Repeating the Ayutthaya mistake
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Re: "Is the wheel of Ayutthaya turning full circle on us?", Opinion, October 9.
Pornpimol Kanchanalak was right to point out that both times Ayutthaya capitulated to Burma’s forces and became its vassal, the kingdom had already imploded as a result of internal disharmony, long before the attacking enemy arrived.
Throughout its long history Thailand has been a war zone between two forces.
There were Thais who had the official power and tried to protect the country, and there were others who tried to seize power at any cost – even at the risk of their country being seized or destroyed.
The situation is still pretty much the same after all these years. There will be change for the better only if the two sides agree that their country needs to have sovereignty as well as democracy, not just one without the other.
Vint Chavala
