Bangkok Post
Sunday November 02, 2008
Thongbai Thongpao
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple flared again last month and a confrontation across the border culminated in a fatal exchange of fire. Fortunately, the situation improved when the two sides agreed to return to the negotiating table.
At home, however, the tensions between rival political groups that have gripped Thailand for quite some time show no sign of abating. Our leaders and fellow countrymen _ who all speak the same language and vow to respect the same head of state _ have refused to talk to each other. Political orientation or ideology should not be a problem because both sides claim to uphold democracy.
There has been a lot of talk about a new constitution. If indeed there is one, it will be promulgated by the authority of His Majesty the King and, like its predecessors, Section 1 will provide that Thailand is a kingdom that is one and indivisible; Section 2 will state that Thailand is a democracy, with the King as head of the state.
Surely these principles will not be amended.
If the two sides agree to these fundamental principles, what's the point of the confrontation today? Why is it that we can no longer talk? Cambodians and Thais speak different languages and the rules of their nations are different, yet negotiations are possible and a war has been averted. How come the two groups of Thais who are under the same rule and respect the same king turn down all proposals for reconciliation and refuse to talk to one another? Why do they keep their fellow countrymen on edge with the prospect of bloodshed and even civil war?
I would like to say this to the people in the streets, and especially to their leaders:
''Don't shout in the face of your opponents just because you have the equipment to do so. Has it ever occurred to you that ordinary people are so fed up with your speeches, which focus on the same language and content every day? Have you ever realised that other people who have no part in this struggle have the right to hear something more creative, something that won't drive them mental?
''Nowadays, the majority who bran dish no colour feel insecure and are deprived of the liberties people in other democratic countries take for granted. Our constitution endorses these rights and freedoms also, but they are now violated and there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done about it. People cannot travel freely. Passengers dare not talk to taxi drivers because they have no way of knowing to which side the drivers belong. They have to put up with whatever radio broadcasts the drivers tune into, depending on their political tastes, until they reach their destinations. And of course they dare not ask the drivers to turn the broadcast off for fear of being viewed as belonging to 'the other colour'. It's as if we are in a state of war.
''My question to you is, 'what are you doing? Does the country belong to you and only to you?'
Sunday November 02, 2008
Thongbai Thongpao
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple flared again last month and a confrontation across the border culminated in a fatal exchange of fire. Fortunately, the situation improved when the two sides agreed to return to the negotiating table.
At home, however, the tensions between rival political groups that have gripped Thailand for quite some time show no sign of abating. Our leaders and fellow countrymen _ who all speak the same language and vow to respect the same head of state _ have refused to talk to each other. Political orientation or ideology should not be a problem because both sides claim to uphold democracy.
There has been a lot of talk about a new constitution. If indeed there is one, it will be promulgated by the authority of His Majesty the King and, like its predecessors, Section 1 will provide that Thailand is a kingdom that is one and indivisible; Section 2 will state that Thailand is a democracy, with the King as head of the state.
Surely these principles will not be amended.
If the two sides agree to these fundamental principles, what's the point of the confrontation today? Why is it that we can no longer talk? Cambodians and Thais speak different languages and the rules of their nations are different, yet negotiations are possible and a war has been averted. How come the two groups of Thais who are under the same rule and respect the same king turn down all proposals for reconciliation and refuse to talk to one another? Why do they keep their fellow countrymen on edge with the prospect of bloodshed and even civil war?
I would like to say this to the people in the streets, and especially to their leaders:
''Don't shout in the face of your opponents just because you have the equipment to do so. Has it ever occurred to you that ordinary people are so fed up with your speeches, which focus on the same language and content every day? Have you ever realised that other people who have no part in this struggle have the right to hear something more creative, something that won't drive them mental?
''Nowadays, the majority who bran dish no colour feel insecure and are deprived of the liberties people in other democratic countries take for granted. Our constitution endorses these rights and freedoms also, but they are now violated and there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done about it. People cannot travel freely. Passengers dare not talk to taxi drivers because they have no way of knowing to which side the drivers belong. They have to put up with whatever radio broadcasts the drivers tune into, depending on their political tastes, until they reach their destinations. And of course they dare not ask the drivers to turn the broadcast off for fear of being viewed as belonging to 'the other colour'. It's as if we are in a state of war.
''My question to you is, 'what are you doing? Does the country belong to you and only to you?'
''My plea is for you to think of ordinary people who simply want to live in peace. You have done enough talking already, and we all understand your points.
''Isn't it time you stopped speaking for once and listened to other people?
''This week, a group of academics proposed the so-called 'Three Stops' to help ease the situation. The first is to stop mobilising people to confront one another. Second, they want a stop to the favouring of the People's Alliance for Democracy. The third is putting an end to all efforts that would plunge the country into a state of anarchy and create conditions for a coup.
''This should not be hard for you to do. Can you for once listen to reason? Please regard the Three Stops as a request from the people, people who want peace and democracy, not more anarchy and coups. Are you aware that if you do clash, that scenario will be unavoidable because it will justify the use of force by the army?
''Statesman and former prime minister Gen Prem Tinsulanonda also urged both parties to be patient, tolerant and sacrifice. This is no cryptic statement. We'd all like you to think twice before retaliating to any offence. We want you to stay calm when you don't get your way. And we want you give up some of your moral high ground to make way for negotiations and reconciliation.
''Let's restore peace. What will the country get out of this long struggle? What do you stand to gain? Don't let time and exhaustion catch up with you. We all have seen what you stand for. At the same time, we also see how you are slowly succumbing to nature's rule of impermanence, from which no one and nothing has ever been spared.
''So for the sake of peace and democracy, as well as the people that you claim to fight for, please give your thoughts to this plea.''
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