LET IT BE
SURANAND VEJJAJIVA
When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma last month, I heard a passing comment by one of the news commentators on radio that quite disturbed me.
He said that we Thais must "forget" our past when Burma invaded Ayutthaya, and for humanitarian reasons we must send out our help.
My mind was like: "Wow, wait a minute, what was that again? How can anyone say such a thing? The last time we waged war with Burma, our neighbour to the west, was some 200 years ago!"
But the comment also made me wonder what a common Thai actually feels. Luckily, the government, the army and the general public seemed not to hold any real grudge and assistance was promptly sent. Thais have proven again that they can be generous and helpful in times of trouble.
I forgot all about the unintended comment till the events of the past weeks reminded me again. For the debate on the Preah Vihear temple and disputed land claims has opened up old wounds with another neighbouring nation, this time to the east: Cambodia.
It is a dispute as old as anyone can remember, a conflict which ended with a ruling by the International Court of Justice 46 years ago.
The present legalities and all the politics involved are being debated in various forums and the media, including the censure debate in the House of Representatives, a vote on which will take place this morning.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Noppadon Pattama, went through a tough grilling, being accused of conceding Thai sovereignty and territory. It is widely believed that even if he survives the no-confidence debate, his political fate might follow ex-minister Jakrapob Penkair's since the present nationalistic sentiment is no less serious than the one ex-minister Jakrapob faced for his statement on the monarchy.
It is exactly that kind of bombardment which troubles me.
Mind you, I love my country as much as any other Thai. So if Minister Noppadon has really compromised Thai sovereignty, he will have to face appropriate punishment. But loving one's nation is one thing; stirring up nationalistic fervour to the point of frenzy is a different thing.
Because when you build up that kind of emotion it is usually used to serve some political purpose. And the end result does not benefit the relations between the peoples of the conflicting nations.
Back in early 2003, a false rumour was spread in Cambodia that a popular Thai actress had made degrading comments about Cambodians and Angkor Wat. The word of mouth was exploited, leading to violence in the streets of Phnom Penh, the burning down of the Thai embassy and Thai properties, and finally an airlift by the Thai army. It was a dark spot, one of many, in the history of Thai-Cambodian relations.
The present debate has now resulted in the Cambodian authorities closing down the Preah Vihear temple. If the issue continues to be mishandled, undesirable consequences could occur again.
Territorial lines are a recent invention of modern nation states. It served its purpose in the past to create national unity and identity, but at the cost of ignoring common historical and cultural heritage that exist beyond borders.
Nations in Europe went through periods of war and peace for hundreds of years. It was not until after World War Two when leaders in European capitals realised that if they enhanced their commonality, wars could be prevented and a borderless Europe could bring lasting peace and prosperity. A strong European Union eventually emerged.
The nations of Southeast Asia, especially in the Indochina peninsula, also share a common heritage. The mixture of history and culture reflect in the languages, the artifacts, archaeological sites, way of life and religious rituals. The most popular Thai novel, Pu Chana Sib Tis, is about a Burmese king. We can understand the Lao language without a translator. Ancient Khmer archaeological sites are littered across Thailand. Thai descendants live in northern Malaysia, while ethnic Malays live in southern Thailand.
Despite those factors, what is lacking is basic trust. Past governments have fed the population with nationalistic stories, full of romantic wars, which further enhanced animosity.
That has to change. School history books must reflect better historical facts and understanding. Public television programmes must be used to create positive awareness. Politicians must act in a conciliatory manner. Respect our friends. Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Only through building trust and enhancement of our common heritage can a long-lasting regional peace and prosperity emerge and endure for generations to come.
Suranand Vejjajiva served in the Thaksin Shinawatra cabinet and is now a political analyst.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Next
