The following interview with Boonsanong Punyodyana was
conducted by Norman Peagam of the Far Eastern Economic Review and printed in
FEER in January 1975.
How did you become involved in politics?
Since my undergraduate days, I have thought it the duty
of everyone to be concerned about politics. I took an active part in
demonstrations against Pibul (Field Marshal Pibulsongkhram) in 1957 and I have
written in Thai and English about socialism and the future of Thailand. I have
always admired my fellow –countrymen who sacrificed their comfort and freedom
for the bettermen of Thai society; I have many friends who have been in prison
for political reasons. Since I had the opportunity of a good education and come
from a petit bourgeois background, I think it would be selfish and
irresponsible of me to think only of the good life and isolate myself from the
masses. When I returned from my professorship in the United States in 1972
(Visiting Professor at the University of Hawaii), I immediately became active
in speaking and writing and joined student groups. Since October 1973, I have
continued to be active, for example, helping the Civil Liberties Union and
People for Democracy Group.
The Communist Party of Party was recently reported as
saying that only the seizure of power by armed force could establish a
“people’s government” in Thailand. What do you think of that?
There is nothing new in that statement. In fact, the
Communist Party of Thailand has engaged in armed struggle for about the years
and the Thai Government has found it impossible to disengage. We can understand
why many people in this country are unwilling to show faith in elections. As
you know, even in the present election, every candidate supported by right-wing
parties in using huge sums of money and all sorts of non-political tactics to
mislead the voters. You can count on your fingers the number of workers and
farmers-and they constitute the vast majority of the population-who are to
stand for election. We have a few in our party, but they are the exception
rather than the rule.
How would you deal with the problem of insurgency?
As long as our Government remains oppressive, as long as
the economic and social system of this country continues to grant privileges to
the elite, the ruling class, the capitalists and the bourgeoisie, and
especially as long as the Government of Thailand maintains close ties with
American imperialism, it is only natural that the freedom-loving people of this
country will not cease resisting. The communists are a good example of such
patriotic, freedom-loving people. The Socialist Party of Thailand seriously
intends to bring about fundamental change in Thai society. If we are
successful, it would also be natural, as one can reasonably expect, that
problems of unrest and insurgency would automatically disappear.
In several countries with a parliamentary system,
disillusionment and cynicism have become apparent as elected governments fail
to respond to popular demand, prove unrepresentative or as elected leaders
become arrogant or corrupt. Are you optimistic about the chances for
parliamentary democracy in Thailand?
We cannot be optimistic with the parliamentary system.
We are well aware of the failure of the parliamentary system in many countries,
including big democratic capitalist countries like the United States and
Britain. As a matter of fact, many socialists in Thailand are totally
disillusioned with it. This is part of the reason why we cannot field
candidates in all constituencies in this election. But at the same time, we
must continue our struggle wherever possible, even when the rules of the fight
are defined by the capitalists. It has already been said by General Prapan
(Secretary-General of the right-wing League of the Free People of Thailand)
that if the Socialist Party of Thailand won 70 seats in the new Parliament,
there would be a coup d’etat within six months. It might happen. But we are
confident that the people of Thailand, especially those elements sufficiently
organized such as some of the workers and famers, would be equally ready to
fight back.
Would you nationalize any major industries?
The Socialist Party’s policy concerning important
industries and business such as banking, mining and oil production and
distribution is t nationalize them for the benefit of the people. Our plan
calls for fair comprehensation to the existing private owners in the form of
bonds or long-term payments by the Government. There are already 108 existing
State enterprises and we intend to raise their standards of efficiency. At
present they are, at best, an expression of State capitalism and do not
represent a socialist model. They serve as an outlet for retired military and
civil bureaucrats who take the lion’s share of the profits of these enterprises
at the expense of the country’s economy.
What is your party’s stand on land reform?
In the long run, all farmers would be assured of the
right to cultivate land and benefit according to their needs from production.
They would not have the right to transfer the ownership of land. But the
exchange of goods and services would be carried out according to a total
national plan so that production and distribution would not be interfered with
by middlemen and other non-productive elements. The sale of rice would be
handled strictly by the Government for the benefit not necessarily of “the
State,” but primarily of the people. In socialist Thailand, all people would
benefit from free education and free health care. Planning for production would
not be geared to profit-making, but to the betterment of living conditions.
Are you happy about the level of Japanese involvement in
the Thai economy?
I must say that, even now, there is a great trade
imbalance between Thailand and Japan. Japanese investment, as a rule, is
beneficial to Japanese investors as well as big Thai capitalists. In a
capitalist economy, investment and business are not planned for anything else
except maximum benefit for the capitalists. As such, Japanese enterprises in
Thailand as well as Thai-based factories have caused a horrible amount of
destruction to the environment. The emphasis on luxury goods, such as cars, is
very detrimental to the economy and the quality of life. In a socialist
Thailand, international trade would be handled
on a state-to-state basis. Imports must be controlled so that they are
beneficial to the people at large.
The Government has said that hill tribes, numbering
hundreds of the thousands of people in the north of the country, will not be
allowed to vote in the coming elections. What is your view on this?
We have a clear policy with regard to national
minorities in Thailand, for example, the Vietnamese refugees who have lived in
Thailand for nearly three decades and may have had children and grandchildren
born in Thailand, the Muslims of Malay origin in the south, and the Chinese
scattered throughout the country. Our policy is to incorporate these national
minorities into the mainstream of Thai political life and to permit them to
establish their own administrative communities under the sovereignty of
Thailand. In short, the orientation is towards full democracy and equality for
all people in all spheres of life, political, economic and social.
The North Vietnamese Government has said it expects
Thailand to pay compensation for the damage caused by Thai-based American
planes and Thai forces in Vietnam during the war. What is your opinion about
this?
I think they mean the reactionary government which
cooperated with imperialist America. I do not think they mean to impose any
hardship.
What is your policy on the presence of U.S. forces in
Thailand?
We have established a policy of having them withdrawn
immediately. We would establish and maintain friendly relations with all
countries, including the U.S., on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
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