Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village: Dimensions of Academic Civic Relations and friendship remarks
First posted by artha at multiply.com on May 9, '07
The Seminar on
The relationship between Thailand and Vietnam 30 years
The National Center for Social Science and Humanities Vietnam
The Center for Thai Studies
July 26,2006
Asst Prof. Dr. Artha Nantachukra / ผู้ช่วยศาสตราจารย์ ดร.อรรถ นันทจักร์
Dept. of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
มหาวิทยาลัยมหาสารคาม
email : Artha_@yahoo.com
FB : https://www.facebook.com/phupanchannel
On February 21, 2004, the opening ceremony of the Thai-Vietnam friendship village in Ban Najok, Nongyat, Muang district of Nakonphanom had been widely broadcast on both domestic and international news. If viewing on international political relations in the beginning of the 21st century, it is truly said that the opening ceremony of the Thai-Vietnam friendship village is the first and the only one really international relation in this century. Many attempts from a few to overcome the ideal obstacle of the day had been made rectlessly. "Being of my age, I have never thought that it will come to the possibility without Dr. Artha's help" said Mr. Nguyen Van Tieu , the Ho Chi Minh householder, giving an interview to the national radio station in Nakonphanom. The interview obviously reflects on an idea hidden nearly 40-50 years of the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people. With tears full of joy and confessions of Ongs (old male villagers) and Bas (old female villagers) to me while the opening ceremony was on its process the clearly signification of their love and hope hidden in their mind for years had been perfectly revealed. The experience of the first day in Ban Najok inspired me that the village can be promoted not only an attractive spot of academic study or cultural tourism but also the starting step of the Thai-Vietnam relationship. The most serious problem is how to make it comes true?
One evening in the beginning of January, 1998, I remembered, it was obviously the evening that there was the TISAEK cultural festival in villages surrounded. During that time our group from Mahasarakarm University came to Ban Najok to meet its inhabitants. Ban Najok school is assigned as the meeting point, and later on, it is the Thai-Vietnam Friendship village center. That evening is an ordinary and easygoing debut, many saw me had suggested and exchanged some advices to me; but our group truly realized anxiety and fear that would be fallow. However, a thing came out from the elderly's mouths, particularly those of Ongs and Bas, at the finishing day of the project is that Dr. Artha, at their first glance, would be smart, suit weared , oppositely, he is plump, shorts weared , and T-shirts put on. The villagers feared that our party would be arrested, for such the meeting in that day is dreadful even in their mind.
The project came true when the district's chief of Muang Nakonphanom, Mr.Chavalit Vichayasuthi, gave full hands and seriously contribute his authority in cooperating with our group. Besides, educational high raking officials born to Nakonphanom also gave the support. At any rate, the problem still exitsts, the government officials being promoted had been transferred to other areas. In case of me, high raking officials in the province came to see the administrators of Mahasarakarm University in order to remove our group out from the project. Fortunately, seeing our group's capability, academic administrators of the university gave our group a chance in working as the supervisor in the Nakonphanom campus. The most important problem as a dark spot in the Thai government service is that the government officials do not see long-run benefits of their work that should be done, for from the outset of the Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village Project unto these days it would take time for 6-7 years, all in all, work that is done is competitive and boss-flattered rather than explanative to the people particularly the administrator group. Business inflicting interests among the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people is the second problem and historical background of the village had been twisted.
In case of Ban Najok, it is accepted that it inhabitants, by their background, have their own history. Hard attempt can make their dreams come true not only for the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people in Thailand but also is the proudness of the two nations in an attempt jointly to delete historical delusion picture. Endless criticism from the starting of the project unto the present time still exists especially the questions such as "why must Ho Chi Minh be esteemed?, Is there no Thai?, and there are several Thai villages why is the Vietnamese village be chosen? Or the accusation to me as the traitor that I was born to Vietnam (Kaew), Vietnamese is my ancestor. Moreover, these people are brave to scold and leave messages to me; but the respected high raking officials suggest me not to take legal action towards them. The reason is that it would cause bad results towards local politics. However, such question has been endurely replied. Rather several affirmations have been made in the media and address in many places that this event should be understood to search for the good spot and a thing established is not the memorial place to esteem anybody, but it should be understood that the employment of historical emblem as the attractive point for cooperation. Historical figure of Ho Chi Minh is believed to be the most attractive point. So, such the point is employed but this must be employed cauciously.
This matter has been also proposed to the Vietnam blooded-Thai people because it today is socially accepted and trusted, even though there was, in the past, questions and mistrust in being the "Vietnamese" blood. Being trust from the society, however, it should be proudly preserved until the end of life. It seems, for many times, to me that Vietnamese-blooded Thai families with good economy are something mindless in their deeds particularly the activity concerning Ho Chi Minh in several areas such as Sakonakorn, Udonthani and Nongkhai and so on.
