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Dear Bora,
I am a Thai and I must say I fully agree with your article. The racism & snobbery that exists in this country is disgusting. It is a weakness that can sometimes be found in sporadic outbursts of aggressiveness as shown in the current border dispute.
However, there is hope. The majority of Thais will always vote for the Khmer-friendly red faction and the (violent) reaction of local villagers near to the border to the yellow ultranationalists’ convoy to the disputed temple shows that at least these people have their livelihoods, if not neighbourly good relations ahead any primitive, quasi-fascist & bangkok-centric world view (although many of the border people are mixed Khmer/Lao/Thai stock). Talk to many normal working people and they couldn’t give a care about the temple. Recent events such as the popular Khmer-Thai Friendship Concert and the efforts of the the Cambodian-Thai Friendship Association (if I remember the name correctly) also point to a positive development in relationships. If the dispute can be settled and trade grows we may well come together as Khmer, Lao and Thai people are closer than most of us realise.
Regards
Tim
Dear Bora,
I am a Thai and I must say I fully agree with your article. The racism & snobbery that exists in this country is disgusting. It is a weakness that can sometimes be found in sporadic outbursts of aggressiveness as shown in the current border dispute.
However, there is hope. The majority of Thais will always vote for the Khmer-friendly red faction and the (violent) reaction of local villagers near to the border to the yellow ultranationalists’ convoy to the disputed temple shows that at least these people have their livelihoods, if not neighbourly good relations ahead any primitive, quasi-fascist & bangkok-centric world view (although many of the border people are mixed Khmer/Lao/Thai stock). Talk to many normal working people and they couldn’t give a care about the temple. Recent events such as the popular Khmer-Thai Friendship Concert and the efforts of the the Cambodian-Thai Friendship Association (if I remember the name correctly) also point to a positive development in relationships. If the dispute can be settled and trade grows we may well come together as Khmer, Lao and Thai people are closer than most of us realise.
Regards
Timothy
I agree timothy people are closer than you think. i believe that we should educate are children history and not hold back any flaws that came with any political decisions.growing up i watched many hindu movies that shed light to our origin. i know that india was our roots, our influences. Just as we have influeced on thai and laos. i look to indian stories and cultured and learned where we originated. people should know that influences is a great thing, cambodians might not be at thier best but that is no reason to deny us with hatred and ignorance!!