Burmese are just rattling our cage
source : The Nation (EDITORIAL-08/07/01)
The revelation that a Burmese history book has portrayed the Thai people as servile and lazy has caused much commotion inside Thailand, whose citizens, ironically enough, see themselves as funloving and khee kiart. The word khee kiart, which translates literally as lazy, in fact conveys the sense of a lackadaisical attitude. When a Thai wants to say he does not want to go someplace, he will say that he is too lazy. But it is more of a kind of languidity or indolence, which we are used to.
Certainly, this is not the first time that the Thai people have been portrayed this way by foreigners or, for that matter, in Burmese textbooks and media. Such a theme has often arisen given the long history of ThaiBurmese relations. In the past, nobody would bother with such selfserving judgements in whatever form. But suddenly, the history book has made all the difference. Why?
Definitely, there is a different mindset among Thais, whose sense of national identity has been strengthened following the economic and financial crisis in 1997. This growing selfawareness is somehow related to the living conditions they are encountering. The stringent economic measures imposed by foreign lending institutions in the past three years have also created a siege mentality among Thais – they must stand up or they will be taken over.
This prevailing mentality has given rise to the current pseudonationalism that is so common among businessmen with nonperforming loans. A much stronger feeling of selfprotection also occurs among disadvantaged groups of Thai people who have been marginalised by globalisation and the economic crisis.
Then there’s the fact that in an era of peace and cooperation, both Burma and Thailand are in search of a new enemy. They have found within themselves that past hostilities can be revived and replayed to keep the flame of vengeance alive. So, the Thai side keeps producing popular literature and audiovisual materials that portray Burma and the Burmese people in the most negative light. In the past year, antiBurmese sentiment reached its peaked with “Bang Rachan”, an epic film about the cruelty of ancient Burmese invaders. Another Thai-Burmese historic epic, “Suriyothai”, the most expensive Thai film ever made and which will premier in August, will certainly add fuel to the fire of Thai nationalism.
Admittedly, Thai nationalistic feelings against Burma are the strongest because Burmese troops overran Ayudhya twice. Knowing this is a sore point, the Burmese junta has mercilessly exploited it to reinforce a sense of superiority over the Thais. Of late, the junta has intensified this effort to agitate its neighbour. Burma’s attack on King Rama IV and the textbook controversy must be viewed as an integrated ploy to imbue a new sense of superiority among the younger generation of Burmese who have suffered under the oppressive rule of the military. By picking on the Thais and portraying them as the enemy, the regime hopes to draw its oppressed to its side and shift the focus from their daily misery onto Thailand.
Will it work? Thailand should be mature enough to view history with objectivity and come to terms with its weaknesses. In fact, it is a time for all of us to reflect on our attitudes towards our neighbours and our treatment of them. Maybe the best way to start is to treat with humanity the millions of Burmese who have escaped political oppression and poverty in their country. One day a future generation of Burmese people will have a different view of Thailand and a harsh view of the Burmese junta.