A Haiku journey into Suwannabhumi Inc

February 23, 2001

O Suwannabhumi Inc, Thais Love Thais like never before:

It's time to rejoice.

The rich Golden Land

Would be forever saved from doom

By corporate brand.

The three-year crises

Have left Thais in rags and ruins.

Where're the good old days?

The old Ayutthaya

Had never lost its good soul:

Here comes Shinawatra.

Under a spell,

The people cast their big votes

To frighten the hell.

Through surreal marketing,

the telecom man brings up

Inflation targeting.

"I am CEO,

Destined to resurrect this land

With a new manifesto."

All the living pain

Will disappear overnight,

Like a summer wind.

Our Suwannabhumi Inc

Will not be sold for the cheap;

Stay away, farang.

Dear Mr IMF,

Enough is your poisonous dose:

I do it My Way.

Wipe the farmers' tears;

Let there be debt forgiveness -

Bygones be bygones.

The new millennium

Brings forth a new culture

Of debt moratorium.

Extra votes, extra million!

For every village of the land

Will enjoy the bullion.

Don't ask the taboo:

Where shall the money come from?

Roll out the printing press.

It does not matter,

In hell or heaven alike,

You must make profits.

In every tambon,

There lies one genius product,

the ultimate goal.

Lay down your sickles

And disarm your hammers,

Wait for the miracle.

For any diseases,

Just pay 30 baht to your doc

And walk away in peace.

To all the debtors enslaved,

Here is the national AMC:

Be damned or be saved.

The bankers squirm

From their sins, tightly sealed

In a can of worms.

No money, no problem!

Just borrow from the People's Bank

with your ATM.

Let it be known

That in every pocket there'll be

A cellular phone.

BY THANONG KHANTHOG