Public Statement – A plea to put an end to massive killing in Bangkok
MILITARISM, ASIA--PACIFIC, CIVIL SOCIETY, RELIGION, 24 May 2010
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) - TRANSCEND Media Service
All Lives are Sacred: A plea to put an end to massive killing in Bangkok
Since the beginning of the demonstration by the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), aka “Red Shirts”, on 12 March 2010, there have been many hundreds of casualties. In the past five days, attempts to disperse the demonstration in Ratchaprasong have become been violent, with a further effect of provoking violence. The government’s actions have so far failed to deter the demonstrators.
The present clash of political views is one of the great crises in Siam’s modern history. The country was previously acclaimed for settling conflict peacefully and democratically. Now it appears that both sides, the government and the UDD, are clinging to an illusion of victory over another. The entire nation is hostage to their conflict. Buddhist wisdom is relevant for those absorbed in hatred, greed and delusion. The Dhammapada, Verse 201 says:
Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. Persons who have given up both victory and defeat, the contented, they are happy.
The International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), representing a diversity of socially engaged buddhists from around the world, is gravely concerned about this standoff. We wish for all parties address the conflict with reason and tools of peace, to recognize the ancient Buddhist wisdom that neither the so-called winner nor loser will be contented and happy. We encourage those who do not fall into one of the two camps can help this process wherever possible. Only through peaceful negotiation and dialogue can all parties concerned return the country to its true nature as a flourishing democracy and a peace-loving nation.
Our heartfelt plea is for both parties to stop any act that may cost lives and injuries; to reclaim the time-tested wisdom of reconciliation and nonviolence.
Whenever INEB can help bridge the gap between the opposed parties we are willing to do all that we can.
We trust that in the light of upcoming international Vesakh celebrations in Thailand, supported by the United Nations 22-26 May 2010 and the subsequent local Vesakh celebrations, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha, all parties will unite in taking responsibility for their conduct and for bringing about lasting peace, transformation towards social justice and shared wellbeing for future generations.
To close, in Verse 5 of the Dhammapada the Buddha proclaims:
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By love alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
Patron, Advisory Committee and Executive Committee Name Lists
PATRONS
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tibet
Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh France/Vietnam
Venerable Phra Rajpanyamedhi Siam (Thailand)
Venerable Bhikshuni Chao Hwei Taiwan
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AC)
| Name | Organisation | Country |
| Sulak Sivaraksa(Founder Chair) | Santi Pracha Dhamma Institutewww.sulak-sivaraksa.org | Siam |
| Raja Dharmapala | Dharmavedi Institute | Sri Lanka |
| Jill Jameson | Buddhist Peace Fellowship Australia | Australia |
| Dharmachari Lokamitra | Jambudvipa Trustwww.jambudvipa.org | India |
| Ven. Tsering Palmo | Ladakh Nuns Association | Ladakh/India |
| Phra Maha Boonchuay | Mahachulalongkorn Universityhttp://www.mcu.ac.th | Siam |
| Phra Phaisan Visalo | Buddhika Network for Buddhism and Societyhttp://www.budnet.org | Siam |
| Bhikkhuni Dhammananda | Songdhammakalyani Monastery | Siam |
| Venetia Walkey | Dhamma Park Foundationwww.dhammapark.com | Siam |
| Ven. Pomnyun Sunim | Jungto Societywww.jungto.org | South Korea |
| Rev. Alan Senauke | Clear View Projectwww.clearviewproject.org | USA |
| Ven. Sumanalankar | Parbatya Bouddha Missionwww.pbm-cht.org | Bangladesh |
| Hisashi Nakamura | Ryukoku Universitywww.ryukoku.ac.jp | Japan |
| Rev. Masazumi Okano | International Buddhist Exchange Center | Japan |
| Swee-hin Toh | University for Peacewww.upeace.org | Costa Rica |
| Frans Goetghebeur | European Buddhist Unionwww.e-b-u.org | Belgium |
EXECUTICE COMMITTEE (EC)
| Name | Organisation | Country |
| Harsha Navaratne (Chairperson) | Sewalanka Foundationwww.sewalanka.org | Sri Lanka |
| Hans van Willenswaard(Vice Chairperson) | GNH Programwww.schoolforwellbeing.org | Netherlands/Siam |
| Somboon Chungprempree (Interim Executive Secretary) | Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) www.semsikkha.org | Siam |
| Douangdeuane Bounyavong | Buddhists for Developmentwww.bdp.org.la | Laos |
| Hsiang-chou Yo | Fo Guang Universitywww.fgu.edu.tw | Taiwan |
| Jonathan Watts | Think Sangha | USA/Japan |
| Anchalee Kurutach | Buddhist Peace Fellowshipwww.bpf.org | USA |
| Poolchawee Ruangwichatorn | Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) www.semsikkha.org | Siam |
| Pipob Udomittipong | Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation (SNF) www.snf.or.th | Siam |
| Ros Sotha | Buddhists and Khmer Society Networkwww.bksn.wordpress.com | Cambodia |
| Mangesh Dahiwale | Jambudvipa Trustwww.jambudvipa.org | India |
| Prashant Varma | Deer Park Institutewww.deerpark.in | India |
| Erica Kang | Jungto Societywww.jungto.org | South Korea |
| Minyong Lee | South Korea | |
| Eddy Setiawan | HIKMAHBUDHIwww.hikmahbudhi.or.id | Indonesia |
| Matteo Pistono | Nekorpa and RIGPA Fellowship | USA |
| Tashi Zangmo | Bhutan | |
| Vidyananda (KV Soon) | Malaysia | |
| Harn | Burma/Myanmar |
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 24 May 2010.
Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: Public Statement – A plea to put an end to massive killing in Bangkok, is included. Thank you.
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RELIGION:
To put an end to the type of violence and killing that has been going on in Thailand, you must close the Riot Gear business, special uniforms, protective shields and helmets, tear gas, etc. The manufacturers of these necessary ingredients for a good confrontation between Police (or Army) and civil rebels are over the moon with the outcome of the Thai mess and are now very much looking forward to Greece receiving the money promised by a conglomerate of countries, so that they can help the Greek organise a few riots of their own – hopefully bigger than the Thai affair.
When they don’t know how to do it, we train university students, factory workers, etc, in the making of Molotov bimbs, because we must also help the sale of fire-proof riot uniforms.
Riot Police get promoted when they use more than a specified quantity of tear-gas, manage to get their protective shields damaged, etc. This means Heads need to order more riot stuff, which translates into new commission (% of the operation)
As the saying goes: “Money makes the way go round” !!!!
Alberto Portugheis