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From
the October 2001 issue of World Press Review (VOL. 48, No.
10)
Thailand and
Laos: Face-Off Over a Film
Chayanit Poonyarat, Inter Press Service (international news agency),
Rome, Italy, July 20, 2001
Its script is not yet complete and not a single scene
has been shot, but a proposed film about the woman believed to have
staved off a Lao invasion of Thailand centuries ago is reviving old
suspicions between the neighboring countries.
This week, there was talk of plans by an irked Lao government to boycott
Thai goods if the planned movie project continues—reports that
Lao officials denied. On July 19, the row reached the Thai Senate,
where the film’s director, Pisarn Akraseranee, called anger over
the movie, Thao Suranaree, an “overreaction.”
“We will surely pay back if the film affects us, but I cannot
say how now,” Hiem Phommachanh, Laos’ ambassador to Thailand,
was quoted as saying. “I do not see the need to bring up the
Thao Suranaree story,” said Khammy Bouasengthong, first secretary
at the Lao Embassy. “Thailand and Laos are closely related through
blood, tradition, and language. We wish our ties to be good.”
The film project, the latest in a spate of Thai historical movies
about foreign aggression, tells the story of Thao Suranaree, wife
of the deputy governor of Korat (today, Nakhon Ratchasima province),
who Thai historical chronicles say led local people in defending Siam
from a Lao invasion in 1827. It is said that Thao Suranaree tricked
Lao invaders into drinking large amounts of alcohol before launching
an ambush.
She was the first commoner in Thai history to be honored with a national
monument, which was built in 1934 in the square of the province’s
capital, Nakhon Ratchasima, about 160 miles northeast of Bangkok.
Every year from March 23 to April 3, thousands of people flock to
the monument to honor Thao Suranaree, who is seen as a guardian spirit.
But this story riles Laotians, because they revere King Anuwong, her
opponent, as one of their greatest leaders, who tried to liberate
Laos from subordination to Siam (Thailand). Some academics say Thailand
should show an understanding of Laos’ sensitivity in the same
way it is sensitive to issues relating to respect for the monarchy.
“Every war has a justified cause, but the history between Thailand
and its neighbors has many aspects young generations should avoid,”
Dhawat Boonnotoke, a visiting lecturer on the Thai language at Burabha
University, was quoted as saying. “A war-related story like that
of Thao Suranaree should not be thrown into the world of entertainment
at a time when Thailand needs to make peace with its neighbors.”
Indeed, the film project also came up during the June visit of Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Laos. There, Lao officials urged the
Thai government to stop plans for the movie in order to avoid damaging
bilateral ties. “The government cannot dictate to stop making
the film,” Thaksin responded. “We are a democratic country,
though we would try our best not to cause dissatisfaction with our
neighbors.”
Thailand’s ties with Laos have had many ups and downs through
the years. The Lao ambassador recalled that the two neighbors had
a conflict a decade ago at their common border, Ban Rom Klao, which
Thailand lost. But recent years have seen cooperative moves. In April
1994, the Friendship Bridge, spanning the Mekong River near the Lao
capital, Vientiane, linked the nation to Thailand for the first time.
Plans for a second “friendship bridge” were discussed during
Thaksin’s visit, along with cooperation on drug prevention, trade,
and electricity generation. Construction of this bridge is expected
to start next year and to be completed in three years.
Laos and Thailand have deep economic ties, but bilateral tensions
exist on issues like Laos’ wariness about anti-government rebels
who seek refuge in Thailand. During a National Security Council meeting
yesterday, Laos and Thailand agreed on ways to prevent members of
anti-Vientiane movements from staging sabotage activities from Thailand.
Even in Thailand itself, the story of Thao Suranaree has been the
subject of debate. Saipin Kaewngamprasert, in her master’s thesis
on the “Politics of the Thao Suranaree Monument” for Thammasat
University, asserts that the story of Thao Suranaree’s exploits
had a lot to do with meeting political and societal needs.
“Siam in 1932 was passing from absolute monarchy to constitutional
monarchy. A modern face showing women’s rights and people-power
then was very much needed,” said Saipin. Saipin added that not
long before the erection of the monument to Thao Suranaree, Nakhon
Ratchasima was suspected of being the base of a revolt against Bangkok.
“Thao Suranaree therefore perfectly served as an ideal symbol
to show the locals’ loyalty to the Thai nation,” she wrote.
This is not the only Thai historical film that has touched on relations
with its neighbors, focusing on the themes of patriotism and nationalism.
The film Bang Rajan, shown earlier in the year, portrayed the struggle
of Thai villagers who fought against Burmese invaders centuries ago.
Another historical film about Thai-Burmese hostility, Suriyothai,
will be released on Aug. 12.
But Thao Suranaree’s director Pisarn told the Senate committee
that “the film has nothing to do with politics....I think
they (Laotians) have misunderstood my objective in making this
film,” he argued. Meantime, the production house Saha Mongkhol
Film will continue working on Thao Suranaree. Shooting is expected
to start in August, and the film is scheduled for release early
next year. “We have excellent role models in our long history
that today’s people can look up to for inspiration. Why
should we be afraid of telling the truth as it is?” Pisarn
asked. 
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