Showing posts with label Persecution of ethnic minorities by Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persecution of ethnic minorities by Thailand. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Siam's persecuting ethnics

Left to right: Khuang Abhaiwong, Abhisit Vejajiva, Thaksin Shinawatra

21 November 2008
Op-Ed by Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com


Apparently, for the last 200 years Siam has not been ruled or led by Siam origin. Also Siam made it clear in its history if there was Siam that must be no Khmer or else.

From Siam records, in 1932 other socialist inclined Sino ethnic groups put Teochow dynastic absolute rule in check. Then to exploit Khmer to strengthen control over its newly annexed Khmer provinces, in February 1945 Khuang, a Battambang native was permitted to found a political party called “Democrats Party” which later assimilated him a Siam Prime Minister and dictator. He was fierce in persecuting and suppressing his own Khmer identity and culture.

Presently Khuang’s Democrats Party is led by the English born named Abhisit. He is from wealthy Hakka permanent residents of England. Who can tell if his parents were not the enthusiasts of Mao Communist Party? He has purposely instigated racial hatred on and war over Khmer’s Preah Vihear. Also Abhisit is persecuting his fellow Hakka, Thaksin. This seemed awaking Khuang’s curse.

Abhisit is not afraid to sacrifice many innocent lives especially the ethnic Khmer for his gains. He is an ally of Sonthi Limthongkul-another non-Siam and leader of People Alliance for Democracy. Both are pledging allegiance to the monarchy and wanting to replace parliamentarian with dictatorial system.

In truth, they are elitists and out of touch with real people.

In contrast, Thaksin might have been corruptive in association but he was the first head of government to care for Siam millions of poor. He advocated for basic needs for the poor. Obviously he was too popular and a threat to the institutional hypocrisy. In Thailand, the buck stops at the King sitting room. None dared to question King Integrity.

Increasingly the populism, secessionism and socialism seem sweeping against the backward Bangkok absolutism. Although Thaksin is a Hakka and born in the occupied Lao territory. But evidently he is too respected by the poor.

Currently Thaksin is labeled an enemy to Bangkok ruling clan. He is accused of treason that earned King’s coup in September 2006. Since then, Bangkok is plagued in madness. There seem to be more violence in Yala-Pattani secession, deadly arm clashes with Lao and Khmer over Bangkok exaggerated borders, and constitutional blackmails.

From tyranny to democracy, post 1932 all coups halted Siam from being a democratic society. Now Thaksin persecution seems revealing truth on Bangkok century old hypocrisy. It is a treason already but the people do not say it yet. They begin to wiggle their heads as the world keeps scrutinizing Bangkok conspiracy from one to another.

Not long ago in the region, East Timor set an example of self determination and autonomy from its colonial dominance. That took the world for a long while before coming to rescue the suppressed people of East Timor. Same event may haunt Bangkok growing racial divides along with the sentiment of autonomy from Yala-Pattani and the reunification of Isaan old Kingdom with Lao. Also the new generational-racial and ethnic demands for equality in entitlements are ready to affront Bangkok despotic control.

In Bangkok, the obvious Sino ethnics are highly educated and allowed to have ethnic language schools in major urban. They also dominate all branches of government and economic lifeline. Others ethnics: Lao, Siam, Yuon, Khmer, Burma and Malay are treated unequally.

For the monarchists to make Thaksin an enemy of State is a dangerous move. He is very capable in mobilizing his supports to contest the radicals. The question is how passionate and determined Thaksin is to see that Siam returned to real people.It seems for now he is weighing his decision whether he will pursue his conscience or surrender to the unruly. But noting from the past history, to avoid the Crazy King Tak Sin fate, no matter what Thaksin must be alive and stay away from Bangkok coup plotters.