 3) for Cambodia. When Prince Sihanouk heard the good news, he announced that he would shave his head and maintain a thanksgiving vigil for seven days and nights. But Thailand's Marshal Sarit summoned his military commanders, ordered reinforcements to the area of the temple, which at the moment is under Thai control. Thailand even ordered its diplomats to boycott the meetings of SEATO...
Then everything suddenly dissolved in Buddhist bliss. Sarit announced to a Cabinet meeting that a battle with Cambodia would be "fulfilling an objective of the Communists," and so Thailand will go along with the Hague court decision. This, he declared, was essential "to maintain our fine reputation in international affairs." After the Cabinet meeting, he told reporters: "We speak with tears. Many ministers wept...