Biased views of neighbouring nations must change, experts say

Thamrongsak Petchlertanan, an expert on the histories of Thailand and Cambodia and their territories, and chairman of the political science programme at Rangsit University, said a century of nationalistic Thai education, which casts its neighbours as villains, had led to mistrust and hatred against those from neighbouring countries, particularly Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. 

“One hundred years is a long time. Thais have been taught about the greatness of the Thai state. After [the Preah Vihear dispute] it will be the responsibility of the state, particularly the Education Ministry, [to initiate reform],” Thamrongsak said.

The task won’t be easy at all, said Thamrongsak, who suspects that many Cabinet ministers themselves hold condescending views towards people from neighbouring countries. He also questioned what could be done with the current lot of teachers and educators, who may be too old to change their attitudes, even if a new curriculum and textbooks were introduced “strategically” to soften Thais’ attitudes as the Kingdom prepares to join the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

The lecturer urged Thais to see both their countrymen and their neighbours as fellow human beings and equals. He acknowledged, however, that it would take some time before this could be realised – if ever – particularly as anti-Cambodian sentiment is strong and has been fuelled by ultra-nationalists and some “elites” over the past five or six years for domestic political reasons. 

As Thailand and Cambodia defended their respective claims over disputed land near Preah Vihear at the International Court of Justice in The Hague this week, many took to social-networking sites to express their uncensored views. A female Thai telecommunications consultant using the Twitter account @jickko_nong tweeted in Thai on Wednesday afternoon: “Thailand is more advanced and more developed than Cambodia. Better economy, bigger population, land area, higher GDP ‘nothing to be afraid of’.”

Thamrongsak said the matter of Thailand’s relations with its neighbours was of strategic interest and should be given priority now, as more people from these countries will be working in and visiting Thailand from 2015 onward.

“The question is, is the Thai government aware of this yet?”

Akkhaphong Khamkhun, a junior lecturer in Thai studies at Thammasat University who is also knowledgeable about Cambodia and other neighbouring countries, said that beyond educational bias was the religious belief in karma. This causes many Thais to feel that the status of less developed countries like Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar can be explained by the fact that they have accrued less good karma or merit. 

Many Thais also believe that people in such countries are simply not as smart as those from more developed countries, Akkhaphong said. 

That’s why even among Thais, less educated and poor people are often regarded by well-educated and well-to-do Thais as stupid “water buffaloes”.

“Nationalistic ‘logic’ reduces the humanity of others,” Akkhaphong pointed out.

“Is there a solution? We must tackle the basis of the belief system. Perhaps it will take generational change,” he said.