Bangkok Post (Thailand)
It is hoped that by this time, the production team of Ghost Game, a horror flick set in a fictional prison that resembles the Khmer Rouge regime's main torture centre, has learned some lessons. The rage of Cambodians sparked by the film - known in Thai as La-Tha-Pii, which tells the story of a group of reality television show contestants taken to a prison, called "Security Prison 11," to confront their inner fears and the atrocities that occurred there, to win an enormous cash prize - caused the production team, including director Saravuth Vichiansarn, to come out and offer "heart-felt apologies" last Thursday, the same day the film opened in theatres across the country.
The Cambodians claimed the film was tantamount to capitalising on the country's tragic past and was disrespectful to the victims and their surviving family members.
Their anger is understandable.
The fictional Security Prison 11 closely resembles the Khmer Rouge's Tuol Sleng prison, or S-21, where tens of thousands of people, including women and children, were tortured before being executed when the extreme leftist regime was in power in the 1970s.
Besides the criticism, the Cambodian authorities have slapped a ban on the film.
Cambodia's Culture Ministry has threatened to confiscate and destroy any copies of the movie in shops in the capital Phnom Penh. In Thailand, the film is still being shown in theatres.
Obviously, the film is a result of sheer ignorance on the part of the production team about people in the neighbouring country, and shows a lack of cultural sensitivity in not realising how such a thoughtless work would affect the already fragile Thai-Khmer relations, following the 2003 mayhem in which the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in Phnom Penh were torched and looted.
It should be noted that such ignorance is not limited to the film producers, but also includes members of the Thai public.
Hardly have we realised that we know very little about our neighbours, to the east and west alike.
Worse, what little knowledge that we possess contains distortions, driven primarily by nationalistic bias from past history.
History textbooks, which glorified the ancient rulers from the Sukhothai to Ayutthaya periods, tend to project our neighbours as invaders, foes, betrayers, or ungrateful villains.
Such negative terms have affected people in society one way or another.
If we look at the entertainment world, it would seem the war between Siam and Burma never ended, as the conflict appears to be a favourite theme of film directors.
Anytime relations between Thailand and Cambodia turn sour, it is natural that the name "Phraya Lawaek" _ an ancient Khmer ruler known as Lovek in the Khmer language, who desperately tried to liberate the kingdom from Ayutthaya _ comes up in several people's minds. According to Thai history textbooks, which have been questioned by several historians as to accuracy, the Khmer ruler was killed by King Naresuan the Great in a brutal punishment called "pathomkarma".
We have to admit that economic development may have to a certain extent made many of us too arrogant toward our neighbours.
We hardly bother to learn about them and, subconsciously, we look down on them _ as people who "lag behind" while we are "superior".
It is probably the reason why many Thai bosses who employ migrants treat those under them so inhumanely.
That leads to nothing but hateful feelings that could burst into violence like the 2003 incident.
It is time to realise that such a mentality needs to be corrected.
It may be too soon to adopt the "Love Your Neighbour" approach. Let's start with "Know Your Neighbour" and respect them as human beings.
The Ghost Game is a mistake we must never repeat.
Ploenpote Atthakor is Chief Reporter, Bangkok Post.
The Cambodians claimed the film was tantamount to capitalising on the country's tragic past and was disrespectful to the victims and their surviving family members.
Their anger is understandable.
The fictional Security Prison 11 closely resembles the Khmer Rouge's Tuol Sleng prison, or S-21, where tens of thousands of people, including women and children, were tortured before being executed when the extreme leftist regime was in power in the 1970s.
Besides the criticism, the Cambodian authorities have slapped a ban on the film.
Cambodia's Culture Ministry has threatened to confiscate and destroy any copies of the movie in shops in the capital Phnom Penh. In Thailand, the film is still being shown in theatres.
Obviously, the film is a result of sheer ignorance on the part of the production team about people in the neighbouring country, and shows a lack of cultural sensitivity in not realising how such a thoughtless work would affect the already fragile Thai-Khmer relations, following the 2003 mayhem in which the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in Phnom Penh were torched and looted.
It should be noted that such ignorance is not limited to the film producers, but also includes members of the Thai public.
Hardly have we realised that we know very little about our neighbours, to the east and west alike.
Worse, what little knowledge that we possess contains distortions, driven primarily by nationalistic bias from past history.
History textbooks, which glorified the ancient rulers from the Sukhothai to Ayutthaya periods, tend to project our neighbours as invaders, foes, betrayers, or ungrateful villains.
Such negative terms have affected people in society one way or another.
If we look at the entertainment world, it would seem the war between Siam and Burma never ended, as the conflict appears to be a favourite theme of film directors.
Anytime relations between Thailand and Cambodia turn sour, it is natural that the name "Phraya Lawaek" _ an ancient Khmer ruler known as Lovek in the Khmer language, who desperately tried to liberate the kingdom from Ayutthaya _ comes up in several people's minds. According to Thai history textbooks, which have been questioned by several historians as to accuracy, the Khmer ruler was killed by King Naresuan the Great in a brutal punishment called "pathomkarma".
We have to admit that economic development may have to a certain extent made many of us too arrogant toward our neighbours.
We hardly bother to learn about them and, subconsciously, we look down on them _ as people who "lag behind" while we are "superior".
It is probably the reason why many Thai bosses who employ migrants treat those under them so inhumanely.
That leads to nothing but hateful feelings that could burst into violence like the 2003 incident.
It is time to realise that such a mentality needs to be corrected.
It may be too soon to adopt the "Love Your Neighbour" approach. Let's start with "Know Your Neighbour" and respect them as human beings.
The Ghost Game is a mistake we must never repeat.
Ploenpote Atthakor is Chief Reporter, Bangkok Post.
1 comment:
How about you prince Sihanouk, would you apology for all the Cambodians who are not KhmerRouge.
Do not name us Lon Nolian, we all who are not Khmer Rouge or joint them like you were living with Lon Nol regime, and defence our country again Viet Cong, Hanoi Ho Chimin, aa Katop from invading our country.
You and aa Pot help the Viet evil fought again us then kill 1/2 population of our country. You are not satify with your revent and now you name us Lon Nolian?
Yes we do thing Cambodia need King to make it hard for The Viet Evil to swallow us by make aa Ma cent to signe a joint state with aa Srakey. But if you want to label us than we have no chice but go again you!
Be ready Cambodia who not communist they may try to prisoned and kill the rest of us now. No wander this Mini King Kong help aa Ma Cent all the time to kill and supress us who are not commi evil.
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