Why so unruly?
Source : Thila, The New light of Myanmar (June 13)
In the sports world, our coaches have often said "lay it hard, but not rough. If you want to win, you must play hard. But you will be sent out if you play unruly, and hitting others.
Ó In this case, your unruly acts are too much. You hit other country's territory with heavy weapons and also with fighter-bombers. Do you think we Myanmars are physically handicapped?
Myanmars have always upheld the values of Myanmar society "Enhance amity, diminish enmity". We Myanmars cannot be flattered to act in a funny way as you do.
In the past, they were known as Siamese but now they are called Thais. They are highly civilized people. They greet people by putting their palms together in a gesture of respect.
During a festival in Tachilek in 1955, Thais came to the town to sponsor gambling ventures and stage Lamon traditional dances and Thai boxing matches at the festival. The song "Lele-kaw Mar-chin-laung" sung at the Lamon dance show is still in my heart.
Kayin soldiers from the Myanmar Tatmadaw also took part in the Thai boxing matches. The winner got K 50 and the loser, K 30. As even a loser would get K 30, he could enjoy the festival together with his friends with his prize money.
In one match, Yin Maung, a Myanmar soldier, faced a young Thai boxer whose height was five feet eight inches. But Yin Maung was only five feet four inches tall. Thus, the Thai boxer had the advantage in weight as well as in height.
As soon as the first round began, the Thai boxer pressed hard to struck blows on Yin Maung who was dodging in the ring. In the second round, the attacking young Thai seemed to be a little tired.
Yin Maung then made faces at the competitor as he had done during his fight at the Myanmar traditional boxing championship match in Kayin State. The Thai boxer was imitating his acts. Yin Maung then bent his legs, and when the Thai boxer followed his posture, he jumped onto the Thai's lap, grabbed his head and hit his chin with his knee. In a stunning situation, the young Thai boxer who was caught by a surprise attack had to clean the blood from his mouth with his hand and glanced at Yin Maung.
Grabbing this right opportunity, Yin Maung gave left and right fly kicks at the chin of the Thai boxer. The Thai youth fell onto the floor. When the judge's count reached "eight", the Thai boxer put his palms together and told Yin Maung that he was not able to continue the fight as Yin Maung was so superior to him.
This was the spirit of sportsmanship. In other words, as a Thai, he had shown the civility of his people.
I was wondering "From where did the barbarians arrive in Thailand and mingle with the civilized Thais?"
History stands witness to the fact that Myanmars were much friendly towards the Thai people.
The Burma Independence Army was founded in Bangkok on 16 December 1941 to win back independence.
When the two nations were enjoying a closer bilateral friendly relations, who tried to ruin the relations, and for what reason? The Myanmar people find it amazing.
But Thais are saying that Myanmars have intrusion into their territory throughout history. But who were the Jon invaders who attacked Bago during the Bagan period? Who were the intruders that attacked Taninthayi Division which had made King Bayintnaung to conquer Siam during his endeavours to reunite the nation.
According to Maha Yazawin (History), the Siamese troops attacked Dawei, Myeik and Mottama and seized Myeik region during the reign of King Min Ye Kyaw Htin (1673-1698).
Who was the real culprit in history? When U Aungzeya (King Alaungphaya) was reuniting the nation, he had to drive out the Siamese intruders from Taninthayi. As the Siamese tried to defy the King, he had to chase the enemies who fled into Siam. So, who was responsible for all this? Though Myanmars can forget these events with the conviction "Enhance amity, diminish enmity", why can't the black sheep of Thailand have the wish to enhance amity?
I would like to raise a question. Why is the country thinking the wolf from ten thousand miles away to be a noble person while refusing to have the brethren spirit on its immediate neighbour? In Myanmar history, there was an event. The event is "that the hero, Kyansittha, tried to rescue Prince Saw Lu, who was taken prisoner by Ngayamangan, in much difficult condition. Saw Lu, who had false hopes over the enemy shouted "Kyansittha is trying to take me away". So, Kyansittha left him behind and ran away. But Saw Lu was murdered by his enemy. A black mark was left in history because of mistrust. And now, we are brethren neighbours. The problems between us can be solved through the diplomatic channel. Don't get rough due to the flattery of others.