It should not be forgotten that the Thai- Vietnam Friendship Village framework was derived from academics; therefore, everyone should concern it with caution for our beloved country and should not let the history repeat itself on mistrust to each other.
4-5 days before the opening ceremony of the Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village, the Bangkok post, Japan news agency and a few local news paid their interest on this event. But when the ceremony came, it appeared that Vietnam media: radios, televisions and newspapers came to publicize this historical event. This matter witnesses an appropriate means to inspire good will of people on metaphysical friendship. Oppositely, Thai media is able to catch only empirical phenomena. Therefore, it is useless to search out an appreciation of nationhood through Thai media.
6-7 years gone by since the project has been initiated, which is indifferent in amount of time when Ho stopped by in Thailand; but historical value between the history owner and the history ascender cannot be completely compared, for the "value" must be revealed from the contextual past. The figure of the Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village is only the historical symbol that should be benefited successfully. The problem of the Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village is now continuous since the outset of the project until its official opening ceremony in February 21, 2004. Resolving the problem of local government officials and head office are the core hinder to making new ideas, even though the project is successful, nevertheless, the problem still remains.
The short and meaningful statement "Ngay 21 thang 2 nan 2004" on visitors book noted down by Mr. Phan Van Khai, the Prime Minister of Vietnam, which means "February 21, 2004" implies the initiation of philosophical thinking system indicating the remarkable days and events which contextually narrative philosophy has to interpret. No matter whether it is good or bad but the important thing is that how deep can one understand and get involved in those plots of the event? Frankly speaking, it might be the end of the Ban Najok legend in my destiny for the reason that something I perceived is great, painful but proud due to this day "Ngay 21 thang 2 nan 2004" is the day in which each one tries to seek mutual understanding in different dimensions.
Views and Remarks of Friendship
1. Historical Concept and History Applied
One must understand historical concept rightly, because a historical event was initiated by differently conditions and motives. Therefore, if one lacks of truly understanding that history is the past event integrated with love, conflict, peace and friendship. It might make one a part of it as historical event between Japan and Korea or Japan and the mainland China. These events resulted from only a small point. As mentioned above, it is not easy task that one who used to have his/her own nation can accept it, if the past event used to oppress him/her endlessly. Anyhow, if seeking out peace and friendship, one should consciously understand it, otherwise studying and understanding the history for present life would be rather instrument of nationhood than the instrument of friendship. In this case, I, together with Ph.D. candidates majoring in Tai Studies, used to present the idea in setting up an Indo-China regional academic network or an Indo-China Academic Assembly to the national university, Dong Dok campus, of Vientiane. An unforgettable question from the seminar is that why an organization has to get involved. The answer is that it is the starting step in distributing academic textbooks and sharing knowledge of the Indo-China region in various dimensions in the future. In my dream, I need to see historical textbooks, literary works and political textbooks jointly written by academicians in the region, moreover, these academic textbooks should be employed in every country because I understand that this is the paramount of joining hands. It is also the strong base of genuine understanding in regional level.
2. Direction of Operation and Appreciation of Nation and Ethnicity
If understanding about history is precise, the most significant process to establish friendship is nationhood and ethnicity. Phenomenologically, historical development of Thai-Vietnam encounter is not different from other countries. For, all is normally involved in cooperation and competition on economic advantage in the region. But the point is that can the output help nationhood be found? And what should be the linking point? When the national benefit can be linked? In this matter, it is accepted that something can not originate from stateship but from being "common man". Plainly speaking, something is initiated from civic politics, because in the policy between a country and others, national benefit has to come first and is significant. But should civic benefits, friendship and peace among relatives and ethnics come before?. In such a case, the example can be found, that is the phenomena of the Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village in Nakonphanom. The reason is that it is based on academic knowledge and collaboratively cooperated by civic people. In case of Thai-Vietnamese ethnicity, it is acknowledgeable that the history of ethnicity of the two countries has been gradually molded for longtime. It depicts distrust. Such a case had been absolutely widened during the cold war period. Frankly speaking, Thais were seriously afraid of communism. Consequently, Thai diplomatic policy has to take side with opposite axe against Vietnam nominated as democratic countries. Unavoidably, the Vietnamese in Thailand were identified as the closed comrades of communism over whom must be watched due to the fact that the two poles of world politics had been clearly separated. It follows that camouflage and hidden identity and ethnicity occurred among Vietnamese in Thailand.
