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There is nothing wrong with speaking your mind. But if you are a public figure and the leader of a nation, whatever you say will have diplomatic implications.

On Monday, speaking to foreign diplomats gathered at the Foreign Ministry, Samak said he would call on the United Nations to help organise a general election in Burma scheduled for next year.

In spite of the fact that it has been a sham process, it has taken Burma a decade to get to this point in its seven-step roadmap for democracy and reconciliation. The thick-skinned junta turns a cold shoulder to all sorts of criticism and condemnation from its own people, as well as the international community. The shortcomings of the process will essentially cement the military's place in Burma's national politics.

The way the junta sees it, it is just one or two hurdles away from achieving its goal. A general election with sham ground rules was stipulated in a constitution that was passed in May, as millions of the country's people were suffering from the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis. The poll is scheduled for sometime in 2010. Afterwards, the military will be set for life.

But Samak could be rocking the junta's boat. It's probably not his intention, however. Upon returning from his recent familiarisation tour of Burma, Samak described the Burmese generals as good Buddhists who like to meditate and go to the temple. He didn't say anything about the atrocities committed by these same generals. But he didn't say he would not bring up opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with them.

One wonders who advises Samak on foreign matters. Surely the folks at the Foreign Ministry must know about the fallout between the junta and the United Nations.

Trip after trip, envoy after envoy, the UN has not succeeded in getting the junta to take any meaningful step towards democratisation, to release political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, or incorporate ethnic nationalities in the process.

But shouldn't Samak be praised for his courage in making such a proposal? If he were committed to the idea and really thought it through, the answer would be yes. But he isn't. At least there is no indication that Thailand wants to push this through.

Thailand has been at this juncture before. Remember former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai's so-called Bangkok Process in 2004 that went nowhere? Samak should know better.