Sarit dictatorship also saw integrity and action

I have been involved in many of our nation's crises and, in my various capacities, have had the privilege of working alongside the "venerable persons" mentioned by MR Pridiyathorn. Born of this experience is my belief that whether our leadership comes to power via unconstitutional means or free and fair elections is of less significance than the passion to protect the good of the country and the integrity to not succumb to temptation for glory or greed.

Field Marshal Sarit was the catalyst that set our country on the path to a "golden age". It is true he had a weakness for the fairer sex, but his contributions to the country were massive and he achieved them through absolute power. Although the ideologies of this career soldier contrasted with those of technocrats who had risen to the top of their careers based on their brilliant minds and unquestionable integrity, the dictator allowed them the space and authority to act in the country's best interests. These were men such as Dr Puey Ungphakorn, Prof Sanya Dhamasakti and Boonma Wongswan.

Dr Puey was instrumental in planning economic policies and developing macro-economic management. Boonma, a close technocrat ally of Dr Puey who had earned a reputation within the Ministry of Finance and its circle as "Mr Clean", was given the role of "housekeeper". Then there was Prof Sanya, a justice of the Supreme Court who had a passion for the rule of law and an inherent sense of fairness. His integrity was cemented when he famously sentenced the agriculture minister, an army general, in Sarit's Cabinet to a 15-year prison term on corruption charges. Such men were the elite of their professions and were well respected and supported in their respective communities.

At a time critical to Thailand's growth, Field Marshal Sarit exercised strong leadership, a quality that was effective in taking the country past the initial stages of development.

Sarit spoke to me at a meeting of the National Energy Board, which he chaired. I was in my early thirties and a director at the Royal Irrigation Department, as well as acting governor of EGAT (known as Yanhee Electricity Authority or YEA at the time). It was his habit to close his eyes during presentations and discussions, and he was doing so when he suddenly opened his eyes to ask who I was and what my job was.

On hearing that I was overseeing construction of the 75-megawatt Bangkruay power plant, Sarit set me a preferred deadline for its completion. With generating facilities decrepit and not meeting usage demand at all, Bangkok was suffering frequent power blackouts. The prime minister wanted Their Majesties to return from a series of state visits abroad to a brightly lit Bangkok. After that, he keenly followed the construction progress with verbal inquiries and site visits. Though his intimidating reputation as a dictator who had full power through the famous "Article 17" of the Constitution to execute wrongdoers made us nervous, he gave us every encouragement and support. This motivated us to double our efforts to bring the power plant on line according to the schedule. It took us a record-breaking one year and eight months to complete and we succeeded in lighting up the entire capital on the King's birthday on December 5, 1961.

Field Marshal Sarit's next vision was to build the first hydroelectric plant in the Northeast, consisting of a dam on the Nam Phong River in Khon Kaen Province. There was considerable opposition on the National Energy Board, but the prime minister was adamant and ordered construction to go ahead immediately. On completion, returns from electricity sales were low as predicted but other unforeseen benefits were major. The dam was not very high but its shallow and huge reservoir made it an ideal habitat for fish. The area had been barren prior to the hydro project, but the reservoir was now populated by fish, thus earning the locals income as never before.

Sarit went on to build, with aid from the US, the Friendship Highway, which was Thailand's first modern roadway. Linking the Northeast to Bangkok, it opened up the region and led to many other infrastructure development projects.

Were it not for the strong and decisive leadership of Field Marshal Sarit, the power station and highway projects would not have been built at that time, and the Northeast would have remained backward and deprived, not to mention isolated from the rest of the country, for many more years.

Dr Puey had turned down the job of finance minister, so Sarit instead appointed him as director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office at the Finance Ministry and governor of the Bank of Thailand. He laid down the foundation for development administration and macro-economic management among economic agencies, making it possible for technocrats to function independently despite political changes. He played a prominent role in obtaining a loan from the World Bank for YEA to build Bhumibol Dam and its associated power plants and transmission system from Tak Province to Bangkok. It was during this process, as well as while serving on the National Energy Board, that I had the pleasure of working with this consummate technocrat.

Prof Sanya and Boonma were the chairman and director of the EGAT board while I was governor. Both were men of integrity and principle, dedicated to protecting public interests. They established ironclad financial regulations to ensure that high-budget projects and purchases were processed in strict conformity with professional and ethical standards, which served to facilitate the board's quick decisions. Thus, with Prof Sanya and Boonma at the helm, EGAT was insulated from political interference, enabling us to work independently, transparently and effectively.

Prof Sanya would in later years become a temporary prime minister during a period of unrest, during which Boonma would serve as finance minister.

So yes, for better or worse, I too miss these true servants to the country who made it possible for Thailand to achieve modern development and economic growth while under the absolute power of a military dictator. For what good is a constitutionally elected prime minister when his legacy is a country tarnished by corruption, abuse of power and low moral standards?

Now that we have in Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a new choice for the country, I hope he will have, as did Field Marshal Sarit, Dr Puey, Prof Sanya and Boonma before him, the determination, courage and self-confidence to decide on national interests without fear and hesitation. So far, the prime minister, a breath of fresh air in the stale political climate, has performed surprisingly well.

We all wish him continuing success.