Daily Lesson from Life 11 April 2009

Today is the 22nd Anniversary of our Customary Wedding! No big celebration. No even a good dinner out! Am I disappointed? No. This is the wish of my wife. It is good enough for me. ;-)


"All Asian leaders evacuated from Thai summit --> Sat, Apr 11, 2009 AFP

PATTAYA, THAILAND - Helicopters evacuated foreign leaders Saturday after anti-government protests forced the postponement of a major Asian summit in Thailand, AFP reporters and officials said.

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that "all the leaders have been evacuated from Pattaya" after around 1,000 demonstrators stormed the venue.


Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva， Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Tan Dung, other leaders including those of China, Japan and South Korea had been evacuated

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had not yet arrived in Thailand when the summit was cancelled, while Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had only just reached U-Tapao airport and turned back immediately, he said.


"The Australian government has been informed by the government of Thailand that the East Asia Summit has been postponed," a statement read. "As a result, the Australian prime minister is now returning to Australia." "

This is a very sad event as some Thais have hijacked the government and done a big disservice to their beloved country, Thailand! I sincerely hoped that there will be waves of outrage by the majority of peace loving and loyal Thais to condemn this irrational behavior by the protesters who did this.

It is a blessing that no force were used on these protesters as their actions can legitimately considered as treason! A betrayal of the nation! How else can you explained this act that brought humiliation to the Nation? I am not talking about the government but the country! Where is that sense of pride that the country is hosting an important meeting of Asean and Asian leaders!?

Lessons for me are:

1. democracy is a two-edged sword. It can cut both ways. Maybe some will say that true democracy has died in Thailand after ex-PM Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup a few years ago. What followed were really farcical to say the least as the 'elected' PM proclaimed himself to be the proxy of Thaksin and promptly got pushed out after a short time in power. The next PM did no better when 'public blockage' forced him out. It is obvious that elected government officials are NOT allowed to do their jobs by a few thousand or hundred of thousand protesters WHO were NOT legitimate voters!;

2. how long can these type of irrational and self-inflicted wounds can the world take from Thailand? Probably forever! If the outsiders gave up hope on Thailand's ability to function properly with the international community, I think the nation will be shut out! This will be tragic as the Thai people are generally very friendly and peace-loving. They are also intelligent and hardworking and can contribute a lot to the world in their own way. In fact, I just got back from Thailand 2 days ago!;

3. internally how long will the people of Thailand who do not support these type of 'holding democratically elected government and the nation by a few thousand people' activities tolerate it? How about the government? Will there be a time when force is used and lives are lost before someone realized their follies? It is very damaging for a nation when foreign leaders have to scramble and leave a meeting which they were invited to. How will they look at Thailand from a reliability standpoint?

I hope that the crisis will resolve itself soon and that such future acts should never be allowed to happen again.