Word: thailander
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Kukrit called a new election in hopes that he could form a more workable coalition. The witty and energetic Prime Minister was an odds-on favorite to win again; he is widely respected as Thailand's most skillful politician...
Last week, as Thailand held parliamentary elections, life exceeded reel politics. Kukrit, 65, Thailand's Prime Minister for the past year, was upset in a bid for reelection. A major reason for his loss was that once again he had run afoul of Americans. This time the issue was the U.S. military presence in Thailand. To improve relations with Thailand's two Communist neighbors-Laos and Cambodia-and reduce protests from Thai leftists, Kukrit last month ordered the U.S. to close its bases and trim personnel from the present 3,500 (down from 49,500 at the height...
Seni Pramoj announced last week that he intends to "review" the American position in Thailand. But that will not solve all his problems. Students and labor unionists who overthrew an entrenched military regime in 1973 and later backed Kukrit may stage new protests unless the government takes steps to solve the country's economic problems. If the army intervenes to put down demonstrations, more trouble will follow. Many Thais fear that the aristocratic Seni, an Oxford-educated lawyer who dabbles in poetry, music and sculpture, is too passive and ethereal to cope with the country's troubles...
There is now little doubt that the Cambodian government is one of the most brutal, backward and xenophobic regimes in the world. Cambodians themselves refer to the Khmer Rouge simply as "the Organization." Refugees who have managed to flee to Thailand -often after days and weeks of walking through thick forests and jungles along the border-describe the revolution as a chilling form of mindless terror. In sharp contrast to Laos and Viet Nam, where party cadres have subtly tried to win popular support for social change, there are no revolutionary songs, slogans, poetry, party newspapers or "reeducation" centers...
...discuss the coming election, Kukrit met last week with TIME Correspondent William McWhirter. Sitting on the terrace of his large open house, he talked about Thailand's growing crisis and his own hope that Thai democracy can survive. Kukrit's views...