THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Late King charted the path to reconciliation

Late King charted the path to reconciliation

I suggest that, in seeking national reconciliation, we follow the approach our beloved King Rama IX used in his projects aimed at solving social problems, such as weaning hilltribes from opium cultivation.

His Majesty the late King famously collected information first-hand at the grassroots, ensuring that his thinking was in accord with those most directly involved. He based his solutions on local wisdom, culture and conditions and looked for sustainable solutions. He insisted on demonstration projects to make sure proposed solutions worked. He never used coercion. The hilltribes accepted the beloved father’s suggestions because they stemmed from grassroots’ input, suited each locality’s conditions and culture and were shown to work in the long run. 
The King didn’t charge in with a heavy hand, arresting poppy growers left and right. He interviewed the people and the government officials who had direct contact with them, collecting ideas. Then he consulted experts on possible replacement crops and proposed specific kinds of vegetables and fruit. He tested his ideas on pilot farms to show the locals that they would work and they voluntarily followed his lead. The rest is history. Reconciliation will require a neutral, respected party – perhaps academics – to identify the key issues by similarly talking to the people directly involved. 
We might find that we must close our income gap, improve our education system, etc. Working with the locals and outside experts, this third party could design solutions to alleviate local issues and implement sustainable, scalable pilot projects. We rightfully praise our beloved King Rama IX and take delight in King Rama X’s pledge to follow in his father’s footsteps. Shouldn’t we all do likewise?
Burin Kantabutra
 

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