Thai Prime Minister Stirs Outrage With Denials of 1976 Massacre of Students
Thailand's new prime minister, who recently stirred outrage by denying that 46 people had died in a violent crackdown on university students and other pro-democracy protesters in 1976, went before parliament on Monday to swear he had not been involved in the incident.
The prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was Thailand's deputy interior minister at the time of the bloody assault on Thammasat University.
"If I am not telling the truth, may I face destruction and ill fortune for the rest of my life," Mr. Samak said in the parliament on Monday. "But if I am telling the truth, may success and good fortune come my way."
Those comments came on the heels of recent remarks to CNN in which Mr. Samak asserted that there had been no massacre at Thammasat University, in Bangkok, three decades ago.
Mr. Samak has stated his innocence before, but his latest comments marked the first time he publicly asserted that the shooting and hanging of at least 46 students never took place.
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The prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was Thailand's deputy interior minister at the time of the bloody assault on Thammasat University.
"If I am not telling the truth, may I face destruction and ill fortune for the rest of my life," Mr. Samak said in the parliament on Monday. "But if I am telling the truth, may success and good fortune come my way."
Those comments came on the heels of recent remarks to CNN in which Mr. Samak asserted that there had been no massacre at Thammasat University, in Bangkok, three decades ago.
Mr. Samak has stated his innocence before, but his latest comments marked the first time he publicly asserted that the shooting and hanging of at least 46 students never took place.