What made his knowledge more special was the generous way he shared it with those who seriously sought insight. Many journalists turned to Sam for his incisive analysis based on experiential knowledge.
If a newcomer approached asking for a crash course on the Burma border, an irascible smile would sneak across his face under his John Lennon-rimmed glasses, and he might pause to wipe off some dust or sweat from his brow with the tail of the ever-present checkered krama tossed around his neck. But for those who sought to grasp some piece of the harsh reality for the millions who suffered in Burma, Sam would offer contacts, assistance and guidance.
Andrew Marshall, a British author and journalist based in Southeast Asia who writes for TIME magazine and other leading publications worldwide, noted: “He was one of a kind—a passionate and engaged journalist, an esteemed and generous colleague, a free spirit, and a valued friend to many.”
There are unique individuals whose path in life is guided by passion, convictions and a definite sense of the mosaic of our shared and fleeting humanity. Sam Sittipong Kalayanee, or “P’ Sam”, as he was affectionately known was such a person. He was on a path guided by compassion. He held a compass that pointed in one direction only: the truth.
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