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Published on February 23, 2008

The gag is seen as an attempt at damage control for his gaffe.

 "Time lapsed for 31 years and I don't know why I said what I said," Samak said, refusing to talk further on the death toll.

He said he also had no explanation why he told a gathering of Thai students in Paris in 1977 that some 48 people were killed.

The prime minister expressed surprise at his photograph with the late military strongman Field Marshal Prapas Charusathien. He said he was unaware of posing for such a picture around the time the bloodshed happened.

Samak said he had the right to air his views on the incident, insisting he had not revised its history, while challenging his critics to prove the claim that many students were torched to death at Sanam Luang.

In an angry reaction to Samak's remarks, the Thammasat University Student Union issued a statement demanding the prime minister issue an apology to survivors and families of the victims.

The union said Samak spoke irresponsibly, calling for him to stop distorting history and to launch a thorough examination as to what happened in order to put the record straight.

It also criticised Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung for misrepresenting the incident by claiming the bloodshed occurred after accidental gunfire by a drunken policeman inside the university - which set off the crowd control measures.

Banned party executive Adisorn Piengket said the government should sponsor a historical revision in order to get to the bottom of the incident instead of making speculative comments.

"I am certain that Samak was inaccurate when he claimed to have seen one death," he said.

Speaking with first-hand experience as an activist from the October Generation, Adisorn said he could attest to the brutal crackdown in which many people were killed.

"I am one of the people who helped install Samak in power and I want to say to him that he is not free to speak out on everything without being mindful of our feelings," he said in reference to the October Generation's support of the government.

He said Samak should apologise for his erroneous remarks.

The Nation