Achieving Asean spirit

More knowledge and travel among neighbouring Southeast Asian countries will ensure greater harmony and prosperity

It would come as no surprise if you couldn’t answer all of those questions correctly. You would simply be among the majority of Thais who have little knowledge of our neighbouring nations in Southeast Asia.

“Thais have relatively little knowledge about our neighbours, even if we are regionally grouped as Asean. Obviously we overlook our neighbours,” said renowned historian Charnvit Kasetsiri, who initiated the “Knowing Our Neighbours Project” in the hope of bridging this knowledge gap.

Mr Charnvit blamed ignorance for present-day prejudices, fuelled by ultra-nationalism.

“It can be said that Thais largely overlook their neighbours. It is unfortunate that the attention Thais pay to their neighbours is primarily limited to border conflicts in an ultra-nationalist context in the aftermath of World War Two.”

The conflict over the Preah Vihear temple is the case in point.

He believed that better knowledge of our neighbouring nations could lead to better understanding between the people who, in theory at least, are gathered together in Asean.

The project basically comprises an annual conference and a field trip to one of the neighbouring countries. Open to members of the public, the last trip – from Nov 28 to Dec 3 last year – covered the southern part of Vietnam, including the area known as Funan, Long Xuyen, the central site of the ancient seaport town of Oc Eo (pronounced ok-kaew in Thai), the seaside town of Hatien or Bantai Mas, the famous battlefield of Siam and Annam during the reign of King Rama III in southernmost Vietnam, as well as some Cham-influenced areas in Phan Rang city and Khmer temples worshipped by ethnic Khmer Krom in Rach Gia. The six-day tour also aimed to solicit money for the 10th anniversary of the Southeast Asian Studies Programme Fund. Media participation was arranged by the Toyota Foundation.

While the destinations were of historical and archaeological importance, few Thais have visited this part of Vietnam.

“This is truly unseen Vietnam,” said Mr Charnvit.

The journey began in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, the bustling economic capital of Vietnam. Local guides said the city has experienced rapid changes over the past 20 years, with new high-rises and luxury brand-name shops from the West lining the city centre. At night, people strolled through the city’s treets to enjoy the nightlife, lit by Christmas decorations.

Highlights of the trip were two Cham temples in Phan Rang, about 100km from Cam Ranh International Airport. The first was Po Klong Garai temple, where three cultures, namely Dong Son, Sa Huynh and South India’s Tamil Nadu, met while the second, Po Nagar temple, where the original statue of Uma, supreme god Shiva’s wife, has the look of the goddess Guan Yin, in Mahayana Buddhist belief, with glittering Chinese-Vietnamese headgear and costume attracted a large number of worshippers and tourists.

In Thoai Son of An Giyang province, the colossal statue of God Vishnu in Linh Son Co Tu is also “Vietnamised” with flashing accessories. In the same district, visitors headed to Cham Museum, designed in as the striking Shiva lingam structure.

“This museum is the harmonious blend of Hindu and Cham. The Shiva Lingam building represents Shiva while decorations come in the form of breasts that represent Uma Devi,” said Mr Charnvit.

Mr Charnvit also noted that the Vietnamese have a unique belief that harmoniously blends traditionalism with nationalism. And that explains why there are a large number of shrines across the country to those who led Vietnam to independence from France, and to those who fought the US.

As a famous Vietnamese saying goes: “A general when alive, a deity after death,” those heroes and their ideologies are immortalised.

One of the more popular heroes is the Nguyen Trung Truc Shrine in Rach Gia. He was the general who stood against the French forces. Each day, a large number of worshippers turn up to pay their respects to him – a general-deity.

The trip ended in the History Museum where visitors got a glimpse of ancient artefacts from different cultures that were mentioned in the previous days – Funan, Oc Eo, Cham and Hindu – the same civilisations that influenced Thai beliefs.

Mr Charnvit said that travelling to neighbouring countries is a good way to open up your mind to them, studying their historical conflicts and learn how to co-exist as a people of Asean in the present.

And unless people can open up their minds, it will be a long way before what is aspired as “the Asean spirit” can hardly be achieved, he said.

source:  http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelscoop/32049/achieving-asean-spirit