From the Thai-language press - Thairath editorial: To solve or make problems? - November 12, 2005 It is accepted that Mr. Kosin Ketthong, Assistant Interior Minister, proposed to migrate people from the Northeast to the three southern border provinces to solve the land problem and unrest. But what is unusual is that even the Air Chief Marshal agreed with this idea. That proposal was the way to solve the Communist problem in the era of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, a dictatorial idea. This idea might be followed by government officials up to now. We do not know how many Esarn people migrated to the south and whether it was a success in merging the different cultures. The Thai government policy of merging races and ethnicity in the past was a success in North and Northeast because these two regions have the same root of ethnicity, language, religion and culture that is the same as the central people. And it was success to merge the Chinese race in the central and other regions as Chinese are migratory and a minority in Thailand. But it is difficult or impossible to merge people in the deep south because of differences in ethnicity, language, culture and due to the fact that Muslim people are the majority in the deep south. Buddhists are a minority with a ratio 80:20 so migrating people with different religions and language in the south will make problems instead of solving them. All Thais have freedom as the constitution states to choose where to live in the kingdom and they should not be forced by government policy. In the past, the migration of some Esarn people might have been no problem, but for the event of the unrest nowadays, the unrest group tries to separate from the nation in every way. If this is government policy, it will become a boon for the bad intention group who will incite local people to resist and accuse the government of trying to grab land and resources of local people and imperil the life and culture of Muslim people by bringing in different religions. This may lead to extending the conflict and reinforcing the support group for the terrorists. This idea is a way of dictating problem solving and comes from the opposite direction of the proposals of the National Conciliation Commission that emphasizes peace and reconciliation and promoting respect for a variety of religion, culture and giving communities the right to arrange resources by religious belief and not by merging. More on Troubles in the South More on the secret prison From the Thai-language press - Matichon editorial: Thai-style working - November 14, 2005 Many works of government policy cause many problems to solve both in the short-term and long-term. Many times we see ministers who put forth ideas thoughtlessly and without information and the fact to support their views. When nobody agrees with so the idea it is canceled easily. This is different from solving problems with analysis and if nobody agrees, it should be proved and confirmed and not so easily canceled. The idea to solve the problems of the deep south put forth by the Interior Minister or his related persons each time--such as setting up cable TV or migrating people to the area or even Minister of Social Development and Human Security’s idea to solve youth problem by motorcycle racing or pointing spotlights at hotels--may have good intentions, but it is to easy. When there is an objection, their answer is that they are just giving suggestions. This clearly shows the efficiency of government thought and that finding someone for the position is like playing to sell rice and curry. To solve the accumulative social problems, whether youth or the deep south, takes solutions at the structural level and needs time and energy in every way to find the root cause. It expertise including the knowledge of history, politics and administration. It must be analyzed and researched in every case and aspect. The truth is that most of the high government officials are electioneers who have the business to be selected to work in the government team and make overseas trips. They must know that solving problems at the government level is not easy, but because we play politics as a family and do not consider other's feelings, we can see clearly that more problems happen. To be governing the nation absolutely at the House of Representative level may make the one who has power forget that while he is looking at a star his feet must be on the ground. His mind must be with peoples' grief and happiness. Having absolute power does not permit one to do whatever they want and appoint whoever from wherever because the result is what we do not expect to hear, but we hear anyway. It seems that the nation's administration is like playing musical chairs and is opposite to the Prime Minister’s wish of seeing the nation progress in stability in the new century while people live without hardship. More: Unlocking the Thai world: Thai-language newspaper headlines