Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej stunned Myammar critics by announcing that the pariah nation was a peaceful nation led by a good Buddhist who prayed every morning.
“The general view of this country has always been one-sided, but there are two sides to a coin,” said Samak, who was in Burma to finalize construction contracts for a controvesial dam on the Salwenn river also added, “Killings and suppression are normal there but we have to know the facts."
This last statement is understandable coming from a man who thinks that the country should prepare for up to 4000 dead in War on Drugs 2, but his most recent words was more about Burma than Thailand.
The reservoir for the Tasang Dam will flood the Shan State, thus depriving ethnic Shan and Karen fighters of their traditional lands without any compensation. Thailand of course will be the main beneficiary from the electrical output of the Tasang Dam, so Samak is thinking about Thailand rather than Burma, since the weaker Burma is, then the safer Thailand will be from its historical rival.
We can expect more outspoken comments from the premier in the future both in public and on his radio shows, since the man has a way with words.