Thailand politics: Introspection

While the world only casually observes the violence and unrest in the south of Thailand, one highly qualified socio-political analyst pointed out to me that this will ultimately be the undoing of PM Thaksin's regime. Based solely on power brokering and money, Thaksin's weakest point is true diplomacy. The unrest in the south will only be reolved by competent capable statesmanship. Ideological issues may be suppressed but never overcome by high handed authoritarian leadership.

But what of the indigenous peoples and their rights? How does this pertain to them?

The Muslim and other peoples of like mind in the south can be used as a good indicator of what the hilltribes like the Akha can expect from the Thai Government in many if not all aspects. The real issue, that of basic human rights, really boils down to the Government's willingness to bestow those rights and then respect them. Many often miss the point that whether it is a religion or a simple hilltribe people, the roadmap is the same: Recognition of the individuals rights, be they ideological, political, religious or other.

How Thailand, Thaksin, accomodates - or suppresses these rights?

Is he willing to extend the recognition and rights that accompany it? At present, this is extremely unlikely. From within the country there is little if any motivation.

With the plight of the Akha people, they are caught squarely in the middle of various profiteering ventures. Almost all motivation behind what they encounter of the Thai Government, police, army and forestry officials, which are definitely not present for the benefit of the Akha people, are part of a larger picture that has little if anything to do with the benefit and betterment of the hilltribes. The border issues with the Myanmar regime, junta, forestry issues, land use issues, are all part of a much larger and obscured picture filled with covert intents based upon profiteering by these powers that be.

And the solution? International pressure brought to bear that significantly threatens profits of the political factions. With Thailand, as clearly stated by Thaksin, moving away from Democracy, the only hope for indigenous peoples like the Akha is world wide awareness, publicity. The enemy, so to speak, is complacency. Complacency is what is going to cause the Thai people to loose a multi-party political system. Complacency among peoples of the first world is what permits politicians to use their power for self motivated purposes. While frustrating, often in the extreme, the only hope for indigenous peoples and cultures like the Akha is the vigilance of organizations like this, and individual efforts. The methodical documentation of the plight of the people and the disseminating of the information of their needs.

One aspect of the basic human rights issue that constantly bothers me is the treks. Tourist visitors from other countries that come to look upon the hilltribe people much like animals in a zoo. Few if any of these tourists realize the people they gawk at are displaced peoples without rights, without basic freedoms, subject to the whims of politicians that under no circumstances hold the needs of these peoples as their first priority. How can people, by the millions come parading through northern Thailand, continue to blissfuly ignore the plight of these people then return to their homelands with their right to vote and ability to go where they please when they please? Ryan