Editorial
February 23, 2001
S hould Thailand ban Falungong members from holding an international meeting in Bangkok in April? Should Thailand risk souring relations with China for the sake of a marginal group that seeks to combine physical exercise with Buddhist and Taoist spiritual principles? There are only an estimated 1,000 practitioners of Falungong in Thailand, so why should their interest override those of the whole country? It's a given, right? That is what Beijing would like us to believe. ...
The new administration has yet to respond. But before it does, it should think hard about all the issues involved here-issues like sovereignty and freedom of belief, free speech and free expression, things intrinsic to the democracy we have fought so hard to become.
Every time China gets in trouble with the world community for crushing its own people, whether it be in Tibet, the horror of Tiananmen Square in 1989, or now Falungong-Beijing recites the dogma of sovereignty and interference in its domestic affairs. But when the Dalai Lama wants to visit Bangkok or when members of Falungong want to gather, Beijing objects loudly, even threatening a deterioration in relations. Is this not interference in the domestic affairs of Thailand? Does China not recognize the principle of reciprocity? Other countries cannot interfere in what it sees as its internal affairs, but China can interfere anywhere it pleases. It does seem China recognizes only her own sovereignty.
Mr Thaksin and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai cannot afford to allow their fledgling government to be dictated to by China. They must abide by the constitution, our highest law, which guarantees freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, and free speech and expression. Thailand cannot yield to Beijing's every whim. We are a sovereign, democratic nation and we must abide by those principles. Folding at its first test will brand the Thaksin government a milksop in the eyes of the world community.
Beijing has failed to show how Falungong is a threat to anyone other than its own members in China, who regularly face arrest, persecution and harassment. The movement has not engaged in sabotage or terrorism anywhere in the world. Beijing claims its followers set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square to protest against the authorities, but the movement denies this saying suicide or any other act of violence are against its teachings.
The Chinese authorities fear Falungong because it competes for the loyalty of the people. For doctrinaire Maoists, the people can have no loyalty other than to the Communist party. Falungong claims a following of 70 million inside China and another 30 million elsewhere. Beijing was spooked in 1999 when 10,000 Falungong practitioners held a peaceful demonstration. It was the largest such gathering in Beijing since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. Three months later Falungong was banned in China.
... it is important that Thailand allows its members to meet. They have promised not to say anything political or which will upset China, but they should be free to say anything they wish. Nothing is more sacred in a free society than the freedom to say what you think. Once you start forbidding anybody from expressing his opinion, pretty soon the authorities will be coming after you next.
http://scoop.bangkokpost.co.th/bangkokpostnews/bp20010223/230201_news22.html