October 4th, 2006, 11:38
Someone oughta give this guy a fucking medal.
From today's Bangkok Post.
POLITICS / TAXI DRIVER WHO RAMMED TANK, INTERIM CONSTITUTION COMPLAINTS
Cabby says he'll do it again
Wanted to show coup mustn't go unopposed
MANOP THIP-OSOD
Nuamthong: 'Bricks too small for a tank'
Taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who rammed his car into a tank parked at the Royal Plaza on Sept 30, felt the need to show to the world that the Sept 19 coup must not be allowed to go unopposed. While admirers of the coup have tossed bouquets at tanks and troops, he thought he must rise to the challenge and make it clear there were still other people who disagreed with the coup.
''More than enough flowers were given away like in festivities.
''Bricks are too small for a tank, so I decided to bang the cab against it to make an impact,'' Mr Nuamthong said from his bed at Wachira Hospital where he is recuperating.
The taxi driver is now making a good recovery after he broke three ribs in the high-speed crash.
He said he risked death to tell the world that he and many other Thais refused to go along with the coup-makers who he said wanted to take back their power which had been lost to business tycoons and politicians over ten years ago.
Mr Nuamthong condemned coup sympathisers for supporting the coup-makers in bringing Thailand to a standstill,
''While we are not moving anywhere, our neighbours like Vietnam will come from behind and overtake us, while Malaysia and Singapore have left us standing in the dust,'' he said.
Mr Nuamthong praised the example set by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who had been patiently fighting for democracy for her country.
He said the coup had brought disgrace to the nation as he saw foreigners chuckling as they read newspapers near the tanks at the Royal Plaza.
He said it took him three days to decide to crash his taxi into the tank and he assured it would not be the last time he did so.
''It could happen again if I notice something dubious,'' said Mr Nuamthong, who had to pay 30,000 baht to repair his damaged taxi.
He tried to dispel suspicions that his actions were motivated by his sympathy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The taxi driver insisted he was not particularly enthusiastic about Mr Thaksin, but he felt that Thai people needed to exercise more tolerance to achieve a peaceful transformation through democratic elections.
Although he welcomed new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, he expressed concern that the interim government, which has been established by virtue of the coup, might cling on to power and refuse to return it to the people.
''With the military at the helm, there is no telling where they will take the country.
''The military also appears to be immune from criticism,'' he said.
Mr Nuamthong said when he is discharged from hospital, he will quit driving a taxi and will help his wife sell goods for a living.
Shinawat Habunphad, president of the Taxi Drivers Protection Association, said the public should not ignore Mr Nuamthong's case because it reflected built-up discontent over the coup.
''I believe there are more taxi drivers and ordinary people who are ready to commit such violent acts because they are outraged by the coup and its supporters,'' said Mr Shinawat, who visited Mr Nuamthong twice since he was admitted to hospital on Sunday.
Mr Shinawat said the association had contacted a lawyer to help Mr Nuamthong fight charges of reckless driving and damaging private and state property.
''We also offered to help him pay the costs of his treatment, but Mr Nuamthong refused, saying his family will shoulder the expenses on their own,'' said Mr Shinawat.
Mr Nuamthong earned sympathy not only from his fellow taxi drivers, but also from a pro-democracy group.
The Democracy Federation, led by Weng Tojirakarn and ex-senator Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata, recently visited Mr Nuamthong to give him moral support.
Dr Weng lauded the taxi driver's courage in expressing disapproval of the coup, but disagreed with his violent action.
Opponents of the coup d'etat should resort to peaceful protests, he said.
From today's Bangkok Post.
POLITICS / TAXI DRIVER WHO RAMMED TANK, INTERIM CONSTITUTION COMPLAINTS
Cabby says he'll do it again
Wanted to show coup mustn't go unopposed
MANOP THIP-OSOD
Nuamthong: 'Bricks too small for a tank'
Taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who rammed his car into a tank parked at the Royal Plaza on Sept 30, felt the need to show to the world that the Sept 19 coup must not be allowed to go unopposed. While admirers of the coup have tossed bouquets at tanks and troops, he thought he must rise to the challenge and make it clear there were still other people who disagreed with the coup.
''More than enough flowers were given away like in festivities.
''Bricks are too small for a tank, so I decided to bang the cab against it to make an impact,'' Mr Nuamthong said from his bed at Wachira Hospital where he is recuperating.
The taxi driver is now making a good recovery after he broke three ribs in the high-speed crash.
He said he risked death to tell the world that he and many other Thais refused to go along with the coup-makers who he said wanted to take back their power which had been lost to business tycoons and politicians over ten years ago.
Mr Nuamthong condemned coup sympathisers for supporting the coup-makers in bringing Thailand to a standstill,
''While we are not moving anywhere, our neighbours like Vietnam will come from behind and overtake us, while Malaysia and Singapore have left us standing in the dust,'' he said.
Mr Nuamthong praised the example set by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who had been patiently fighting for democracy for her country.
He said the coup had brought disgrace to the nation as he saw foreigners chuckling as they read newspapers near the tanks at the Royal Plaza.
He said it took him three days to decide to crash his taxi into the tank and he assured it would not be the last time he did so.
''It could happen again if I notice something dubious,'' said Mr Nuamthong, who had to pay 30,000 baht to repair his damaged taxi.
He tried to dispel suspicions that his actions were motivated by his sympathy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The taxi driver insisted he was not particularly enthusiastic about Mr Thaksin, but he felt that Thai people needed to exercise more tolerance to achieve a peaceful transformation through democratic elections.
Although he welcomed new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, he expressed concern that the interim government, which has been established by virtue of the coup, might cling on to power and refuse to return it to the people.
''With the military at the helm, there is no telling where they will take the country.
''The military also appears to be immune from criticism,'' he said.
Mr Nuamthong said when he is discharged from hospital, he will quit driving a taxi and will help his wife sell goods for a living.
Shinawat Habunphad, president of the Taxi Drivers Protection Association, said the public should not ignore Mr Nuamthong's case because it reflected built-up discontent over the coup.
''I believe there are more taxi drivers and ordinary people who are ready to commit such violent acts because they are outraged by the coup and its supporters,'' said Mr Shinawat, who visited Mr Nuamthong twice since he was admitted to hospital on Sunday.
Mr Shinawat said the association had contacted a lawyer to help Mr Nuamthong fight charges of reckless driving and damaging private and state property.
''We also offered to help him pay the costs of his treatment, but Mr Nuamthong refused, saying his family will shoulder the expenses on their own,'' said Mr Shinawat.
Mr Nuamthong earned sympathy not only from his fellow taxi drivers, but also from a pro-democracy group.
The Democracy Federation, led by Weng Tojirakarn and ex-senator Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata, recently visited Mr Nuamthong to give him moral support.
Dr Weng lauded the taxi driver's courage in expressing disapproval of the coup, but disagreed with his violent action.
Opponents of the coup d'etat should resort to peaceful protests, he said.