Sanitsuda Ekachai, Monday, June 07, 2010, Bangkok Post
Monday, June 07, 2010
Monks' role in society's conflicts
Posted by Sanitsuda Ekachai
The image was disturbing. A monk was fastened to a chair, his hands tied behind his back. His face showed protesting agony while his body was immobile. He was arrested by the troops during the May 19 crackdown.
Is this the way to treat a monk?
The question was asked by Puea Thai MP Chaowarin Latthasaksiri, who showed the photograph during the recent censure debate to stir public anger with such gross disrespect for Buddhist monks, and to reinforce the cruel image of the government after the crackdown that killed 88 and injured over 1,800 people.
He also complained against the forced defrocking of monks without due process. The monk in the photo - along with the red protesters arrested at the same site - are now in detention.
For the red shirt sympathisers, such treatment of the monks who had the courage to openly support their cause despite frowns from the clergy is indeed painful and unjust.
But for those who are wary about the red shirt movement which became dangerously menacing during its last stage of the protest - often with monks at the forefront - the response to the photo from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reinforced their dismay with the red shirt monks.
According to Mr Suthep, four monks were among some 30 red shirt protesters at the Bangkok Cable Building where gunmen fired at the troops. He claimed the monks were assisting those armed men. That is a crime which legally prompts arrest and disrobement, he insisted.
The arrest and defrocking of red shirt monks was not the only religion-related controversy at the censure debate. The government was also heavily grilled for the deaths of six people in the temple grounds of Wat Pathumwanaram.
Who shot them? Who violated the temple's sacred grounds?
The pro-red opposition party said the troops did it. The government vehemently denied it.
As the fiery exchange of lies, half-truths and hate rhetoric pierced the air like bullets, one undeniable truth emerged: despite the destruction, the lessons have not been learned.
That is why an investigation into the Wat Pathumwanaram killings is mandatory.
No, not so that we can continue the blame game. But so that we can understand that it is imperative to prevent a war situation.
Because in war, all moral forces break down, things get out of hand and the innocent are among the first casualties.
The dehumanisation of the other side and the constant drumming of hate and anger play a big part in the eventual violence.
What roles should monks play in this politics of hate?
Traditionally, monks are expected to stay out of politics, which led to their general silence against injustice and their inaction for social change. The cleric elders have adopted this stance. But indifference could not be right, could it?
What does Buddhism say about the roles of monks in politics?
Both the yellow and red shirt movements have monk supporters to legitimise their causes. But according to the monastic code of conduct, monks are barred from being makers of strife, disputes and quarrels as well as being the messengers of rulers and politicians. In other words, participating in political rallies is a no-no.
So what can monks do in times of conflict? The story about the Buddha's intervention to stop a war over a water feud is illuminating. He does not take sides. Nor does he evade the problem. Instead, he offers words of wisdom to trigger the conscience of both sides.
This is why there is still a glimmer of hope.
Although anger and hatred refuse to subside and the principle of free speech is still ignored by all parties, the non-violence movement led by Phra Paisal Visalo shows our society has not totally lost touch with humanity and the core Buddhist values. This voice of reason and compassion needs to be heeded to prevent future violence and war. If ignored, we just have to prepare for another nightmare.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Monks' role in society's conflicts
Posted by Sanitsuda Ekachai