Postbag: In defence of Muslims

Postbag: In defence of Muslims

I would like to reply to the letter from J C Wilcox that appeared in PostBag on Monday.

I do not think that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) comments on the ongoing problems in the South were arrogant as mentioned. Maybe they were misleading and this was due to our failed effort to give them the correct views from the government's side.

It is to be remembered that this problem has been a lingering one since the Islamic Sultanate of Pattani was added into the Thai kingdom through war more than 100 years ago.

I do not believe that the majority of the Muslims in the South think that secession is good for them.

It is wrong to say that the majority of the Muslims in the South or Thailand do not condemn the ongoing violence? We have indeed condemned all sorts of violence, be it from insurgents or the government. It should be remembered that most of the victims have always been Muslims. We need peace in our country more than others.

Also, I do not believe that secession of the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat from the Thai state is a good idea, since the Muslims who make up about 10% of the population have a very good future in this country. The Muslims have a very high birth rate and very soon, maybe within three or four generations, there will be more Muslims in this country than Buddhists. Why secede? Besides, with the rapid pace of globalisation in this world, the idea of separation has become obsolete.

The rural people who live in the South fear both the insurgents and the government. They are easily branded as sympathisers by both and nobody can help them or is willing to.

The ongoing problems in the South have been active since 2004 and I hope that they will end as soon as possible.

Mr Wilcox tried to portray the Muslims as violent people. This is not true. The Muslims are just like any other humans created by God. But you cannot deny the fact that it was and is the Christians that have always been active in doing all the killings in the world, in Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever. They started World War I and II and killed millions of Jews and others. Or do you think that the Muslims did that too? The Christians killed millions in Vietnam and Korea and many more other places in the world _ but you never refer to them as Christians.

They dropped the first atomic bomb, not on Berlin but on Hiroshima. Are they racist? Most of the Iraqis and the Afghans never heard or knew what ''America'' was until the American (or Christian) bombs started raining down on them.

I, together with the majority of the Muslims in the world, beg the Christians and the West to stop their war on the innocent people in this world. Peace and God bless.

MAHAMAS KROMAS


Incessant noise must stop

Bravo, Farang Observer, for your comments regarding the noise created during election times by loudspeaker trucks paid for by politicians.

I'd like to add to this the noise caused by stores such as Big C, and other enterprises like Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha, who hire sound trucks to prowl the country roads, (and in some cities as well), blasting their motorcycle sales and service deals. Then there are the construction sites which somehow continue to run pile drivers for foundations around the clock, depriving residents of much needed sleep. Asean is coming, folks. The incessant noise might be the only way to drive out foreign competition.

LOBZIG


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