Samanchant (สมานฉันท์) -- the hipocracy of post-september 19 Thailand

After what happen to Thailand as we know it, the most popular word is the Samanchant which means togetherness. In a way, the popularization of the word is to shrink the rift created in 2006 because of the political and religious differences between many differeing factions. It is a great idea for such a turmoil the country is and was going through. It is great except for the fact that it is a cliche and depicts a great irony. With the popularization of the word, Thailand only see more and more rift especially from the religious faction in the South of Thailand. The country has found it hard to swallow that mere words cannot solve their problems. Politically, the interim government remains forever afraid of the underwater current that would rise to get them out of office. The latest news regarding its policy only prove this, with the government funding the special army force to maintain an army of 14,000 to subdue any oppositions. Ironically, this sort of action is in no way supporting the ideal of Samanchant in which the government tries in vain to promote. Rather, it can be seen that this is the way of dictatorial government.

As of today, Samanchant is still being heavily promoted by both the government and the mainstream media. Sadly, the events that follow the coup de tat signals nothing of this particular ideal.

Is Samanchant really a good idea? When put to good use, it is a great concept. However, in Thailand this particular word seems to mean believing in the same thing. This means that minority point of view is not accepted. Worse, it seems that opposing the mainstream view, or the government point of view, means that you are ridding the country of its good fortune and peace. In a country where varying points of view are deemed wrong -- that people cannot be different -- only makes for an ever growing discontent.

False peace cannot come at a price of freedom of thought -- real peace only comes with acceptance of other people's differences peacefully.