How does the clash of colors affect Muslims in Thailand
In the past, Thailand had been named as “the land of smile” where there were many peoples coming all walk of lives, paid a visit to this historical country, while the so-called clashing of colors was unknown to them. Also, awareness of conflict of colors would come impossibly; they might have thought that sort of such conflict was beyond their imaginations.
However, in this day and age, the clash of colors –red and yellow shirts – unexpectedly occurs that has left Thai society in great rift, being difficult to heal the rift. Since then, the red shirt and the yellow have played a vital role in marking a change in Thai political circle. To put it simply, the people are clad in their liking colors and walk up to streets in the capital of Thailand – Bangkok. At the time of the accused Thaksin’s nominee administration, the yellow shirt was staging a peaceful demonstration with intent to get rid of the government. On the contrary, late last year, the political polarity had been changed into the Democrat party, joined hand by other parties as the coalition government. For this unfortunate year for Thailand, the red shirt has held the street-protest they took the place where Thais consider it as the main economic hub, Ratchaprasong intersection. For this havoc, Thailand has suffered a great damage.
Regardless of being a partisan to either color, the effects have been obvious to Muslims whose religion – Islam – prohibits to take part in the protest. In this respect, we could draw the effects that have on Muslims in Thailand as follow: ideologies differences, political power resuming and not being faithful with the king.
In the first place, the red and the yellow have different ideologies. For the red, as generally known and said, they are trying to spread their ideologies as a means to an end, dealing with double standard and try to get Thaksin back. Rather, it is believed that they endeavor to change the kingdom state into the presidency state. Whereas, the yellow is aimed at disposing of corruption state that, previously, led by Thaksin Shinnawatra the former Thai prime minister. Both of them have been struggling to win Thais’ heart in order to gain favors from them. Regarding these ideologies, as soon as Muslims believe and take into their daily lives, they automatically become split among themselves. As the case happened in the northeastern of Thailand, Muslims were taking side, in which there are two groups have been divided – the one side is red and the other is yellow. To date, they cannot even go to the coffee shop and have a talk together like before because they may have problem. This is considered as a big problem happened that Muslims are inclined to support such ideologies. In addition, Islam never teaches us to be disunited.
Consequently, we would never deny that after winning the people heart, both of them will run political campaign in a bid to resume to political power. What they have to do is they hold an address in order to gain support from people, sometimes, by sneering at the political opponent. As the case happened this at the Ratchaprasong intersection, there were many Muslims who participated the protest, as it was generally known that they were hired. This activity engages Muslims to be away from Islamic teaching. They seem to be into politic that finally results in partisanship among them. In fact, Islam has already provided the way of administration as it gives us “Shuro” the way of consultancy. For Muslims, before electing the leader, they have to Shuro by the committees set up.
At last, they are accusing each other of not being faithful to his Majesty the King. This accuse was used at the time when the yellow shirt stage a protest at the time of Thaksin’s nominee administration. The yellow said the red was not faithful to the king by trying to turn administration in Thailand into presidency. According to common belief, if Thais are faithful to the King, they have to be cad in yellow. Accordingly, for somebody who dresses up in red, they are believed to be unfaithful to the King. For this issue, the yellow is now increasingly making a discourse heard, “we love our King”, resulting in many of the people, to date, holding this discourse. Thus, according to the discourse, Muslims are deviating from being fond of the prophet Muhammad (peace upon you), in spite of the fact that Islam states clearly that Muslims must obey Allaah, the prophet and the leader in their groups. Furthermore, for that matter, Islam places emphasis on sharing love, kindness and encourages Muslims to pay respect to others sincerely. Additionally, what Islam does not allow Muslims to do is they are forbidden to worship the King as Buddhists do.
Even though now the government can completely be able to deal with political uncertainty, the clash of colors might explode that might resort to violence again. In brief, neither the red nor the yellow is helpful and useful for Muslim daily lives. They just bring about the effects to Muslims. What Muslims have to do when such violence happen is they have to distance themselves from the violence and try to make an effort to learn a lesson from it. Islam never recommends Muslims to participate the protest because, as far as it is observed, they can never stand to benefit from it. Supposing that Muslims never joined with them, apart from they could be able to show others how to live peacefully, they automatically became part of contributing to bringing peace and recalling the land of smile that Islam also encourages Muslims to give a big and sincere smile to others once again.
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