Reconciliation needs action, not sweet insincere words

But the division isn’t only between MPs; it’s between people of all classes, all levels, all regions. Because my MP is buddy-buddy with yours doesn’t mean that you and I are buddy-buddy.

I suggest that (a) reconciliation must take place at a local, not only national, level, and (b) we look to Bill Clinton for advice on reconciliation, for he and Hillary certainly had to reconcile after the Lewinsky affair. He said, “It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine. ….But I believe that to be forgiven, more than sorrow is required - at least two more things. First, genuine repentance - a determination to change and to repair breaches of my own making. Second, ….a willingness to give the very forgiveness I seek….”

But, first, few, if any, MP or other national leader has shown that the sorrow he says he feels for his past misdeeds is genuine; what I see is a continued eagerness to attack the other side, as shown by the highly selective use of the KPI report.

Second, I have seen little genuine repentance – a determination to change and to repair breaches of our own making. For example, surely a major obstacle to reconciliation is the casual throwing away of Southern Muslim lives, as at Krue Se (32 killed), Tak Bai (83 killed, bound hand and foot), and now, Nong Chik (4 killed, unarmed, unresisting). Yet no political or military leader has spoken to change the Emergency Decree so that those acting under orders are still held accountable for their acts; on the contrary, Thaksin, Abhisit, and Yingluck have renewed this draconian law 27 times. No general has been held accountable for a single killing at these tragedies. Our acts tell the Southerners: “I apologize. But I’ll still keep killing your sons, brothers, and fathers --even if innocent -- without being held accountable.” We cry crocodile tears that deceive nobody.

Finally, I have seen little willingness to give the very forgiveness we seek from the other side; each side treats the other like a pit of snakes; look at the current Parliamentary debate on the KPI report.

PM Yingluck, “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions” (Confucius). You speak sweet words of reconciliation, of unity. Please back them up with actions that Bill and Hilary would have approved of.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok