By Suchada Tupchai
Thailand is once again playing host to a major event
that turns the attention of the world onto the kingdom. This time it is the
Sixth General Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace
(AAPP). The objectives of this noble sounding association are to create and
promote peace in Asia, and the forum will allow ideas to flow freely
amongst members of the parliaments in the cause of unity.
Pattaya is honored to be the setting for this year’s
assembly, which takes place November 19 - 24 at the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort.
The event is being watched closely and questions are
being asked, no less so than at previous general assemblies of the AAPP.
One question is, “What does Thailand gain from hosting the event?” To
that, the answer would be that Thailand is taking center stage in hosting a
peace conference at a time when the country is experiencing great danger
and unrest with an insurgency in the South.
Regional political issues will be raised by the AAPP,
along with other issues such socio-economic change, the problem of poverty,
society gaps, the role of the press in reporting, natural disasters,
pandemics and the infringement of women and children’s rights. Most of
the member countries experience these problems and the resolutions that
will be agreed upon during the general assembly will be recorded as “the
Pattaya Pacts”.
The stage therefore becomes a proving ground where the
Thai government and all respective agencies will show their potential in
hosting the event under an atmosphere of true peace. Presently in many
parts of the world people are living under the threat of terrorism.
Thailand, the once peaceful land, now struggles with terrorism, as well as
natural and social disasters. Yet Thailand in its capacity of host to the
event has an important role to play in inspiring real moves towards
remedying the problems.
Past efforts from general assemblies have shown no real
concrete results. Governments have continually tried to remedy the issues
that will be under discussion, but still the problems and dangers remain.
This general assembly really does have to work together to live up to the
name and the ideals of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace,
because the problems affect the whole world.
Whether any tangible progress is made this time will
hinge substantially on the efforts that the Thai Parliament puts into the
general assembly. This is going to be very much a proving ground for our
politicians.
