Published on November 16, 2005
Questionable motives behind the upsurge of popularity in Bangkok’s Hindu shrines
Re: “A matter of faith”, News, November 13. It is sad that the upsurge of interest in Hindu deities is motivated by greed. As your article makes clear, people go to Hindu shrines only when they want something: success in business, prosperity, romance, good health, whatever. The people who built the shrines did so not out of selfless piety, but to protect their investments against misfortune and to ensure success in business.
While the interest of Thai and Chinese people in Hindu deities makes a fascinating study, the superficiality of their devotion – and especially its materialistic motivation – is unfortunate. Why? Because of what they’re missing. Hinduism is an extraordinarily rich and multifaceted religion with many profound aspects. The quest to realise the imperishable spirit that sustains the universe and lies latent within us all can give joy beyond measure. But those who are satisfied with the salt that the waves may leave upon the shore can never imagine the glories that lie within the ocean’s depths. Paramananda Pahari Bangkok --------------------------------------- Hard for Muslims to seek peace when they’re attacked Re: “We need to hear Muslim voices of peace and tolerance”, Letters, November 14. I have read the abovementioned letter written by Burin Kantabutra, a regular contributor, and would like to let him hear one Muslim voice of peace and tolerance. Islam has nothing to do with the violence being committed worldwide. In fact, the Muslims are on the receiving end. Why are they being picked upon? Simple. God has blessed all their lands with immense natural resources of oil and gas reserves, while those in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and US are being depleted. This is the simple truth. Should we consider Muslims in Iraq who are fighting the US invasion of their country terrorists? I would rather think of them as heroic patriots. The situation in Thailand’s South is the result of a combination of various issues. But the most damning reason is that the West is trying to beat back Beijing and jockeying to colonise the only region outside of the Middle East that is highly populated by Muslims and has such immensely valuable oil and gas. Look at what has been done to Indonesia by the taking away of oil- and gas-rich East Timor. Australia is now enjoying the full benefits of oil and gas reserves in East Timor. How can we suggest to Muslims in Indonesia that they speak in a peaceful voice and show tolerance when this is happening? What should we tell them? Never mind about losing East Timor, you Indonesians still have plenty of land left. Is that it? Can we teach the Muslims in Bosnia how to speak in a peaceful voice and show tolerance after the great violence perpetrated by Slobodan Milosevic’s military gang? Can we teach the Muslims in Chechnya speak in a peaceful voice and show tolerance after Russia’s invasion of their country? Remember, all these atrocities were committed just within the past few years. This is not centuries-old history. And whenever Muslims try to retaliate and fight back, the press pounces on the news with headlines slandering these retaliations as the acts of terrorists, by Muslims whose aggressive religion is Islam. These same mouthpieces that slander both Muslims and our God-given religion of Islam keep silent whenever us Muslims are being killed. It is not Muslims versus the rest. It is we Thais, whether Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus or Sikhs, against the colonialist West. Martin Luther King Jr, whom Burin quoted in his letter, had the right idea. But he was assassinated. I wonder by whom? A Muslim in Bangkok Bangkok --------------------------------------- Peaceful Muslims scared to speak out in South Re: “We need to hear Muslim voices of peace and tolerance”, Letters, November 14. Yet another call for peace and tolerance, this time from Burin Kantabutra. “By speaking out, and helping the authorities apprehend the criminals, Muslims will help their communities to see the fight as one pitching peace-lovers against terrorists – not Muslims versus the rest.” This might work in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and the rest of the world, but it’s hardly applicable to Thailand’s South. A large portion of Muslims there are convinced that it’s the government itself that is behind most of the violence. After all, 131 Muslims now in Malaysia ran away after a confrontation with government forces, convinced that their village headman was killed by police, and Ban Tanyonglimo villagers are also convinced the initial shooting was carried out by a government-run “death squad”. While these “rumours” might be outright rejected by the government, the southerners have very little trust in whatever words come from Bangkok. How can they “help authorities to apprehend criminals” if they are convinced that it’s the authorities themselves that should be apprehended half the time? Another often-repeated call is for the government itself to bring terrorists to justice. You