Thais pray for Bangkok peace
Source: Agencies |
May 27, 2010, Thursday
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THOUSANDS of Thais prayed for peace and unity in Bangkok yesterday, a week after a deadly military crackdown on protesters sparked a terrifying night of arson and riots that leveled buildings and killed 54 people.
But analysts say without major reforms to a political system that protesters claim favors an "establishment elite" over the rural masses, such prayers and forgiveness will not end a polarizing crisis costing the economy billions of dollars.
Hundreds of yellow-robed Buddhist monks received food from well-wishers along a shopping strip occupied by anti-government protesters for six weeks until they were dispersed by troops and armored vehicles last week.
Next to them were Christian, Muslim and Sikh leaders, who also conducted prayers to bless the riot-torn city of 15 million people as predominantly Buddhist Thailand grapples with widening social and political rifts that have spiraled into the open in the past five years.
"It is very important for all of us in Bangkok to forgive and move ahead," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a member of the ruling Democrat Party, who hosted the "Restore the City With Religious Ceremony" event.
He told Reuters Television the event was meant to "wipe away a bad path and to create a better future."
That may be difficult.
After nine weeks of the worst political violence in modern Thai history, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has embraced a reconciliation plan of political reforms, social justice and an investigation into clashes that killed 85 people and wounded nearly 2,000, mostly in fighting between protesters and troops. But analysts say the plan is unlikely to get far without the participation of an anti-government movement that broadly backs ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
But analysts say without major reforms to a political system that protesters claim favors an "establishment elite" over the rural masses, such prayers and forgiveness will not end a polarizing crisis costing the economy billions of dollars.
Hundreds of yellow-robed Buddhist monks received food from well-wishers along a shopping strip occupied by anti-government protesters for six weeks until they were dispersed by troops and armored vehicles last week.
Next to them were Christian, Muslim and Sikh leaders, who also conducted prayers to bless the riot-torn city of 15 million people as predominantly Buddhist Thailand grapples with widening social and political rifts that have spiraled into the open in the past five years.
"It is very important for all of us in Bangkok to forgive and move ahead," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a member of the ruling Democrat Party, who hosted the "Restore the City With Religious Ceremony" event.
He told Reuters Television the event was meant to "wipe away a bad path and to create a better future."
That may be difficult.
After nine weeks of the worst political violence in modern Thai history, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has embraced a reconciliation plan of political reforms, social justice and an investigation into clashes that killed 85 people and wounded nearly 2,000, mostly in fighting between protesters and troops. But analysts say the plan is unlikely to get far without the participation of an anti-government movement that broadly backs ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
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