Helping Burma is a thankless task
Source : Thongbai Thongpao, Bangkok Post(Feb. 25)
The situation along the Thai-Burmese border has been tense for decades. But the latest clashes in Mae Sai have changed the attitude Thais have towards their neighbour. We call Burma our neighbour because our countries are adjacent but we don't want them firing at us over the fence.
Sporadic conflicts are nothing new with all our neighbours. But peace is usually restored without difficulty. The only exception is Burma. Looking back, it seems the relationship between Thailand and Burma has been a marathon war. Hundreds of years ago, Burma invaded Thailand several times, twice seizing Ayudhaya, the old capital of Siam. On the first occasion, Siam remained under Burmese control for 15 years before King Naresuan restored independence. On the second occasion, the Burmese attacked and burned down the entire capital. Even revered Buddha images were plundered for their gold coatings. Eventually King Taksin the Great again restored independence.
There are many legends from these times. One involves a man called Nai Khanom Tom who beat nine Burmese in a boxing match, thereby surprising the Burmese who thought the Thais to be cowards. "If all Thais had such courage, they would not have lost the city to us," the Burmese said.
Another legend concerns Bangrachan Thai villagers who saved their village from invasion by the Burmese. The story has been made into many movies with last year's version grossing over 100 million baht and finding its way into school curricula.
The disputes ended temporarily when Burma was colonised by Britain. Siam managed to maintain its independence and when Burma was eventually freed we rejoiced with them. We forgot what the Burmese had done to us and hoped our neighbour would grow with us. The relationship proceeded normally until the military junta seized power. Although we regard the dictatorial rule as Burma's internal affair, its policies have reverberated on Thais. The suppression of minorities has resulted in refugees flooding into Thailand from Ranong in the south to Chiang Rai in the north. Hundreds of thousands of minorities migrated to Thailand. Some remain in refugee camps supervised by the United Nations. Thailand did its best to be a kind host but was many times criticised by the world community for violating the refugees' human rights. Some became illegal labourers in fisheries, rice mills and factories, causing problems for Thai workers by accepting lower wages. What's more, we pay for their medical care and suffer their crimes. Even when Burmese children cross the border to join Thai schools, we gladly embrace them.
The crisis intensified when groups of refugees seized Ratchaburi hospital and Samut Sakhon jail, causing the deaths of two Thai officials.
Worst of all is the drug trafficking from production bases on the Burmese side of the border. This threatens a worse war than between our armies.
Thailand has always had patience with the Burmese, hoping that they will one day return to peace and democracy. We have never interfered in Burma's internal affairs. Some western countries have put pressure on the junta to stop their human rights-violations. Nonetheless, Thailand still abides by the constructive engagement policy. But all we get in return is bullets.
Some ministers in the new cabinet may claim to have good relations with the junta but one still wonders what they can do with a 'friend' who has always acted like an enemy.
Will the new government take a conciliatory stance as in the past or will it be more assertive? Especially important is the policy regarding human rights which has pushed Burmese minorities into Thailand.
Drugs is another issue. So far we have always tackled the problem downstream among traders rather than upstream at the production bases inside Burmese territory. Perhaps it is finally time to get tough.