Army chief sings out hateful blast from gory past

Army chief sings out hateful blast from gory past

Army commander Gen Apirat Kongsompong, seen last week with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a Lop Buri military event, has brought back the country's most hate-filled song to the political scene. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Army commander Gen Apirat Kongsompong, seen last week with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a Lop Buri military event, has brought back the country's most hate-filled song to the political scene. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The anti-communist song <i>Nak Phandin</i> or "Useless Weight to the Land" is so loaded with hateful political baggage it could have sunk army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong's career.

That is if Thailand were under a normal, democratic system, not a military dictatorship with a coup constantly lurking around the corner.

Atiya Achakulwisut is a columnist, Bangkok Post.

Speaking on Monday to reporters who asked about the policies being proposed by political parties, namely Pheu Thai and Future Forward, to abolish mandatory conscription and cut back on the defence budget, Gen Apirat suggested they listen to the above-cited 1970s propaganda song.

What's so special about this blast from the past?

On the surface, Nak Phandin could sound like any patriotic song, with its lyrics saying people who look down on their country while profiteering from it are "useless weight to the land".

Those in the know, however, would say this is no ordinary tune.

The history of Nak Phandin is steeped in abhorrence as the song was part of a right-wing propaganda movement to incite hatred toward left-leaning political activists and students after a mass uprising in pursuit of democracy in 1973.

The song was repeatedly played during that turbulent period, marked by an intense fear of communism that culminated in the gruesome massacre of students and activists on Oct 6, 1976.

Since then, Nak Phandin has been generally known as an integral part of the right-wing hate campaign. It is a song with a bloody past. It is ingrained with divisiveness, with extremism and violence implied in every word.

Was the army chief aware of the song's overtones? Did he mean it as a precaution, or a threat? What he was thinking, nobody can know.

The fact that he felt the need to bring back the hateful hymn, that evidently pitted people against one another in the past, is anti-climatic of the current atmosphere leading up to the election and eventual return to democracy.

A poll is supposed to be a market of ideas. It's supposed to be a free arena for people to propose what they want to do, in the best interests of the country. It's supposedly one person, one vote, and those who win the trust of the majority can claim a legitimate right as representatives of the people and put what they propose into practice.

We have been out of touch with democracy for several years, but we should never forget its doctrine, especially now we are returning to it.

This is especially true for the top brass, the army chief included, who must realise that the prevailing militarism is coming to an end.

The will of the people must be respected, or there is no point holding the election.

What's wrong if there are politicians who want to slash the military budget or stop the mandatory draft? What's wrong if there are people who want to vote for them? Why are they called scum or dehumanised as useless?

Whether these policies are good for the country and whether they can be implemented deserves to be debated, and in fairness they both have merits and drawbacks as raised by supporters and opponents. In the end, it's the election that will decide the fate of these policy proposals, not the army chief.

The army chief's harsh and hateful reaction to the policies proposed by parties that apparently stand on the opposite pole to him politically epitomises an increasing sense of fear and loathing that has developed ahead of the March 24 election.

Arguably, the race to Government House is a two-horse one. It's between parties that support the military regime, with incumbent Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as the candidate for prime minister, and those that are against the junta.

Set against that are dichotomies that are defining the content of the election. Strongman versus liberals. Tradition versus critical thinking. The same old order versus the freedom to explore the unknown.

These dichotomies are reflected in policy proposals, most of which reinforce the primary line of ideological division. As they come under public debate, a clash of world views ensued that has engendered a sense of insecurity and politics of hate and fear, mainly from the pro-establishment side.

So far, we have seen accusations flying about this and that party or politician being unpatriotic or disloyal without any solid reasons given. The army chief's criticism of parties that seek to cut the military budget as good-for-nothing has further raised the emotional tone.

The truth is there is nothing melodic about this hateful song. He may be in for a surprise if he sees the social media reaction to his opinion. Some netizens said the anti-military rap song Prathet Ku Mee is preferable.

Atiya Achakulwisut

Columnist for the Bangkok Post

Atiya Achakulwisut is a columnist for the Bangkok Post.

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