Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Don’t Turn Patriotism into Madness [in Thailand]

September 21st
From Post Today newspaper (Thailand)
Analysis
Translated and edited by Wacharapol Isaranont

The international dispute over the ownership of a 4.6-kilometer overlapping land adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear Temple between Thailand and Cambodia has been a sensitive and longstanding issue that needs more than a truce to settle.

And while the tension is about to calm down after several deadly confrontations between Thai and Cambodian troops have seen both countries lose more than gain and efforts to peacefully resolve the issue through international political instrument are widely exercised, domestic movements to protest Cambodians encroaching on the unsettled area have reignited the flame of dispute.

During the past weekend, a group of the People's Alliance for Democracy supporters, led by Veera Somkwamkid, staged a protest at the Khao Phra Viharn national park in Si Sa Ket Province and called on the Thai government to forcefully drive Cambodian villagers and troops away from the disputed land.

The move may be motivated by patriotism with good intentions to protect the country’s sovereignty, but in the big picture it turned out to foil the plan to peacefully settle the issue by both the Thai and Cambodian governments. Besides, it created a reverse effect by leading to a rift among Thai people themselves, evidenced by a confrontation betwwen the yellow-shirt group and local villagers in Si Sa Ket Province.

Sadly, the PAD’s protest seems to infused with anger and foolhardy resistance to unknown facts behind the dispute, particularly the fact that the conflict took place as Thailand and Cambodia referred to different versions of maps when negotiating the border demarcation.

The yellow-shirt group should not let anger cloud their judgment about the cause of problem and the proper solution, for it could turn inspiring patriotism into uncontrollable madness, which are two sides of the same coin.

All parties must be sensible and look at the issue without distortion in their points of view. They must learn to equip themselves with correct information and to follow the progress of efforts by the government to dismantle the conflict.

Meanwhile, the government should promote transparency and provide the public with accurate accounts and developments of the situation, in order to prevent any dispute that could arise from lack of knowledge and misunderstanding.

So far, various agencies have worked on their own and kept information behind the door. In fact, such a longstanding issue as the Preah Vihear dispute needs collaboration from agencies with varying expertise including history, archaeology, politics and international laws. And all them must work in a unified manner in any efforts to protect the nation’s territorial rights.

All this is to prevent Thai people from unnecessarily getting involved in fights, especially against their fellow countrymen.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

They should deserved it this time...and next time and everytime.
Now even that owned citizen was sicked of the yellow shirt. And Now it's time to give them(Yellow Shirt) a lesson.

Anonymous said...

It's sad that this stupid Yellow Shirt PAD is so blind. Because they can forced their legally elected goverment to step down, they think that they can impose their will on its neighboring country to abide by their stupid greed. I'm really glad that Thai authority prevented them from crossing the border, otherwise we would see a lot blood spilling on this small parcel of land that want to steal. Why don't they try to learn the true history of the region besides their fictional history books.

Anonymous said...

1:12 PM

We'll make our entry one way or another...just wait and see.

Anonymous said...

PAD or no PAD, beware
If you trespass into Khmer territory, you are a dead PAD.
Promise.

Anonymous said...

Pls Khmer troops dont shoot thai citizen, just shoot PAD members who step ilegally into Cambodia torritorility. Or dont shoot just let wild dogs bite their heads.

Unknown said...

Thai government should reeducate its people to be aware of the real history - when and how Siam was existed in this world? And when was the Preahvihar temple built?

Anonymous said...

Thai's madness without looking at the mirror.

Anonymous said...

I believe the opposition party of Cambodian are they Siemes that why they don't say nothing to the yellow pad geting Khmer property.

Anonymous said...

thia kill thai kill siam red kill yellow blue kill red so whos is next? see what happen when they kill innocent khmer? the bad thing returning the favour and it only the beginning!!!

Anonymous said...

Why the anlaysit said two sides may ahve the same goal of patriotism? This is a bias analysis because PAD ploiticize Preah Vihear issue as the instrument to put the former Thai Prime Minister's, Thasin, supporter down and provoke the war with Cambodia with violation of internation legal framework; while the local people who are peace- loving and their lives were affected by this political driven aim of PAD for over a year. The local people may understand better than the PAD supporter who may be higher educated. The analyst should revisit her/his point.

Anonymous said...

There will be chaos and turmoils will cause Thailand to have unrest in its country in near future.

They will fell apart just like Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was split into 5 countries consist of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzgovenia, Kosovo and maybe Montenegro in near future will declare independent soon.

Thailand will be the same patterns of Yugoslavia too.

The Muslim in the South and the Isan of Khmer dominated area. Khmer in Thailand has the population of 30 million will seek and declare themselves an independent state too.

Anonymous said...

It's about time for Thailand to go through a war harship, like Cambodia once did, so Thai people can tell how war tastes like. They have forgotten it for so long.

Anonymous said...

For thing to heats up for Thailand, those Khmer roughly with 30 million you should stand up??????And declare you identity!!!!

Anonymous said...

PAD , all of you are so ignorant. What make you think that you can make the International Court reverse its decision that it made over 40 years ago about Preas Vihear Temple ? Think about it . It's the law .

Anonymous said...

6:23 PM
Go learn some more English before you make another comment.

Anonymous said...

2:07PM
You are welcome anytime , but don't forget to say goodbye to your family before you enter Cambodian territory . As Kmher , we mean what we say and if you really meant what you just said , please keep your words. We are always ready to greed you at the border.

Anonymous said...

Thank you all Thai People who are teaching the Thai yellow shirt one Lesson, What is wrong What is right with the international law.

Kharp kun Mak Nass khap

From FN oversea

Anonymous said...

2:07
The thieves are good at finding their way in and out.

Anonymous said...

smart-ass siem thugs. we can't do their illegal protest in bangcock, so they have to relocate to the border area of cambodia! what else is new with siem dirty trick. cambodian people knew siems dirty trick!

Anonymous said...

Watch out for the sling shots, pad. You did not expect these, do you? Are you behaving a bit better now? Less bully? Stop destroying your reputation. It does not do anything good for you to steal Cambodia temple. Your childish behavior real gets under my skin.

Anonymous said...

Watch out for the sling shots, pad. You did not expect these, do you? Are you behaving a bit better now? Less bully? Stop destroying your reputation. It does not do anything good for you to steal Cambodia temple. Your childish behavior real gets under my skin.