A TRUE DEMOCRAT
Prasit Lulitanond went to jail for his unflinching beliefs in a remarkable life ‘filled with dreams and nightmares’, writes Alan Dawson
The early, heady days of the Bangkok Post featured people who were larger than life. But few have ever provided more excitement or achieved so much with greater humility than the man everyone still calls “Khun Prasit”. One of the most gracious men ever to work for his country, Prasit Lulitanond epitomised those who struggled so very hard to try to bring democracy to Thailand in the hard, harsh years following the 1932 establishment of a constitutional monarchy. He faced reactionaries and power-hungry forces with tough words and action.
He spent far too many years in prison, but to be fair, the men who railroaded him understood that Khun Prasit and a small group of patriots did indeed pose a threat to those trying to prevent change, democracy and a modern society.
Always calm, always softly spoken, never wasting words, Khun Prasit was the shining example of how to combine idealism with realism.
Willing to go to prison for his beliefs, he hitched his political star to the leader of the 1932 democracy revolution, Pridi Banomyong. Like Pridi himself, Khun Prasit suffered for this public declaration against the establishment of the day. Time and again, he was vindicated for his political views, and he lived to see the complete political rehabilitation of Pridi and his generation of democracy fighters.
World War II shaped Khun Prasit, like so many of his generation. Pridi was the secret leader of the Seri Thai underground battling the Japanese in Thailand. Khun Prasit was also a maquis member.
It was virtually guaranteed that after the war Thailand’s underground leaders would meet the allies they worked with. When Alexander MacDonald landed in Bangkok, he met Khun Prasit. Unlike most such post-war meetings, however, this one would spark a dynamic duo into action.
In moving from idea to printed newspaper, MacDonald was the active go-getter. Khun Prasit was the unflappable, quiet partner able to open many government doors, advising MacDonald on the staff needs beyond the newsroom, and often coming up with just the right person for the job.
Apart from MacDonald, Khun Prasit organised the backers, and on May 27, 1946, they opened a limited company with registered capital of 1 million baht, wrote Khun Prasit in his brief autobiography, A Postman’s Life, published in 1999.
The shareholders were Alexander MacDonald, Thawee Tavedikul, Serm Vinitchaikul, Phya Prichanusat (father of future prime minister Anand Panyarachun) and Duen Bunnag. Mr Anand, by quirk of fate, was chairman of the Post Publishing from 1994 to 1997.
“The first issue of the Bangkok Post had a circulation of 500 copies. They were sold out before the day was over,” Khun Prasit recounted in his book. Two years later, the circulation had increased to 2,000. And due to staff increases, the Post decided to move its office to Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
In 1949, with the Bangkok Post percolating along rather nicely if always on a shoestring, Khun Prasit was deeply involved in politics.
Pridi had become prime minister in 1946, but there was a constantly shifting cast near the top
Honest, dependable and fearless ... Far too much of his valuable life was spent behind bars for trying to work for the country
of the power pyramid. A coup d’etat by reactionaries was a constant danger, and in 1949 Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsonggram seized power.
“It was obvious that Pridi had gained his political power through the parliamentary system, while Field Marshal Plaek had gained his power with the might of the military,” wrote Khun Prasit in his book. “We Pridi supporters were branded as communists.”
Pridi and Khun Prasit went on the most wanted list. Pridi eventually left the country.
In a chase worthy of Hollywood, Khun Prasit and a close friend hid out, were shopped by Khun Prasit’s own relatives, went on the run and were tracked down by police. The friend was killed on the spot, while Khun Prasit, saved when the policeman’s rifle jammed, was frog-marched once again into prison.
This was the time when MacDonald also was given notice that Thailand had become a very dangerous place. The Bangkok Post continued publishing, as no government was willing to take the bad publicity for burning or closing it. But those were bad days for journalism and worse days for democrats.
All things come to an end, and Field Marshal Plaek’s days were numbered, although he lasted eight years before police under Pote Sarasin seized power. They lasted just a year, as army generals Thanom Kittikachorn and Sarit Thanarath began the bad years of military dictatorship in late 1957.
When His Majesty the King graciously opened the new and first Journalist Association of Thailand headquarters in 1954, Khun Prasit was an honoured guest standing at his left shoulder.
The King that day gave an inspired speech about journalism, responsibility and professionalism. He said it was important that the public hold newspapers in high regard, but to that end it was necessary for the newsmen to assume the responsibility. Journalists, His Majesty said, must strive to ever-higher standards.
Khun Prasit spent most his life striving for two related goals. The first was to forge, establish and build a democratic Thailand. And he consistently showed that journalism could play a vital role in doing that. The second was to build and maintain a credible newspaper that “Thailand could trust”. Khun Prasit set himself as an example for all
Bangkok Post staff — honest, dependable and fearless in the face of always intimidating, often violent threats and worse from governments and other power-seekers. Far too much of his valuable life was spent behind bars for trying to work for the country.
Khun Prasit uniquely established and pursued an important role for the Bangkok Post in the national community. At a time when it truly mattered, he set up the Phud Hong Leper Foundation, a charity that gave hundreds of victims not only a cure but also steps to return to a worthwhile life after once being shunned.
You will read more of the Bangkok Post foundations in this issue and of how they have sought quietly to help those in need so that they could realise their potential.
It is important here only to note that there was one man with the vision and tenacity to bring about these measures. Volunteers today can only hope to strive to meet the standards that Khun Prasit Lulitanond set for the Bangkok Post.
Khun Prasit remarked in his book: “My life was filled with dreams and nightmares. These have made me the man I am today.”
Until today, no one has ever called him just “Prasit”.