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Published on October 26, 2007

Relief because for the past year the kingdom has been accustomed to hearing junta leaders in the Council for National Security (CNS) talk about the need to return democracy to Thailand. There are moments when this writer wonders if the junta really means what it says about going democratic. But people's anticipation and aspirations must have been irrevocably dampened by the documents. Thank you, Khun Samak, for once in your life you're doing Thailand a service. And we won't be looking for any ulterior motive.

Now, after reading the secret documents, which have been verified by junta-appointed prime minister Gen Surayud Chulanont as authentic, the public has the opportunity to get a rare glimpse of the junta's true mentality.

The mentality may be disturbing, but it's real - so get used to it. What's more, the junta is not alone in Thai society in having the problem of a gross discrepancy between what it says in public and what it thinks and writes in private.

To read its words is to believe. Here are some of the junta's written instructions, worth pondering further.

 1) "Produce news scoops to point out and to analyse the unjust [nature] of the leader of the PPP, who is facing corruption charges, in order to make [the public] understand that even if [Samak] wins the election he would be prosecuted and couldn't become PM."

 Well done, generals! There were moments when I thought you might really have gone 'democrazy' and believed in a free and fair election. Now I'm delighted to learn that old soldiers never die and you still think that a general election is a process of putting up a democratic veneer for the consumption of local and international audiences. What a way to mentally rig the election!

 2) "Invite academics to appear on radio/television to analyse situations that will occur if the PPP wins the election and pursues its proclaimed policies of granting amnesty to former TRT executives, dissolving the [junta-appointed] anti-corruption body. Many groups in society won't accept the PPP, especially the People's Alliance for Democracy, and it will cause another round of chaos and may lead towards a new coup, making it a never ending cycle."

Dear generals, is it not ironic that, of all people, it's you the coup-makers who are trying to use the fear of yet another coup to scare people.

But of course, people can't think and reason for themselves, so they need all these phony intellectuals and academics who serve and work closely with the junta [with taxpayers' money] to tell them what to think. We thank you for your programme of continued education!

It's also good to know that somewhere in the bureaucracy, beneath those green uniforms and expensive suits, there are still people who believe in good old-fashioned propaganda. And we thank you all for putting a nice facade over dictatorship (to fool the international community, or leave them with no concrete excuse to sanction us). Good old propaganda; this is what Thailand truly needs to advance its unique Thai-style democracy and people's literacy. More propaganda please! We can't get enough. (We wonder if politicians, especially the PPP, believe in propaganda too. If so, shouldn't the CNS and PPP be on the same side?)

 3) "Produce news scoops and/or invite political analysts to appear on radio/TV to point out that the PPP is politically isolated and even if it wins the election, it won't be able to form a government."

Gee, thanks again for reassuring us that, after all, the broadcast media is still under government control. Hearing what you said about freeing the broadcast media, I thought it was free already. So I guess this is what a guided democracy is all about

 4) "Provide news space for all parties equally but for the PPP present reports on their activities that doesn't promote the party in a good light."

Who needs to do PR damage to the PPP when they have Samak at the helm? But dear generals, thank you again for guiding us through your impartial and independent news outlets so we can acquire an independent and impartial view of what the PPP is all about. You guys care so much about us. But some people miss Thaksin, you know.

 5) "Reduce [the impact] of anti-government and anti-CNS groups by preventing the middle class from leaning towards supporting the opposition groups."

 Now, will more people be invited to jail anytime soon?

 "Point out the weaknesses of populist policies to the rural people so they will know and understand."

 Did someone just say that people, including rural people, can think for themselves?

 "Block and reduce the incentives for rural people to join protests in Bangkok."

 Isn't that illegal and doesn't it constitute an abuse of power? Shhh. Keep your voice down.

 "Create a trend wherein all groups oppose the return of the old power clique through the PPP."

 Yes sir! Very trendy, sir! Good excuse to spend more on TV commercials and help the economy.

 6) "Dispel the paranoid idea of the CNS hanging on to power..."

 Thanks for reminding us, generals. So you guys plan to hang on to power for a few more years, right?

 7) "Publicise other non-political activities so that people, especially rural people, trust the military. Prevent conditions that will make the grassroots hate and fear the military."

 Would you mind sharing the secrets of the Burmese junta, or should it be the other way around?

 The last word reached this writer on his mobile phone - a brief bulletin quoting junta-appointed Defence Minister Boonrawd Samatat, who was quoted as saying the junta "should investigate the leaked classified documents".

 A very military way of handling the issue, sir!

 PS: "Dear generals, dear CNS, please don't get me wrong, and forgive me for the embarrassment I may have caused you in this article. All I wrote was meant for public consumption, and I assured you that, privately, I support your ideas (1,000 per cent, as they say in Thai). You know, as a journalist on an English-language newspaper, you can't help but try to put on a pro-democratic facade, too.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation