Re: B.Post : The root of the ''problem'' down South?

[cnw]

>From Letters to The Bangkok Post
>9 Nov 2006
>
>The root of the ''problem'' down South?
>
>Thailand annexed an independent sultanate, Pattani, in the early
>1900s. The population is Malay, they speak Malayu, they are Muslims
>and feel they are occupied by a foreign nation. They feel like
>second-class citizens in their own country, they do not get any jobs
>in the local administration, they are forced to learn Thai, etc, etc.
>
>There are a few alternatives on how to deal with the ''problem''. One
>is to give them outright independence. This is unlikely, with all the
>resources in the area. The other option is to close the region to
>internet, travel, mobile phone system and impose Burma-style control,
>as Thaksin tried. This is also unlikely, as it would only prolong the
>insurgency.
>
>Third, the most realistic alternative, is to give the people a degree
>of autonomous self-governance and the right to keep the bulk of
>revenues from oil. Look how the problem of Aceh was solved, and so far
>it seems to be working.
>
>To solve this issue would be the biggest contribution to the
>long-lasting development of Thailand, but who will be the one with the
>guts to even mention it? No Thais I know were ever told the real
>historic background of the issue in school. Just like in Japan, the
>schools do not teach certain historic mistakes, so it might be
>difficult to get any degree of public understanding and support unless
>history is told like it happened. BO KARLSSON Sweden No doctor at
>airport I have just spent the last two weeks in Thailand and have been
>reading your newspaper daily. I've followed the letters about the new
>airport and absolutely agree that there are some things that need
>fixing.
>
>I was at Suvarnabhumi, on my way back to Germany from Krabi. I was
>feeling bad due to an ear infection (as I found out later), and
>desperately needed medical assistance. I could not find any hint or
>sign. I finally asked at an information desk which turned out to be
>only an information board for King Power. I was sent over to the
>lounge section. In the Economy Lounge, there was nobody to see (not
>even an information desk). I turned to the First Class Lounge. There I
>was told there is no medical assistance inside the airport! I would
>have to leave the airport through immigration to get access to help. I
>pointed out that I was waiting for a connecting flight and not willing
>to leave the airport area. But no other option was available.
>
>Another small problem I encountered was that though there are so many
>shops in the airport, none sells lady's sanitary equipment. I was
>directed to Boots, which didn't have them.
>
>I enjoyed my stay in Thailand, liked reading your newspaper, and I
>hope my comments go a little way to improving things at the new
>airport. ULLA KIESERG Bonn, Germany Right to question faith I read in
>the Bangkok Post that Ad Carabao has apologised for questioning why
>people fail to respect the truth and instead adhere to religious icons
>which are invented by humans. These ''blasphemous'' remarks are the
>position of more than half a billion people in the world who are
>called atheists, agnostics or ''enlightened''. They base their values
>system and life's direction on knowledge and understanding gained
>mostly from science.
>
>I do not see why these people have to apologise to religious people
>for their convictions. Do we have a dictatorship of religion already?
>My message to religious people is: Take your god to your home and
>church/temple/mosque and respect him there. Take him out of the public
>sphere. You have no right to impose your feelings and beliefs on other
>people.
>
>DR KARL REICHSTETTER