Lessons we should learn from the Erawan Shrine bombing

As citizens and residents of the capital, the best we can do now is be persistent in demanding that the investigation be kept transparent and competent – perhaps a tall order given that the country’s administration is overseen by the military that has a propensity to keep secrets. 

Other than pushing for a competent investigation into the bombing, Thais should also learn to be open-minded and stop making baseless accusations on who might be behind the bombing based on political predisposition. 

Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his red shirts, Suthep Thaugsuban and his multi-coloured shirts, junta leader-cum-premier General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his men, and even the CIA have been readily accused of being behind the bombing. 

For those who may not be readily convinced, there are even photoshopped sketches of the bomber looking somewhat like Thaksin, Suthep and Prayut that have been spreading on social media. 

Flinging accusations at people without any evidence is not helpful at all. 

While I don’t believe in hiding behind the facade of political unity in order to deal with an incident such as this one, there are certain points we can all agree upon. 

Firstly, we should all join together and turn this tragedy into an opportunity to boost the culture of safety. 

On Saturday afternoon, less than five days after the bombing, I visited the Erawan Shrine and found myself unnerved when an Asian tourist left her large plastic bag unattended for several minutes. I even took a photograph of this bag and shared it widely on Facebook and Twitter – and many responded with similar horror. 

Security guards at some posh department stores and Skytrain stations appear to have heightened their security checks, but based on my personal experience, these checks are mostly superficial. 

Isn’t it high time that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the government start running campaigns teaching people to cultivate a culture of safety and security? These campaigns will certainly be more helpful instead of the nice-sounding, but vague mottoes like “stronger together”.

Though I don’t condone living in fear, we must accept that there is a difference between caution and fear.

Let no bomber have us cowed into a life full of fear, but instead have him force us to focus more on public safety.

Then there’s the question of mourning, or apparent lack thereof in this case. 

No flags were flown half-mast, and just four days after the blast, the premier even found the time to play with an albino python in front of the 

media – perhaps he was pretending that nothing had happened. 

Of course, nobody can be forced to feel sad or sorry for those who lost their lives, but it seems that life goes on as normal for far too many people.

Though millions of us do not know any of the people killed or injured in the attack, we must understand that it wasn’t just an attack on the 100 or so worshippers at the shrine, but an attack on our way of life and Thai society as a whole. 

On August 17, at around 6.55pm, 20 people were killed and more than a 100 injured indiscriminately in the blast – and it could have been you or me.