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Society Groups Forum Index » Thai Culture » Border fence or a fence-off?
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| Magnus |
 Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:32 pm |
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Guest
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The idea of a security wall to protect the South and end the violence
is so strange that it borders on the desperate. It is even more
strange that only a bare majority of Thais voted against it in a poll.
EDITORIAL
When nearly 49 per cent of the country seems to think that a wall
between Thailand and Malaysia could save the South, it's clear that
the long-running separatist campaign has become frustrating. It also
seems clear that the lack of initiative by the government has created
strong letdowns, both in the troubled region itself, and in the rest
of the country. Six months ago, there were at least muted hopes than
freshman Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would turn his attention to
the South.
The region poses the greatest existing security threat to the lives of
the people in the four southernmost provinces. It also is the worst
threat to the security of the country itself.
The suicide attacks on Jakarta hotels earlier this month were a
reminder of the regional terrorist gangs trying to get their hooks
into the southern insurgency. But the long war itself has taken
thousands of lives and cost the provinces involved hundreds of
billions of baht in potential business and prosperity.
Instead, Mr Abhisit has effectively ignored the deep South. His
Democrat Party, once the hope for peace in the South, has been
conspicuously silent on the problem.
The premier and cabinet have effectively dropped the festering
situation in the South on the army. Some think this is a bad idea on
the face of it, since the military is unlikely ever to bring peace to
the four provinces. Many southerners resent the military's presence,
and believe - or spread propaganda, which has the same effect - that
the army is actually behind some of the violence and much of the crime
in the region.
Last week, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo decided that
the status quo in her country's war against Islamic separatists was
not working. She ordered the military to cease fire. This surprising
step is meant to encourage the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to agree
to peace talks.
The Philippines is not Thailand, and the MILF is a more organised and
diverse group than the unnamed gangs terrorising the South of
Thailand. But the will to talk is necessary if ever there is to be
peace in the murderous campaign under way in the South.
It is certainly troubling that Mr Abhisit has thrown the pacification
campaign, and now a new economic project, in the lap of the military,
virtually without oversight. The government is about to give the army
63 billion baht meant as an economic stimulus in the South over the
next three years. It is close to impossible to imagine the military
running a successful economic programme. One might consider it unfair,
except that the army has in no way protested this project.
The government needs to kickstart economic activity in the South. But
it needs first to re-activate its own interest in the region. Mr
Abhisit gives the impression that he is already fighting the next
election. He should be more deeply involved in the troubles of the
country, particularly in the South.
Unless the government manages the stimulus package for the deep South,
the investment of 63 billion baht is likely to be a waste.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/20996/border-fence-or-a-fence-off
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Wow!
These are really bad days for the neoNazi propagandists, the likes of
the Brown-eyed Mullet stuck-at-a-Bangkok-dock:
even the editor of the BKK Post is dropping the junta's minions.
:-o
AntiNazi Mort |
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| Good Soldier Schweik |
| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:11 am |
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Guest
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On Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:32:36 GMT, Jack@Vance.com (Magnus) wrote:
Quote: The idea of a security wall to protect the South and end the violence
is so strange that it borders on the desperate. It is even more
strange that only a bare majority of Thais voted against it in a poll.
ence-or-a-fence-off
Strange that the idea of a fence should surprise the Amazed Frog as
the Romans built two in England, the French built one (which the
Germans paid little attention to), and apparently the Israeli have
built one that the Palestinians complain loudly about. The British
built them in Malaya, often mentioned as one of the only successful
anti-guerrilla wars in history, and even the Thai's built a partial
fence, or wall, during the Prem days.
But perhaps the Magnificent Mangus doesn't read history. What is the
saying about "Those who refuse to study history are doomed to stand in
a puddle of pee, and whine that "I didn't do it?"
_
Quote:
Wow!
These are really bad days for the neoNazi propagandists, the likes of
the Brown-eyed Mullet stuck-at-a-Bangkok-dock:
even the editor of the BKK Post is dropping the junta's minions.
:-o
AntiNazi Mort
Question: Does the Amazing Mangus have an original thought? Or is his
whole life made up of cut and paste?
cheers,
Schweik
(goodsoldierschweikatgmaildotcom) |
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