Achara Ashayagachat
Bangkok Post
"On Thai Peace Day, Thai and Asean people should realise that talking about the use of force in solving any dispute does no one any good" - Charnvit KasetsririThai Peace Day today should remind the Thai people and others in Southeast Asia that sustainable peace has yet to be established in people's hearts, historians say.
In light of recent domestic political violence and spats between Thailand and Cambodia, Thais should remember those who sacrificed for peace in the nation, they said.
Today, Aug 16, has been declared Thai Peace Day to commemorate the day in 1945 when Pridi Banomyong, then regent to King Rama VIII, declared one day after the Japanese surrender that the Phibulsonggram government's war collaboration with Japan had not represented the spirit of the Thai people.
Although the Phibulsonggram government declared war on Britain and the United States on Jan 25, 1942, the Free Thai, or Seri Thai, movement had been established in Dec8, 1941, to put up a Thai resistance to the advancing Japanese army.
Charnvit Kasetsriri, a retired history professor, said the far-sighted Pridi foresaw that peace in one nation was not enough.
The late statesman floated the idea of establishing the Southeast Asia League some 20 years before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was set up, Mr Charnvit said.
"Pridi was among the first few regional leaders who coined [the phrase] 'no war but peace' in the region," he said.
"On Thai Peace Day, Thai and Asean people should realise that talking about the use of force in solving any dispute does no one any good."
Communities in the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon, where the Free Thai movement set up its base in the jungle, are also holding activities to commemorate their ancestral heroes joining the movement.
"Peace does not only mean ending the war, but tolerance and peaceful coexistence with others, as well as no social inequity," said Vithit Chandawong, son of the late wartime politician Krong Chandawong, who was one of the core leaders of the Free Thai movement in the Northeast.
Pridi highlighted the significance of peace in the region and the peace movement, influenced by the communist ideology of the late 1940s and '50s," said Chiang Mai University historian Saichol Sattayanurak.
"He also emphasised that true peace could only be established when there was equity within society."
The peace movement was led by several progressive intellectuals such as the late writer Kularb Saipradit.
"In light of the recent political conflicts at home and along the [Thai-Cambodian] border, establishing inner peace of mind and practising tolerance - key factors of peace - should be relevant in the present context," she said.
4 comments:
No peace with the siamese until all khmer lands return to their rightful owner: THE KHMER NATION.
cambodia must not forget during world war II, siem sided with japanese to conquer cambodia, hoping japan would win war and then back them to steal lands from cambodia. however, when japanese lost world war II, siem's thug-like intention became hopeless. cambodia must not forget how siem flip flopped then and now. khmer cannot trust siem again ever since. study cambodia history and you will understand the siem intention on cambodia. cambodia cannot trust siem ever!
Siam is the opportunist allied with Cruel Japanese Aggressor. Japanese is not good too
Believe in yourself first, before you believe in the other people.Khmer people always remembered these words:Thai never quit their tricks;Vietnam never quit their attitudes,but Khmer having sharped heart never quit unity. Khmer will be strong;be united as rock.
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