We would like to present our avid readers with the edited highlights of an interview contributed by an interested party, given by one of Thailand‘s most powerful Mafia Godfather‘s, who we‘ll call Khun Yai; that‘s not his real name, but to avoid negative repercussions, we‘re keeping his identity a secret. What you are about to read, however, is God or the Buddha‘s honest truth and will give you a unique insight into the world of one of this country‘s leading Mafiosos.
Khun Yai is apparently the Thai equivalent of the kingpin of the French Connection, with global-scale vision. His powers encompass Asia, including China, where he has extricated a considerable number of Thais out of sticky situations with the Chinese. Anything remotely connected with the underworld and dirty dealings, Khun Yai has a hand in.
Khun Yai is Thai with French and Chinese blood, hence regards himself as being in a particularly strong position to voice his opinion of the way Asia is going. He considers Asia doesn’t have the leadership qualities to lead the world in the event that the West abdicates its current global leadership.
To quote Khun Yai directly, he says:
“the political foundation is not there in Asia to be a global leader. Civilizations now compete on creativity, and that requires the right social-political foundation in democracy, freedom and equality. Do you see Asia having that foundation any time soon? Look at Thailand, it is turning the clock back is it not? Asia, is reeling back on all fronts. Even at this time of Western financial collapse. In a few years, the consolidation will make them much stronger.”
When asked his opinion of Thaksin, who it has been said the Thai Mafia were staunchly opposed to, Khun Yai contradicted that urban legend. From his standpoint, Khun Yai considers he could have enriched himself considerably by giving Thaksin support, especially on the gambling issue and particularly as regards casinos. Currently, vast amounts of money leave Thailand, with Thais going to such places as Cambodia and Macao to play the casinos. Khun Yai says if Thaksin had had his way as regards opening casinos in this country, this drain would have been staunched, aided considerably by Khun Yai himself, who would have had a “few casino or entertainment complexes going by now”.
Khun Yai is also disparaging about the authorities’ attempts to keep the Thais ignorant about comments made in the international arena about politics etc. He regards this attempt at media muzzling as detrimental to the country because it aids competitors and others with unfettered access, giving them an edge and helps to keep Thailand weak. When asked to elaborate on a statement he had made about foreigners owning Thailand, Khun Yai commented that Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Koh Samui were part of the global village, with foreigners feeling they had a god-given right to visit, especially as many of the sex venues in these towns were actually run by foreigners; that particularly applied to Bangkok’s red light areas like Nana, Patpong, and Soi Cowboy. Recent attempts to deny foreigners access to Thailand by closing Bangkok airports Khun Yai said were
“practically infringing on the rights of these foreigners to be at the place that might call their own.”
When asked about traditional customs such as wai-ing and the “culture of respect”, Khun Yai said that in the good old days his father had waged a war against contending Mafiosi, until he became top dog and everyone wai-ed him first, to demonstrate his superiority. Today, however, it’s somewhat different as Khun Yai waies everyone, irrespective of their comparative position in the Mafia pecking order “because, he said ”
it is better for business and better for keeping peace.”
Asked about Thaksin’s drug war and extra judicial killings, Khun Yai said “About a quarter of my family’s income was gone within three months after the drug war started,” which incited the Mafia to raise cash to assassinate Thaksin, until they realised Thaksin was playing them off against each other. The bloodshed was so extensive that they didn’t really think it worthwhile to kill Thaksin, especially when, as he says “Macau money was coming in to scuttle the plan, and we had to fight on the side of Thaksin.” The mafia also reduced their drug trafficking, instead diverted their funds into other means of making money like entertainment complexes.
Hopefully, this extract will have given you some appreciation of the power of the Mafia; other features of the original interview were left out for reasons of security.
Written by: Warina
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