With alternatives like these, Let's try ping pong for peace

Published: 13/02/2011 at 02:27 AM
Newspaper section: News

After three weeks that saw deaths, injuries and destruction, the rain of bullets, the dropping of bombs, and thousands of Thai and Cambodian borderland villagers turned into refugees, at the moment all is relatively quiet on the eastern front. Reports say villagers are returning home. But reports also say that both sides are amassing tanks and troops at the border, with F16s flying overhead.

Is this the quiet moment before the storm? Who knows? But the question we may first ponder is: What ignited this current round of conflict?

Nope. It's not over who invaded whom first. It's not over who shot at whom first. It's not about some map drawn by the French a hundred years ago. (And please, Thai people, stop picking on and blaming the French. Leave that to the English and the Americans. We Thais already have the Laotians and the Cambodians.)

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About the author

: Writer: Voranai Vanijaka; Position: Political and Social Commentator

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nighthawk
Post : 167
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Discussion 46 : 20/02/2011 at 11:25 AM46
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"the PAD is 2-0 against Thai governments, the administrations of Thaksin Shinawatra and Somchai Wongsawat."

Thaksin was ousted by the coup. Somchai was sidelined because the Const. Court banned the People's Power party. What it got to do with the PAD? You mean to say Sonthi is holding the bridles of the army and the court? OMG!!!!
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observer 101
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Discussion 45 : 14/02/2011 at 09:22 PM45
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Mr. Voranai,

Your opinions are excellent for disgruntled expats to use to vent their own frustrations with the country they choose to remain in. If thailand were to become like Japan or Singapore you can kiss goodbye 20 baht som dom and other relatively inexpensive stimulations/perks 555.

Seems the war games have already started with thai F-16 pilots so dedicated as to become "Kamikaze" warriors, and given adequate flight practice they could even crash on cambodian soil/targets.

Personally I had wished Thaksin used all that money to build quality schools, hire quality teachers, pay for school meals as to give his followers a real future rather than a few baht today and party atmosphere in BKK.

Had Thaksin done that his political enemies could have lost face and maybe he'd even get a Royal pardon. A way to save face, use wealth to do good things, and make amends for destructive activities in the past; Does Alfred Nobel ring a bell?
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Aussie John
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Discussion 44 : 14/02/2011 at 04:12 AM44
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After decades of propaganda and brainwashing how can you expect the majority of Thai people to think outside the square.When Thailand's denies so much of the truth in its history, how can you expect the people to be discerning of what actually happened in the past. Extreme nationalism will only bring the country down yet if the people knew the 'truth' maybe they would finally see the ambitions of those who govern the country behind the scenes are purely self driven.
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bucky
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Discussion 43 : 14/02/2011 at 02:32 AM43
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Another excellent article!
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wantmyony
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Discussion 42 : 14/02/2011 at 01:15 AM42
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I recently called my thai freind and talk about the border war, I gave my opinion as an outsider with no vested interest ( I dont want a Khmer temple on my porch), back with facts, clear reasoning and nicely worded sympathy. I ended up almost quarreling with him, I gave up because I dont want to loose a friend over a temple I dont visit. My thai friend still believes the temple belongs to thailand and the maps used were fake (bought from chachuchuk market), ICJ ruling were influenced by French government despite telling him there is no French sitting on those high bench.
You see, thailand as a society had been divided along the path of red and yellow soon after Thaksin 2nd term in office. That division is getting wider even among families, thanks to Chamlang families will be seperated by idealogy, country will be divided poor and rich nothing in between. All done to satisfy a monk, a diviant sect leader. Religion has been used to split the country and go to war. Its a matter of time before Buddhist religion will be split like Islam, extreme and secular. Thailand is effectively a troubled like Lebannon, Libya and Tunisia.
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drsmith
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Discussion 41 : 13/02/2011 at 09:55 PM41
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Voranai is the only Thai brave enough to tell it life it is. How about a TV talk show? I bet a majority of the people in Thailand would love to here what Voranai has to say on a weekly talk show and maybe Thai people could educate themselves as to what is really going on in their country instead of being whipped sheep.
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bangmodken
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Discussion 40 : 13/02/2011 at 08:29 PM40
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Khun Somchai #28 and Khun Padthai #38 are,as always,spot on.I also agree with Spiceman that Thailand should not give up land to an inferior though aggressive enemy.
majority #31:You should be happy with our current democratically elected government which allows you to believe exactly what you want to believe no matter how far from reality these beliefs of yours are.You are even allowed to express these absurd beliefs in public.I'm not sure whether that would be the case if your idol,Thaksin,was in charge.
Editor of BP: Are you going to refuse to post this comment too as you have refused to post most of my previous ones lately?
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pletwo
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Discussion 39 : 13/02/2011 at 08:13 PM39
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K. Voranai . .another excellent piece of work!! You are GOOD!

Disc 30 . . I just cant understand why Thai people dont see the bait for what it is. It is just so obvious that Chamlong needed an issue to stay in thepolitical game . .as I said last week on this . .he has blood on his hands and should have the sense to be deeply ashamed of what he has done to destroy ordinary people's lives up there
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padthai
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Discussion 38 : 13/02/2011 at 05:11 PM38
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Just like in Egypt we did manage to get rid of our dictator with the backing of the army. Now a minority want Thaksin back no matter what price for our country including a war. Fortunately our army will not back down and the fugitive can run for president in Montenegro instead.
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kramom
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Discussion 37 : 13/02/2011 at 03:39 PM37
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Voranai! more please!
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