Thailand's new prime minister said Sunday Westerners were overly critical of Myanmar and that he had a newfound respect for the nation's military leaders after learning they meditate like good Buddhists.
"Westerners have a saying, 'Look at both sides of the coin,' but Westerners only look at one side," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said in his weekly television talk show, two days after an official visit to Myanmar.
"Myanmar is a Buddhist country. Myanmar's leaders meditate. They say the country lives in peace," Samak said, noting that he has studied Myanmar for decades but just learned that members of the junta meditate. Both countries are predominantly Buddhist.
Myanmar's junta has come under global criticism for its deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters last year and its detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but Samak said he preferred to talk about bilateral trade not democracy during talks with junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Many Western nations, including the United States and members of the European Union, maintain economic and political sanctions against the regime for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.
But Thailand and most other Southeast Asian nations are less critical and encourage companies to do business there.
Samak said he discussed investment opportunities for Thai companies in Myanmar, especially in the production and exploitation of natural gas and hydropower projects.
"We want to do something about dams. Than Shwe told me, 'You can do it here and here and here. Find the investors and do it," said Samak, whose coalition government took office last month. "Myanmar only uses a small amount of electricity. Thailand needs electricity."
Thai state-owned energy companies are the largest purchasers of gas from Myanmar, contributing almost $2 billion a year to the military regime.
"They found new gas resources. I negotiated with them so we can sign contracts," Samak said, adding that the junta wants to build a pipeline to its largest city, Yangon. "Myanmar doesn't have money to build the pipeline. Thai companies will do that for them."
Source: AP
Thought: Thailand has more troubled times ahead unless someone can remove this lunatic from the helm.
Samak in support of Burmese junta
Samak in support of Burmese junta
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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sandman67
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...and I wonder whose families/relatives/mates will be signing those contracts?....and who will be getting the big fat dirty back handers?I negotiated with them so we can sign contracts
Nothing I hear about SadSak surprises me.....it just saddens me.
"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
Interesting, sad and maybe not too surprising. Thaksin was trying to get closer to the Burmese junta before he was overthrown. If I remember correctly, he wanted his mobile phone operation in there (obviously for personal gain) and the gas pipeline etc was either up and running or talks were underway to increase the amount that came into Thailand.
Maybe it's about time that the western world started imposing sanctions on Thailand? After all, it's mainly only here, China and India that continue to try and prosper from the Burmese peoples' misery
Maybe it's about time that the western world started imposing sanctions on Thailand? After all, it's mainly only here, China and India that continue to try and prosper from the Burmese peoples' misery