Bangkok Post : The bright yellow washing detergent

If it looks like a Hindu, if it was built by a Khmer and if it has all the characteristics of a Cambodian _ then it must belong to Thailand. But rest assured, the dispute over the 4.6 square kilometre portion of the Preah Vihear temple isn't really about the 4.6 square kilometres.

It isn't even about Preah Vihear itself. Therefore, this commentary will not dwell on who Preah Vihear really belongs to.

Though this must be said, people seems to neglect the fact that another World Heritage site, Vihear Phra Mongkolpitr in Ayutthaya, may be taken off the World Heritage list by Unesco. The reason is because it's so poorly run that it has become more like a weekend market filled with garbage.

And we, Thailand, still have the gall, the audacity, to make claims with the World Heritage Committee.

But this isn't about Preah Vihear or Vihear Phra Mongkolpitr. This is about the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). This is about the New Politics Party.

This is about the yellow shirts.

In 2005 when the PAD came out in droves and shook the capital city of Bangkok, they managed to bring the poor and elites together.

Covered head-to-toe in sunscreen, high society khunyings put on their Gucci sunglasses and donned yellow silk blouses and flowery hats. Umbrellas in hand, they took to the streets with their prai counterparts.

How was this possible? The PAD's slogans sang to everyone's heartstrings: down with corruption, taking pride in nationalism and - last but not least, in fact, it's definitely the most - protect the royal institution.

It was simple political ingenuity. It was brilliant.

Suddenly, Thaksin Shinawatra making funny faces during an audience with His Majesty the King became a matter of national controversy.

''He made funny faces. He must be a traitor!''

''He made funny faces. He must want to bring down the monarchy and become president!''

Smack it, wrap it and pack it - the people bought it, hook, line and sinker.

If that wasn't enough, there's Preah Vihear - a place most Thais had never even heard of until the PAD mentioned it.

Sovereignty. Pride. Nationalism.

''That traitor is trading our heritage, our land, our history, for a casino in Koh Kong!''

''He's in collusion with a foreign country!''

Oh how that whipped the Thai people into a fury - then and now.

I say then and now, because that is the cow that the PAD will milk until it runs dry. But you see, this cow never runs dry, for her name is ''pride'', ''nationalistic pride''.

Never mind the corruption bit - any old political movement can sing that tune. But nationalism, sovereignty and the royal institution? Now that is some strong detergent for a thorough washing of the brain.

Do not be surprised that the yellow movement, which has been relatively quiet over the past year, is now making plenty of headlines.

They have merely been building their political networks.

Do not be shocked that Major General Chamlong Srimuang can led a political gathering of hundreds of people to the Unesco offices in Bangkok - a city under emergency decree where a political gathering of the red shirts means a police round-up and into the prison they go.

But a political gathering of the yellows? Well, here's a newsflash: the emergency decree has been renamed ''the Emergency Red Only, with Special Exception to His Excellency Chamlong Srimuang the Untouchable Decree''.

Do not even raise an eyebrow that the yellow banners of nationalism, sovereignty and the royal institution are flying again.

After all, they are now the New Politics Party and Bangkok district elections are coming up.

As well, the general election - by all accounts - could be coming as soon as early next year. Not to mention, the Democrat Party might be dissolved by the Constitution Court over alleged illegal donations.

Somebody is licking their chops at filling the vacuum.

On the Preah Vihear issue, if we were to look at the Thai press we would see columns and articles decrying: ''Abhisit is acting too late!''

''The government is losing our sovereignty!''

''Ignorance and lethargy are causing us to lose our national integrity!''

Well, the mind of the media is as easily washed as anyone else's. It is all playing into the hands of the yellow shirts.

Naturally, in the past week the prime minister came out swinging hooks and uppercuts about saving the integrity of 4.6 square kilometres that looks like a Hindu, was built by a Khmer and has all the characteristics of a Cambodian - all of which supposedly stands on Thai soil.

Fortunately for the prime minister, victory to Thai pride was hailed and integrity was safe. We managed to get a delay in the decision because we threatened: ''We're gonna quit and won't play with you guys anymore! Boo hoo!''

At the heart of it, the prime minister didn't have much choice. Failing to act, he may have been branded ''a sell-out'' or even ''a traitor''. No politicians, especially ones in government, can afford that.

Shouting the slogans of pride, nationalism, sovereignty and the royal institution worked out wonderfully for the yellow shirts four years ago in helping to bring down Thaksin Shinawatra. Today, the same slogans will help to expand their political power.

Patriotism is the love of one's country. Nationalism is the vanity of one's country. You see, dear readers, it is not about 4.6 square kilometres. It is not about Preah Vihear.

It's about the yellow shirts. It's about the PAD.

It's about the New Politics Party making its move to win the Thai people's hearts and minds, and hence our votes, by appealing to that basest of society's instincts - nationalism.

---

Email

: voranaiv@bangkokpost.co.th