Border folk hope for peace

Writer: Aekarach Sattaburuth
Published: 25/06/2011
Bangkok Post

Villagers living along the Thai-Cambodian border say they want nothing more from the next government than for peace to return.

They say they are tired of running for cover from border shelling.

Ieng Chan-ob, 62, owner of a grocery shop in Ban Phum Srol village in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, said border fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops, which flared up most recently in April, had badly hurt local businesses. The border skirmishes have driven away customers who are mostly the villagers themselves.

Most residents were uncertain about the border situation although the clashes have ceased for now, she said.

Ms Ieng said her "dream government" after the July 3 poll must be able put an end to the border conflict with Cambodia and restore peace to border villages.

Pensri Senanoi, 52, a farmer at the same village, said she wanted the next government to be formed by other parties, not the existing ones. She would vote for a party that could ensure that border villagers would not have to run away from heavy shelling.

Ms Pensri was putting her faith in the Pheu Thai Party to solve the border conflict with Cambodia.

If the existing parties return to power, many border residents may have no choice but to run for their own safety when fighting erupts, she said.

Thanom Nalasai, 42, who works as a hired hand at Ban Phum Srol village, said he wanted the government to return a normal way of life to residents.

The Democrat-led government's efforts to solve the border conflict with Cambodia had failed, said Mr Thanom.

Many residents have also pinned their hopes on Pheu Thai to put an end to the conflict.

Sumet Palasak, a Mathayom 3 (Grade 9) student at Phum Srol Witthaya school, said though he is too young to vote, he wants the next government to pay more attention to improving the quality of teachers and education in rural schools. The government should be able to solve border problems so children could help their families earn extra income by selling goods to tourists or working as tour guides, he said.

Pornchai Jongkot, 46, a village head in Kap Choeng district of neighbouring Surin province, said the government should solve the border problem through negotiations.