POST BAG Peace campaign is deceptive nonsense

POST BAG Peace campaign is deceptive nonsense

Published: 13/05/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
I beg to differ from the views expressed by Veera Prateepchaikul in his article, "Peace campaign is every bit a legitimate form of protest" (Bangkok Post, May 11).

While the name of the campaign ''Stop Hurting Thailand, Stop Violence'' sounds impressive and indisputable for any peace-loving Thai, the question is who really hurts Thailand and resorts to violence.

The campaign is a follow-up to the first campaign under "Think for Thailand; Think Forward." Regrettably, the new campaign does not offer anything new nor does it offer solutions to the problems; just the same rhetoric about peace and unity.

Where were the Thai Journalists Association, government officials and politicians during the Krue Se and Tak Bai incidents in 2004 when many Muslims perished at the hands of the Thai army and police? Where were they when Thaksin allowed the extra-judicial killing of some 2,000 drug suspects or when he avoided paying income tax on the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek? Or, most recently, during the Songkran festival when Thaksin exhorted his red-shirt protesters to storm the Asean summit venue in Pattaya and instigate violence in Bangkok? Or when PAD supporters were killed during the protest last Oct 7? The list goes on.

Why didn't we hear a word of protest or denunciation of the perpetrators from this group?

It is easy for one to break up a bar-room brawl and tell the two parties to stop fighting for the sake of peace. After the hand-shaking, comes a big round of applause, making the persons feel important. But this is a totally different situation. The PAD is not in conflict with the UDD. They are fighting against Thaksin and his cronies for what they have done to destroy this country. Although the PAD could be considered as inciting unrest themselves, they have never resorted to violence, unless it was for self-defence.

The PAD would not have moved to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports had all the killings of the PAD supporters not fallen on deaf ears and had Somchai's government stepped down, as they were responsible for the violence against the PAD and the same group of politicians under a different party name, charged for violation of the Constitution for entering into a treaty with Cambodia in the case of Khao Phra Viharn.

Other stark differences between the PAD and the UDD: the former fights for the country and monarchy, the latter fights for Thaksin. The PAD leaders are accountable for their actions and never skipped bail, nor fled into exile in foreign countries like Thaksin and Jakrapob Penkair.

It is understandable that some people behind the campaign may have a genuine desire to see peace and unity brought back to Thailand.

But without identifying the root cause of the current turmoil and suggesting remedies, the campaign is inevitably perceived as nothing but a self-promoting, holier-than-thou nonsense.