A footnote on Siam's role in World War II
Re: "Patriotic fever can cause blindness, deafness", Letters, December 8.
After World War II, affected countries were classified as either on the side of the victors or the enemy or as neutral. During the war Siam was overpowered by force – like France. The French puppet government was led by Field Marshal Philippe Petain, while Siam’s equivalent was led by Field Marshall Plaek Pibulsongkram. Like the French, the Siamese had a small resistance force in Britain (Seri Thai). Despite the similarities, Britain classified France as an ally and Siam as a semi-enemy state, a vindictive move for Siam’s perceived role in the loss of Singapore, which brought shame on Britain.
Given that those are historical facts, void of any patriotic interpretation, I take exception to David Brown’s statement that I rewrote history in claiming Siam was neutral in WWII – a neutrality affirmed by the United States.
His latest letter was rather unbecoming of a rational man. In branding me mad for not believing in David Brown, he supports suspicions built up from reading his previous letters that he is partial towards Britain, despite his vows of love for Thailand.
Songdej Praditsmanont