can’t argue with that, except that the government is absolutely inefficient when it comes to “justice”. In nearly two years of daily violence, not a single criminal/terrorist has been found guilty of wrongdoing in the region. It seems that the modus operandi is to apprehend anyone in sight, torture him or her into confession and when the case reaches court, release the detainee for lack of evidence. How can one expect any real investigative work or justice from this kind of police force? A News Reader Bangkok --------------------------------------- Principles of karma applicable to Government House I agree with many of the columns in The Nation that are critical of our supposedly powerful PM. But once the words are out, you cannot take them back. Be particularly careful with sarcasm. The momentary satisfaction you gain with your biting words will be outweighed by the price you’re going to pay later. When you are trying to impress people with words, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Personally, do we really think Thaksin is the most powerful man in Thailand? His highly corrupted and hypocritical followers, scared of losing their luxuries, are just waiting for his downfall. Every action will invite a reaction. It’s very natural, the law of karma. Sutra Ali Bangkok --------------------------------------- Judgemental officials might as well form a Ministry of Morals Apparently, Thailand’s taxpayers maintain an entire ministry – the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security – that sees its mission primarily in terms of moral outrage having to do with the sex life of teenagers and the gender hierarchy of married couples. A Ministry of Morals (Mom) might better serve Thai citizens if Mom also addressed other pressing moral issues. There are plenty of moral issues in Thailand, and they include corruption, election fraud and the immoral use of inside information by the powerful elite. For example, given inside information, the elite can buy up property from poor farmers at one-tenth the price they would receive when the government acquires the land for projects known only to the elite. If Mom wishes to indulge in moral outrage, it will find plenty of opportunity in these cases and more immorality in government than among teenagers. A fixation on teenage sex seems strangely incongruent under these circumstances. Cha-am Jamal Phetchaburi --------------------------------------- Lawsuit’s real intention is to protect PM from criticism Re: “Policeman sues media tycoon for ‘lese majeste’,” News, November 9. One interesting element in the current showdown between PM Thaksin and Sondhi Limthongkul, his former friend and media tycoon is the police apparently invoking Thailand’s lese majeste laws against a vocal critic of the prime minister. The laws are supposed to protect HM the King and the Thai Royal Family from defamation and criticism, but in this case the intent seems to be to protect the PM from criticism. According to the article, Sondhi blasted Thaksin for having a personal aircraft, something that even HM the King did not possess. A police colonel named Samniang Loujiangkham opined that Sondhi shouldn’t touch the institution of monarchy in this manner, and legal action would follow. By sheer coincidence, Samniang happens to be a Thaksin ally. If the case ever comes to court, it will be interesting to see what happens. I hope the presiding judge would have enough courage and legal sense to be able to differentiate between an insult to the monarchy and one to a prickly premier and point out the inherent danger to democracy when government allies in the police department use the law as a weapon against outside critics. If Thailand is lucky, the case could become a wonderful lesson for the nation on the difference between government agencies implementing the law and abusing it for political purposes. There’s always hope! Farang Rak Thai Bangkok --------------------------------------- Minister’s latest bizarre idea shows he’s not fit for the job Re: “Watana upsets women”, News, November 14. I’d like to react to Watana Muangsook’s suggestion that wives should prostrate before their husband in order to strengthen the institution of the family. It is outrageous and unimaginable to see how the country has a very important post assigned to an ignorant yet arrogant personality who lacks knowledge of the social contexts related to his work and responsibilities. This idea does harm to gender equality, social development and human security in a true sense. This public suggestion of his and Thaksin’s reaction in protecting Watana is another reflection of the sense of male superiority that obstructs efforts towards promoting gender equality. The time has really come to remove this man from office. This would save us the time needed to debate his shallow yet dangerous ideas on social development and human security. He has brought enough shame upon the ministry. Also, his leader needs to be better aware of gender issues and the situation of women before addressing this topic. Virada Bangkok
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