Redstar House

Q #1

Sawatdii kap Dr. Yim,

My name is Martin Rathie and I am an Australian student of Asian History and International Relations. Yesterday a friend of mine, Ms. Thanapa ("Au") contacted an associate or yourself through a reference given at the "redstarhouse.com" website. I was advised that you were knowledgeable regarding the Thai Communist Party and revolutionary movements within Thailand. I am studying Lao-Khmer revolutionary relations. My interest with regard to Thailand is how ethnic Lao and Khmer members of the CPT responded to changing relations between the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP or ICP), and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). My main focus has been on the vicinity of Ubon Ratchathani because this area has a local tradition of resistance and a strong sense of identity. It is also important because of proximity to the Lao-Cambodian frontier and base areas located within and around the Dangraek Range.

I am hoping to trace contacts and possibly networks linking on from the Seri Thai activists such as Thongin Phuriphat, Liang Chayakan and Fong Sitthitham through to the Naeo Lao Issara (Free Lao Front) and Nekhum Khmer Issarak (Free Khmer Front). I have read the books written by Christopher Goscha, Geoffrey Gunn and Ben Kiernan. I have also read some Thai academic texts published by Matichon and TRF (Thammasat). The biggest knowledge gap is between 1947 and 1965. Who from the old ICP cells in Isan remained after Phibun's return to power and integrated with the CPT? I have read and heard rumours about H.E. Samane Vinyakhet (presently the President the LPDR's National Assembly) being a veteran of the CPT. I also wanted to see if there was any information regarding Khmer revolutionaries such as Moul Sambath (alias Ros Nhim; former CPK secretary for the Northwest region) who had membership in the CPT. Nuon Chea is a more famous example, but I have already received documentation from him courtesy of a third party. Another figure of interest in Prasert Sapsunthon. How damaging was his defection to the CPT? I am comparing it to Siev Heng's defection from the KPRP and Kavinh Kaeonakhon's from the Pathet Lao.

I have only briefly met Dr. Kasian Tejapira on one occasion. At the time I didn't know he was a "jungle soldier" veteran. I was just advised that he knew about the CPT and called upon him at Thammasat at short notice. Unfortunately I've only had a quick glance at "Commodifying Marxism", but I hope to get a copy on this next trip to Thailand.

The main drive behind my research is filling the historical vacuum which relates the Lao revolutionary movement in southern Laos from 1947-1970 and the Cambodian revolutionary movement from 1954-1962. I am not seeking to dredge up information critical of the CPT. I am trying to demonstrate whether or not Thai revolutionary thought had an impact on the PL and KR. That is, trying to make Marxist theory more receptive to Lao and Khmer needs by presenting in nationalist terms.

I hope this long letter hasn't caused you a migraine. I really appreciate your time and consideration. Any comments or suggestions regarding Thai Communism and its relations with revolutionary forces in Laos and Cambodia would be most appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Rathie

A #1

Dear Martin Ratie,

I think that your topic of study is too difficult.
Firstly, it demands you to know several local
languages. Even that it still very difficult in
Thailand to do the subject like this because the story
of CPT is still a kind of forbidden topic. You can
seldom find anyone to let you interview. Or even you
talk to Kasian, maybe he will not talk this topic.
However you can try. If you have chance to come to
Thailand, the one you have to meet is Dr. Somsak
Jiamtherasakul. He was a real expert for this topic
(more than me).
I am not sure how I can help you owing to the
difficulities of the topics. I did not hear a lot
about the ethnic Lao and Khmer members of the CPT who
crossed the border and joined the revolution movement
in those contries. Seri Thai in Northeasat of Thailand
had some contributions to the revolution in Loas, but
it linkedo Loa Nationalism movement rather than Pathed
Laos. The persons you mentioned such as Liang Chayakan
and Fong Sitthitham may related to right-wing Laos. I
do not think there were any old ICP members who joined
CPT., and I did not know the story of Samane Vinyakhet
as you said. I knew only Nuon Chea who was a former
student at Thammasart.
Although, I can not help you a lot, I willingly,
talked to you. Whenever, you come to Bangkok, contact
me if you want.
Dr. Yim

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