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Thailand's political crisis has invariably dragged other countries into the turmoil. Singapore has probably been the most entangled, whereas Britain has been no less awkwardly placed. Hong Kong has had to play a reluctant host to Thaksin Shinawatra on a regular basis and it was the same for some other nations. But when the red-shirted protesters sought help from the Burmese government to boost their political cause, maybe it was time all parties took a step back and reviewed the situation. Probably taking advantage of the rohingya incident, which has caused the first international controversy for the Abhisit government, the red-shirts on Friday rallied outside the Burmese Embassy, urging the Burmese government to boycott the Asean summit to be hosted by Thailand next month. The demonstrators also gathered in front of the Singaporean Embassy and made a similar demand.

While it is within the protesters' right to engage the Singaporeans, the call on the Burmese government to shun the summit is an irony bordering on absurdity. Waving banners criticising the Abhisit administration as a shameful power-grabber, the red-shirts were inexplicably endorsing a regime long known for ruthlessness, brutality and total contempt for democracy. Leading the Thai protesters was Jakrapob Penkair, who is supposed to know better when it comes to Burmese affairs.

Were the red-shirts becoming that hopeless, was it an inexcusable oversight, or was it meant to be sarcasm of the most extreme kind? Whatever the answer, the red-shirts have mocked Thailand, Burma and themselves at the same time. The pro-Thaksin group was effectively telling the world that Thailand's situation was so bad that its people had to seek help from a regime that stole democracy, trampled on human rights and killed and tortured its own citizens and caused them to flee the country. If the Burmese Embassy protest was inspired by the rohingya scandal, it was a careless and deplorable strategy. It virtually carried this message to the Burmese junta: "Look at what the Thai government has done to the people you drove out of your country through hardship and suppression. What a shame! Please don't associate with Thailand any more." Essentially, all that both sides in the Thai conflict have to do is learn from Burma. The Abhisit government is no beneficiary of this spectacular slip of its enemy, and the international spotlight will remain firmly on how open and cooperative Bangkok is regarding questions surrounding the refugee push-back policy. The Rohingyas see themselves as the worst victims of human-rights violations in Burma. They are basically stateless with no rights within the country and living in abject poverty. The junta allegedly was responsible for forced labour, arbitrary arrest, land confiscation, torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings. Women have reportedly been raped, and freedom of movement, marriage and religion were almost non-existent. It was these extreme conditions that forced the Muslims to leave their homes in search of safe shelter and a better life, preferably in other Islamic countries in the region. The push-back incident has subjected the Thai government to strong criticism. First there was the allegation of sending them out to sea in rough and inhuman conditions, and then there was also concern that if the boat people were sent back to Burma, they would suffer even harsher persecution by the Burmese authorities. The plight of these boat people should not be politicised in any way. As far as the Thai government is concerned, it must heed the calls to treat them humanely. The prime minister must take an unequivocal stand that every Thai action from now on will, without exception, be dictated by humanitarian principles. Even alleged "economic" refugees must be screened properly and must not be returned to their country of origin if there are reasons to believe that doing so may put them at risk.

For a long-term solution, Thailand must cooperate with the international community to try to formulate a systematic policy to deal with the rohingya problem. Bangkok's offer to host a meeting of working-level officials from countries in the region to tackle the issue is a good first step. In sum, the Thai government has a moral obligation to help the Rohingyas but Rangoon has no moral right to give Bangkok any diplomatic snub. And whereas the plight of the ethnic Muslims in a neighbouring country does give what has happened politically in Thailand added perspectives of how lucky we actually are, both the yellow-shirts and the red-shirts here should learn from their ordeal. Burma teaches us how far worse things can turn if checks and balances do not exist, the people are weak and split, and hatred prevails.