Ask southerners for their views on decree

But from the other side of its mouth, the same government vows that the situation hasn’t improved much, and for the 27th time, it’s seeking a three-month extension. 

I suggest that the southern situation is basically an internal matter, not one of invasion by foreigners – and thus is a police matter, with the military playing a supporting, not a main, role – since the government’s mission is one of reconciliation, not of eradication. I suggest that to be anywhere near effective, the authorities involved must be at least conversant in the local language (and know the local culture fairly well) – which means that those in command and in contact with the residents must be from the region. I suggest that the most important key performance indicator should be results of third-party opinion polls on how local residents feel towards Thailand as a whole, their provincial administration and governor, the national government, etc. 

If what I suggest above is in fact true, then the Emergency Decree is counter-productive, for it’s more suited for those occupying an enemy country, not for those who would save their fellow countrymen. For example, it justifies any (note: any) action undertaken under orders – including killing, as at Krue Se (32 bodies) and Tak Bai (82 bodies), for which no soldier has been held accountable, sending the message: southern lives are cheap.

Surely we should first find out if the people to be governed by the Emergency Decree feel it’s necessary to their well-being before putting them under this iron fist for the 27th time. Let the decree expire now, and ask ABAC, Suan Dusit, NIDA, etc, to run a credible opinion poll on this matter over the next few months.

Burin Kantabutra