In my lecture on the occasion of the opening ceremony of Vietnam Study Center at Rajabat Sakonnakorn University, I gave a clue to the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people to be aware of the case that anything done is doubled edged-sword because particular history between Thailand and Vietnam as well as race acceptance in Thai society is not broadly opened. To this day, the more the day of friendship between the two countries had never happened before, the more we should be aware of. For, today, freedom and friendship should be in the umbrella of the Thai nationalization. The reason to mention the case is that the concept of the Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village in Nakonphanom has motivated the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people in other provinces to do the same activity such as in Sakonakorn, Udonthani and Nongkhai and so on. It apparently emerges the protest from the locals. Discussion had been, for many times, made at several places that the phenomenon of the Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village in Nakonphanom is just academic, not delusive of racism history. In this matter, one high raking government official used to talk to me "if I were born to the Vietnamese, I would not succeed the project" and I had joked with him "no this matter in my age, but next generation would be mixed 50-50"
3. Communal Cooperation
As stated above, the way in joining hands would be successful or not based on system of thought because it is the base of the nation policy. On the other hand, any problem happened is chained and twisted. The more the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people in other areas try to push the idea of reopening the passage of the event, the more they should be aware of, for this idea commonly is able to raise the question of "nationalism". Anyway, the point should be concerned is that how does the way of mutual understanding occur? The opening floor discussion occurred in Ban Nong Oan of Udonthani or in Tha Bo of Nongkhai is more negative than positive. The reason is that the operation of discussion and operators are not in academic process because trust and mutual understanding is not accepted in those communities Rather, keeping on doing as such reflects negative figure to the Vietnamese raced-Thai people rather than positive. On the other hand, self publication must not be differentiated in ideal, racial nor social dimension. Observation had been made many times that in carrying on such a case the academics is needed. And convenience is available because there are academic institutes in several areas. However, cooperation and collaboration should be maintained because it is safe and most trustworthy. Next step provincial officers such as police and military should not be excluded because nationhood which is their responsibility is still more important than anything in the Thai government system. After that, cooperation with Vietnam should be internationally made further. For, there is cooperation between the Khonkaen consulate and the Vietnamese blooded-Thai people in Khonkaen and Udonthani. Moreover, there are meetings in several places in general. But to organize a meeting with international representatives each organization should be aware of and mindful because many times, it is boundless phenomenon, and it may delude the new Vietnam-blooded Thais to lose their standpoint.
4 International Cooperation
If carrying on international cooperation according to diplomatic system and process, such a case is not difficult. But the most important point is mutual understanding and share between the two countries must be adjusted fairly according to official agreement on benefit distribution. In sharing with Thailand, Vietnam progressively holds in opening and expanding the project of friendship village, but both Thailand and Vietnam should prudently consider their capability and readiness. In sharing collaboration between the two countries in Nakonphanom area, the Vietnam government pays significant role to the project and provides funds for establishing Vietnamese language centers.
Concerning those projects, are they beneficial Thailand? The answer is that it is good, but one should look over the matter in the long run, because if such the project would take place, the question is "Is it necessary to have language centers of countries in the region? If necessary, how will the project be carried on and which organization should be powerful responsible for it?
Anxiety to system of thought and working
In conclusion, the celebration of the oncoming 35th anniversary of the Thai-Vietnam relations, I as the road pioneer of the Thai-Vietnam friendship would also like to share ideas and remarks on the friendship to search out collaborative activity in order to be an equal partnership in the future as follows
1) In cooperating the project under the concept "Thai-Vietnam Friendship Village", it should be focused on the friendship village in Nakonphanom, otherwise, it would be devaluate per se like goods have the same kind and quality but different brand. The reason supporting the questionably remark is derived from the case of the pre-historical village, Ban Chaing, which has been most well-known in the world. Even though there have been later various discoveries of pre-historic archaeological sites in Thailand but Ban Chaing pre-historic archaeological site discovered is still the first site to be always mentioned. Therefore, on friendship village framework, one can affirm that what is the main spot, otherwise, value and historical attraction will be devalued eventually.
2) On collaborative cooperation, the two nations have to find out how to create the juvenile of learning particularized on paying interest and love to know neighboring countries in different dimensions. Today, it is accepted that there is less continuation on forming system of thought in making mutual understanding ground in the regional level, for it should be reminded that friendlessness is misunderstanding. So, academic organization framework should be established, and Indo-China Academic Unions or Student Unions in the region should be included.
3) Having had the Thai-Vietnam friendship village in Thailand, conversely, can the Thai-Vietnam friendship village be erected in Vietnam? In this point, it is rather less significant but the Vietnam government should answer the question either because paying attention to its own ally is very important. Besides, the great history known in the world that "No any friendship in the 21 century is greater than the friendship between the two extremely contradictory countries witness by the phenomena of the Thai-Vietnam relations in the friendship village" Can Vietnam establish the second remarkable spot as such?
4) Finally, the cooperation should be dependent upon system of thought, diplomatic framework and mutual acceptance. I do hope that such a good matter should be carried on from governments of the two countries, academicians and civilians of the two countries. We should not wait others operate the case but we all should handle it ourselves when we have a chance, because none but friendship and peace in our time is the most gracious.