Don't tell my secrets and I won't tell yours

Have you ever wondered why Thais are so nice? Below is a news story about a senator who holds some deep, dark dirty secrets about Prime Minister Thaksin. Apparently he wouldn't divulge them because he's so nice.

Come on, Senator, if it's a matter of national importance, don't use etiquette as an excuse to play it coy. You have a duty to the country. If he's such a monster that the revelation of these secrets would destroy his political career, you need to stop him now, before he can do more damage. Give us the goods on him, or we might get the mistaken notion that you have blackmail in your heart.

'PM should back off or I'll reveal his secrets'
The Nation, 27 May 2006

Senator Sophon Supapong yesterday said he was the keeper of two secrets concerning caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that could prove the undoing of the Thai Rak Thai leader.

Sophon yesterday denied ever having leaked the so-called Finland Plot and dismissed allegations he had asked Thaksin for a large amount of money and been refused.

Thaksin told his Cabinet on Thursday Sophon had fabricated a story about the so-called Finland Plot because he was angry he had not received a large amount of money from Thaksin that he had asked for.

"I have never thought about setting up a fund by asking for money from the PM," Sophon said yesterday.

"I have never entertained such an idea, particularly with this PM. Thaksin is making up stories to ruin my reputation,'' he said.

Sophon denied he had ever accused Thaksin of hiring someone to wreck the Brahmin shrine outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel because a Khmer fortune-teller had advised him to do so.

The senator said he and Thaksin had met at his home in Bangkok's Lat Phrao area four years ago because Thaksin had said he wanted to meet social critic Dr Prawase Wasi.

Sophon said he had arranged a meeting with Prawase and Lt-General Preecha Wannarat, then the deputy secretary-general of the PM's Office. He said his family had also attended the meeting.

Sophon said that during the meeting he had been made privy to two secrets that, should he reveal them, would jeopardise Thaksin's political future.

"Thaksin shouldn't have told us these two things. He must remember what he said.

"My sense of etiquette has always prevented me revealing what was said, because it might ruin him.

"But if Thaksin continues to sling mud, I'll be forced to tell the public what he said,'' said Sophon.

He said he was not the only one who had heard what Thaksin said - even Prawase had heard it.

"I have never accused anyone or any party of anything in relation to the Finland Plot. I'm not involved, and I don't even want to know who is," he said.

He said Thaksin should stop listening to his close aides so exclusively and should stop defaming him.

Sophon said he hoped Thaksin improved his moral integrity so that he would not be forced to reveal his dark secrets.

Sophon, when put on the spot by reporters in relation to what Thaksin had said, refused to say any more.

"If Thaksin does not improve himself, I may have to reveal the two secrets, because they are very serious matters. If I reveal them, I am not sure if Thaksin will be able to return to his post,'' he said.

Asked if Thaksin had already begun to act on the two matters, Sophon replied that he had.

He said he had heard all about the Finland Plot from many different people, particularly from within a group of October activists, and not from the People's Alliance for Democracy, as Thaksin believed.