Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa took the opportunity while introducing a movie at the Bangkok International Film Festival yesterday, to urge people to help oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power.

“At the moment Thailand is governed by corrupt people. While we won’t use black magic to beat them we shall use dhamma to oust Thaksin,” Sulak told the 100 or so who had gone to watch “Milarepa”, a Tibetan film being shown at Siam Paragon.

The well-known social critic, who once supported Thaksin, later told The Nation that he would address the anti-Thaksin demonstration on Sunday at Sanam Luang.

“He lies. I thought he could reform himself into a good person but the more I looked at him the more I realised that there was no chance of that.

“He lies every Saturday [while addressing the nation on radio and TV]. His policy in the deep South is violent and he turned the King into his plaything,” Sulak said, in reference to Thaksin’s remark that he would resign if His Majesty the King whispered in his ear.

Although Sulak is not friends with media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul or Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang, who are now part the People’s Alliance for Democracy, to which Sulak is an adviser, the octogenarian social critic said he would work with them as long as neither sought solo leadership.

Sulak said the two had committed many bad deeds in the past but are now reformed. He also praised Santi Asoke, the Buddhist sect close to Chamlong, which will join the protest, saying the sect has been vigilant against corruption.

Asked if other former supporters of Thaksin like Prawese Wasi and former health minister Sem Pringpuangkaew would repent in public, Sulak said he couldn’t speak on their behalf.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation