Talk Of Peace In Thailand Is Fine, But Trust Is What Is Needed

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Talk of peace is fine, but trust is what is needed

By The Nation

Ample motives remain for just about anyone to revive community violence

Thailand is rolling toward the anniversary of the September 19, 2006 coup amid conflicting "signals" from the rival camps. The Democrat-led government has drummed up warnings the country might be hit by another wave of violence, which it said could come in a different form this time. Thaksin Shinawatra and the Pheu Thai Party have virtually talked about nothing but "reconciliation" and "peace". Who should we believe? How much should we be worried? If something bad happens again, who will be responsible?

Nobody knows for sure. We may be just getting paranoid, but that's only because we had hoped for the best but seen the worst. Not once, but many times. Moreover, if someone is plotting something sinister, the environment remains conducive because everyone can be the suspect this time. One side can do it to frame the other side, or one side can do it and "appears" to be framed. A "third party" can do it for personal gain and blame either side or both. Or the "third party" could be the one who takes the blame.

One thing is for sure: The key element of reconciliation - trust- is still not there. Thaksin's calls for peace have been viewed by many as an encrypted sign that new political turbulence is brewing. The on-going leadership transition in the Pheu Thai Party is considered more as troop realignment than a goodwill gesture. The government and its allies have never seemed to take the apparent olive branch seriously, and have overshadowed news about Pheu Thai peace offers with tightened security and intelligence warnings about possible sabotage and assassinations.

In theory, there are plenty of motives for just about everyone to bring back violence, no matter how much it will cost our country. Having lost a "full-scale" political war that involved aggressive and systematic street rallies allegedly backed by armed elements, the anti-government movement could be tempted to make another attempt to overthrow the administration, this time through a more straightforward means that hit where it hurts. On the other hand, the government, having enjoyed political advantage of the state of emergency, would naturally want to extend the status quo and the sure-fire way to do it is to maintain the climate of fear.

In addition to the rival camps, there are those who may have begun to get used to profiting from continued political conflict, or those who may be waiting for an opportunity to destroy both sides so they can fully emerge as a new force. The country's power play has never been so complex and murky, with everyone playing more than one hand of cards.

We can be paranoid, but we will have to keep faith at the same time. Even though threats of violence have not entirely gone away, clearly the majority of Thais have remained true to the national characteristics of peace-loving and forgiveness. The only problem is that this sector of the population has been largely passive, unfortunately allowing the darker faces to represent Thailand. The silent majority's added responsibility during this time is to play a more active role in guaranteeing that even if the troublemakers continue to have their way with a few bombs here and there, their means must not come to characterise our nation.

Whoever brings about fresh violence is anything but a patriot, no matter how they try to deceive themselves. The only thing "noble" is to bring back peace. "Ideology" must give way to reasoning. As Thailand struggles to get back on her feet and tries to learn to achieve political changes through peaceful means once again, the fragile belief that we can still make it in a civilised way must not be blown away by political rivalry that is growing absurd by the day.

-- The Nation 2010-09-13

[asiawatcher]

" Whoever brings about fresh violence is anything but a patriot, no matter how they try to deceive themselves. The only thing "noble" is to bring back peace. "Ideology" must give way to reasoning. As Thailand struggles to get back on her feet and tries to learn to achieve political changes through peaceful means once again, the fragile belief that we can still make it in a civilised way must not be blown away by political rivalry that is growing absurd by the day."

This is a great summary.