Love Thy Nation

Bangkok Post published a comment “For the love of the country” by Ploenpote Atthakor, Deputy News Editor

  If patriotism really has something to do with listening to the national anthem and seeing the national flag fly up the pole at exactly the same time, twice a day, let’s start with parliament.

If it works - and Mr Yuranand believes it will - this might be the easiest way to eradicate the use of vulgar language, corruption, abuse of power and other unethical political behaviour.For the love of the nation, some politicians might voluntarily correct their actions and serve as a model for our children.

 

 It is back-to-school time and as several hundred thousand students are busily preparing for the new semester, they may have little, if any idea, about a new plan to instil more patriotism in them.

That particular plan, which will require all schools to play the national anthem at the flag-hoisting ceremony at 8am and 6pm sharp, comes from Yuranand Pamorn-montri, a People Power party politician who now serves as adviser to the Education Minister.

Obviously the actor-turned-politician is not happy with the fact that some city schools have opted to delay the timing of the ceremony to 8:15am (with many others slotting it for 8:30am) theoretically to avoid traffic problems. He says such delays prevent students from properly expressing their patriotism.
In his opinion, the best time to show one’s patriotism by standing in line for the anthem song is at 8am and 6pm sharp, and the show of patriotism would be even stronger if all the schools played the anthem simultaneously.

“Students should not be thrilled only when the Thai flag is raised to the top of the pole at a sporting event,” said the adviser.
In fact, he thinks such feelings must be reinforced (twice) the same time every day. This is the way, he further adds, to make students think more of the nation.

Unless he encounters any hiccups, Mr Yuranand says, he will hand in his plan - which would also be applicable to all state offices - to the Education Minister in the hope it will be implemented when schools reopen this week.

Mr Yuranand is not the first politician who wants to boost patriotism through the anthem and flag rite. Mr Yuranand’s plan reminds us of a move by a group of NLA members (mostly with military background) who came up with the controversial idea to have all vehicles on the roads stop at the same flag-anthem time. Mr Yuranand and the NLA people share the same thought: that standing up for the national anthem when the flag is raised is the proper way to show one’s love for the nation. Like it or not, this has been the practice in Thailand and some others countries in this region.

However, I have to admit that I find Mr Yuranand’s idea more entertaining (without giving much thought to his background as an entertainer) than realistic.

And I also have some questions.

Initially, I just can’t help but doubt his theory that links the national anthem with patriotism. Besides, I don’t think children (and adults, too) who are stuck in traffic can really think of the nation at that particular time.

But what if Mr Yuranand is right? What if one’s patriotism really has something to do with one’s listening to the national anthem and seeing the national flag fly up the pole?

In that case, I think the very place where such a rite is badly needed would be none other than Parliament. And yes, Mr Yuranand should see to it that his fellow politicians come outside the parliament building and form a line in front of the flagpole to observe the rite daily at 8am. Don’t forget to have them sing the national anthem out loud, too.

Mr Yuranand must see to it that no one is excused from this flag-anthem rite. Regularly enforced, the practice might help certain politicians to realise their duty to serve the nation and eventually behave.

This could probably be the first step for some politicians to learn that it does not do the nation any good to verbally - and physically, in one particular case - assault their fellow parliamentarians and to lie.

Yet, love of the country, for me is different from not standing at any anthems. Being students that had to reach school by 8 am sharp for the national anthem blasting from the radio helped shaped me to be what I am, as for me, it would not make I love the nation more or less.

Yet, we have to love the nation critically And the patriotism should not be reduced to the “thrill” and nostalgic appreciation of the institutions twice a day. The nation should be loved and “protect” by constructive engagement, investigation and monitoring by the people.

What Development

 Hush Hush…

 I was wondering why most people I used to worked with wandering around in Bangkok, not just Bangkok  but Sukumvit Soi 7 (Nana). No one told me what was going on until I found this piece of news at Ministry of Foreign Affair. I knew what you guys and gals  did this summer (http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2666.php?id=24827). Wondering if they would put this in English.

 

Hence to the benefit of my friends, who told me the untouchable topics was on the South (of Thailand, no less), I have gathered development news sure to fire ‘peace.’ On the other hand, some projects are really develop fundamental well-being of the people in the restless South.

 

Fisheries department and the Fformer government promoted seafood bank project, aimed high to ” convert fishing area to asset” by virtually chart coastal areas, allow people to put the areas as collateral in a bank or a financial institution and receive loans in return. Otherwise, the coastal zone can be charted and allocated to local people asthier personal “assets.” Official information at  http://www.fisheries.go.th/royal2/index.htm. Counter narratives reasoned this project a complete wipe out scheme for small scale fisheries, according to the National Reconciliation Commission sponsored local public hearing (http://www.isranews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=56).  

 

Earlier, the second Thaksin government planed to inject 11,278.927 million baht for mega projects in the three southernmost provinces including: State Highway 410 (Yala-Baytong), CCTV in Yala municipal areas and other vulnerable areas, Halal food processing industrial estate in Pattani,  Muslim garments industry, drugs and crime suppression,etc (http://www.focuspaktai.com/index.php?file=news&obj=news.view(id=4068)&PHPSESSID=07ee7ce9cee3096f05ad642401849b7c)

 

It is commonly agreed that fundamental problems, whether or not they are related to the ongoing violence, including poverty, “unemployment,” narcotic drugs, yet the development that are religiously correct may not be found in the  government’s mega projects. The outcries have been voiced in many researches conducted with “local people.”  

 

The latest development found during PM Samak’s visit also hinted at military industries factories, promotion and incentives for investment from major entrepreneurs from  other areas, industrial scale plantation of palm oil and rubber. (http://www.isranews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3319&Itemid=47)

 

Development is wanted, but it can always be manipulated to benefit state sponsored violence,(setting up defense industries complex, for example) deepening disparity between the have and the have not (introducing external investment that will benefit certain groups of people and leave the burdens to the host communities ) and disrupt ways of good and religious life  (seafood banks or halal food centers projects). 

 

Under their benign covers, development programs, there is nothing new about development imposed from above to boost the whole “wealth” of the Southern provinces and that “wealth” would be distributed to people who need and wealth would come without alienation and with justice.

 

To stand or not to stand at the theatre: Testing the political implication of Lese Majeste

Chotisak’s new as reported by Thai media and international media is a good way to put “grounded” and interpretive information to use.

Several agency put and interpreted this act in various ways. (Please refer to New Mandala (http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2008/04/25/taking-a-stand-against-lese-majeste/) for the brief)

Prachatai reported ground its “human/civil rights ” standpoint. It also differently grounded the “sitting up” as violating minor law and not that as violating lese majeste (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/11950). Note that Prachatai also later report context of Chotisak’s T shirt (Anti-19 Sept Coup).

Manager clearly deducted Chotisak’s action as a part of active pro Thaksin network members. Chotisak was reportedly a Anti 19 Sept Coup, and Nor Por Kor (http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9510000047235), putting the context this way, one who is convinced by Manager’s argument, can perceived the (actual or imagined or both) connection between anti-royalist claims the agency has been used against Thaksin since the earlier protests. (http://www.manager.co.th/Crime/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9510000048141) Later Chotisak appealed in Prachatai that he was not associate with Nor Por Kor (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/11963)

The new reached wide international media such as Asia Sentinel and a brief in many newspapers.

The Lese Majeste Game

Any interpretation of Chotisak’s action does not, on my opinion, pointed out that the “Lese Majeste” has been over-abused and indeed that law should be abolished because it failed to do what it had promised in text: to prevent any expression of defamation, hostility and damage against the monarchy. What Lese Majeste law as a criminal law had been recently used before and after the September coup, an even before that but I will leave it to other real historians to point out, is a huge pit of black smear paint and that everybody use against anybody for every political motive except to fulfill the function mentioned in the text itself.

For example, I can accused someone for not paying respect to the monarch, without giving any proof and convince that the person should get kicked out by a coup. I can accused someone of Lese Majeste, even when what s/he said is well grounded by solid objective and neutral facts. I can accused someone of Lese Majeste when I want someone to shut up, particularly they are not Thais. Vice versa, I can accuse any reports, panel discussion, papers or blogs mentioning anything about the monarch that are not conformed to repeated patterns, which we may not know what they really means to individual “us” anymore. Literally, the monarch became the “untouchable,” depending on the interpretation of “untouchable.” By using “untouchable,” I could be praised or booed, depending on motives of people who read it.

These has nothing to do with the monarch or to prevent any damage against the institution. The law that intend to enforce respect in “public transcript” had been prescribed, for those with political, official or popular power or even any motive to defame, smear, destroy and discourage the other.

The non-royalist strike back?

Likewise, the people can use this game. By positioning such action as human right and rather prepared exposure to international media, any harsh action against “perpetrator” would affect international perception of the country and several institutions. The action could bring support of anti-royalist. Yet I am afraid that there is a tendency that everybody will lump things together, which is very dangerous.

So what lese majeste law actually accomplished on behalf of the monarchy institution. Nothing, The reasons that it has not been abolished because people who can use it as a major smearing campaign found that they can use this law to extend their political motivations, thus the law has to stay.

When it is not functioning?

What to do when the law has been abused for political gain, for a coup and a significant blow of democratic culture, for suppressing freedom of speech and putting everything underground (seem like the only discussion available is gossips, rumors and stuffs)?

We already know so well that respect comes from the hearts, not the law.
——————-
PS Any reference and inference just make me feel we are under absolute monarchy, where the reference point, most political motivations circle around it. When will we remove the mooring point?

Bangkok Cooperation.

Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=127079)reported:

China claimed on Saturday it had received strong backing for the Olympics from Thailand - and a promise by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games.

An exclusive story in the official Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, and reprinted in other official publications, China said Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama condemned disruption of the Olympics torch relay “in some countries.”

It was not clear from the Chinese story where Mr Noppadon made the statement, except that it was “on Friday”.

According to the Chinese report, Mr Noppadon also “said the country’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will attend the Aug 8 opening ceremony of the Games.”

So far as is known, Mr Samak has not made any such statement to Thai media, although it is widely expected he plans to attend the Games.

On Saturday, Mr Noppadon issued an official statement through the foreign ministry.

“A peaceful protest (during the torch relay) can be done in accordance with the constitution,” he said. “”Thailand believes that politics should not be linked with the Olympic Games.”

Apart from that the same report,citing

Thai officials responsible for the event held talks yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who chaired the meeting, said protesters from overseas would be blocked from entering the country during the relay period. Authorities will be deployed to secure the event, he added.

Yet, I hope the relay route will not have to be altered, becuase I willbe somewhere around.

Civilian-Ambiguity-New Civilian-militia training in the South

Another civilain force has been formed in the Southern-most provinces, reported by Isara News (http://www.tjanews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3380&Itemid=5

The “Peun Rachakarn Raksa Moo Baan” (friend of official to protect the village) corps were being trained in the South to patrol their respective village along with military and police staff. Accoring to the report, 340 villagers from 17 strong communities (among 21 strong communities) in Pattaini voluteered to be trained. They were 70% Muslims and 30% Buddhists. They would earn 4,500 Baht monthly.

Volunteers were trained on hand to hand combat, patroling and check point skills, weapon handling and ideological training, etc. The training took 3-4 days and volunteers would be assessed for their performance based on situation in their villages. Any volunteerssubsequently “fail” to performed would be dismissed from the payroll.

In the meantime, Humanitarian Dialogue is offering an interesting e booklet on “Interpreting Violence: Anti-Civilain Thinking and Practice” that would be valuable to re-visit the above content. Please do not hessitate to check it out.

New wars and armed conflicts also create new civilians, who are civilians but engaged in self defence beefed up by state or non state actors.