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Samak's first blunder?
In general, I've thought that that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has done rather well in his dealings with the press, much better than many of his other ministers. This case, however, appears to be a glaring exception. Insisting that only one person died during the October 6, 1976 uprising despite official estimates that at least 46 died seems to be a massive blunder, one that may cause him a lot of trouble in the next few days and weeks.

Today's Bangkok Post editorial gives you a taste of what is too come. Entitled, "Samak shocks, shames nation," it says the Mr Samak's claim raises questions about his ability to govern:

Not only is Mr Samak not condemning the events or expressing the faintest bit of regret, he is denying that the crime perpetrated by the state against its own citizens ever took place. This is frightening. It runs contrary to photographic evidence that clearly shows dozens of students lying dead on university grounds. For any Thai citizen to give such an answer to an international audience that runs contrary to very clear evidence is disgraceful, but for the prime minister to do so is downright shocking.

Incidentally, I was teaching in Bangkok during that time not far too from where the uprising took place and I saw students being trucked away. Like many others, I saw photos of dead students, some extremely gruesome. So let's see if Mr Samak backs down as more evidence is put forward to contradict his claim.

blunder - a careless or embarrassing mistake ความผิดพลาดจากความสะเพร่า
glaring - very obvious; very clear สว่าง เจิดจ้า
exception - something that is different in some way from other things and so cannot be included in a general statement ข้อยกเว้น
insisting - keeping saying very firmly that something is true, even when other people will not believe you ยืนกราน
uprising - a political situation in which a large group of people opposes and tries to defeat the government or a ruler การลุกฮือขึ้นก่อการปฏิวัติ
massive - very large มหาศาล
condemning - saying publicly that you think someone or something is bad or wrong สาปแช่ง กร่นด่า
faintest - slightest; smallest น้อยที่สุด
perpetrated - did something harmful, illegal or dishonest ทำเรื่องเลวร้าย
contrary -completely different or opposed to something else ตรงข้าม
disgraceful - extremely bad or shocking น่าสยดสยอง
downright - completely; extremely ที่สุด
gruesome - involving or describing death or injury in a very unpleasant way น่ากลัว น่ารังเกียจ
contradict - to say that the opposite of what someone has said is true ขัดแย้ง

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Samak insists just one died in Oct 6 uprising
PRADIT RUANGDIT

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday insisted the history of the Oct 6, 1976 student uprising had been distorted and stood by his claim that only one person died in the violent crackdown.

Mr Samak also denied any involvement in the suppression.

He said the facts behind the event had been twisted and he did not know who was responsible for the distortion.

In his recent interview with CNN, the prime minister said only one unlucky man was beaten to death during the incident at Sanam Luang.

In the October 1976 massacre, police and rightist militants killed dozens of left-wing students. Mr Samak later became interior minister in the Tanin Kraivixian government appointed by leaders of the military coup which followed the massacre. Mr Samak's enemies claim he helped to provoke the violence.

Yesterday, he said he would not have come this far had he been involved.

Orrisa Irawanwat, former president of the a__ociation of Bangkok Technical College Students and a student activist in 1976, criticised Mr Samak for not being honest about what had happened. He said the truth could not be changed, and the student activists who were at the scene of the crackdown still had vivid memories of the 1976 uprising.

''He should know well there was not only one death. How could he say that?

''He may think it is best to trivialise the event. He can lie to himself but not to others,'' said the former student leader.

Anek Laothammatat, former president of the a__ociation of Chulalongkorn University Students, said there was more than one death during the crackdown on student activists. Those who were at the scene believed hundreds of demonstrators died, although the official figure was only 46.

''Mr Samak has distorted the facts. He should not have made such remarks. He should have apologised to those who lost their loved ones,'' said Mr Anek.

distorted - changed something such as information so that it is no longer true or accurate บิดเบือน
stood by - continued to have a particular belief or opinion, even though other people have doubts about it or disagree with you ยืนกราน
crackdown - strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่
suppression - stopping opposition or protests using force or strict laws; crackdown การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่
twisted - distorted บิดเบือน
massacre - the action of killing a lot of people การสังหารหมู่
militants - people who use violent or forceful methods to achieve something ผู้ใช้ความรุนแรงในการโจมตี
coup (d'etat) - the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, usually members of the armed forces การทำรัฐประหาร
provoke - to deliberately try to make someone angry or to cause a reaction ปลุกระดม ปลุกเร้า
activist - someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation นักกิจกรรม
vivid - having or producing very clear and detailed images in the mind ชัดเจน
trivialise - to make something seem not very important or serious ทำให้เล็ก หรือเบาบางลง
apologise - to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for cause a problem ขอโทษ

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 07:30 AM