Monk tells of inspiring Thaksin to be PM
Phra Boonma Apinantho, left, blesses caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra when they met in Roi Et on Wednesday during Thaksin’s tour of the Northeast. Seven years ago when he was a layman, the monk offered Thaksin encouragement that inspired him to
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Phra Boonma Apinantho, the person who reportedly inspired Premier Thaksin Shinawatra to seek the nation's top political post, recently had the chance to renew his call for the PM to work on behalf of the poor.
Phra Boonma, 75, said he prayed Thaksin would stay well and continue to help the poor when the two met on Wednesday at Santi Dhama Temple in Roi Et during the PM's tour of the Northeast. Thaksin sought a meeting with Phra Boonma, who entered the monkhood at the beginning of Buddhist Lent in mid-July, to thank him for being the inspiration for his political career. The two first met in 1999 during a visit by Thaksin to Roi Et, the monk said, recalling that he and other villagers appreciated the future premier's workaholic - but friendly - style. "I greeted him and shook his hand. I praised him and said he would make a good 'premier for the poor' who would help us forever. The poor could rely on him. That's what I said to him," the monk said. "I never thought my words would inspire him until he launched his fight for the premier's post," he said, adding that he felt particularly proud of Thaksin for his crackdown on drugs, describing it as the top achievement of his administration. The monk's wife, On-ta Nasuk, 68, said she never dreamed her husband's words would inspire Thaksin to seek the Kingdom's top political job. Sompong Asawasaengpitak The Nation Roi Et
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