Spirit of cooperation has overtaken the political bickering

Dark and thunderous clouds have brought havoc to Thailand over the past few weeks, with calamitous loss of life, property, industry and farming potential for this year.

But even with all this misery, those dark clouds have a silver lining.

Have you noticed lately that the red and yellow shirts are no longer at each other’s throats each day on the front pages of the nation’s newspapers and nightly on television.  Years of hostility, infighting and back-stabbing have been replaced by pictures of Thais across the nation joining hands to help those suffering in the floods. The colour of your shirt no longer matters, as most people’s shirts are soaking wet anyway.

In the flooded areas there are scenes of heroism as communities join together and as soldiers and other volunteers battle flood water to save human lives and protect property.  In unaffected areas other Thais are reaching out to do what they can to assist the victims.

Here in Rayong, a public company has erected marquees as emergency accommodation for evacuees. The city hall has been turned into a giant collection centre for cash donations, and gifts of food and water, and at IRPC Technological College teachers and staff are working seven days a week to construct portable toilets and other amenities for transport north. The scene is the same across the nation.

It is an irony that it has taken this huge catastrophe to bring out the true character of the Thai people.

Is there any chance we can maintain this unity as the floodwaters recede? Or do the recriminations start afresh?

David Brown

Rayong