Killing The Bankers -- Thailand

March 1999
We explore why sugar farmers are taking murderous revenge on those they hold responsible for their collapsing livelihoods.

Assassinated in Febuary 1999, Michael Wansley was a victim of increasing resentment over IMF meddling. Wansley was the foreigner banks sent in to investigate the books. But one day, his car was blasted with bullets by waiting assassins. His death was almost certainly the work of a disgruntled sugar tycoon in this wild region of mafia run plantations. The family business clans here are increasingly resentful of the IMF interfering in the way they do their business. It may occasionally be brutal, but it is the time-honoured way. Thais say the IMF should climb down from their moral high ground. They point out that Western money was more than happy to play during the Asian boom, despite the crony capitalism. Thai analysts suspect the IMF's concern for 'honest' business is just a cynical way to increase their control of the economy. Whatever the public disquiet the government needs foreign investors and is desperate to solve the embarrassing Wansley case. It's not clear yet if the man who turned himself in is guilty...what is clear though, is that Wansley's death raises some very uncomfortable issues for the Thai government and business community.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• thailand
• sugar
• farmers
• revenge
• murder
• bankruptcy
• IMF
• Michael
• Wansley
• journeyman
• pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman pictures

[Quietlydoesit]

IMF 'restructuring programme' This is a euphemism for taking over another countries economy and making it friendly to foreign investors. Crashing wages and implementing 'austerity' measures. This is evil rich bastards making the poor even poorer. He was a 'respected' business man? By whom? Other parasites who robbed the poor. He did a bit of charity work to salve his dirty conscience.

[novaball22]

That's so sad, we lost an IMF banker. The world will never be the same again.

[LPitt95]

One less banker in the world!!!

[wyng303]

'Thailand is for Thais'........ this message is posted everywhere in Thailand.

[sirreal2u1]

The international bankers are intentionaly starving humans in mass. It is pure justice that the humans exterminate the exterminators.

[ROYALITARIAN]

happy the banker got it , but the dumbass sound @ the end , was a bummer ... we need banker deaths in the us , by the thousands !

[forestskog]

I lived in Thailand. It takes a lot to really piss Thai people off. If they killed him, there's a good chance they had very good cause. Quite frankly fuck the IMF and especially fuck the IMF bankers.

[moonshoes1000]

Money talks baby

[douafreedomgtmuaytha]

fing the fucker is a good job

[CrackerJayherber]

I here ya

[legion3721]

The 10000 Iluminati soldiers will all die when 2000000 Assassins of china flush them down the toilet.