A week before Vesak Day the Thai government decided to face-off with the Red Shirts. The Red Shirts, a group of pro-Thaksin supporters has encamped themselves in central Bangkok for three months by constructing barricades around them with tyres and bamboo sticks. The Thai government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva managed to apprehend the core leaders of the Red Shirts and demolished the barricades.
The whole world was monitoring the situation in Bangkok and many travel advisories were issued by many countries advising their respective citizens to avoid visiting Thailand especially in hot spots areas. The situation in Thailand was of concern to many people, locals and foreigners alike.
For a group of Malaysian Buddhists, the situation in Bangkok affects them too as they were bound to attend the annual United Nations Day of Vesak Conference hosted by the Maha Chulalongkorn University in Ayutthaya from 23 - 25 May 2010. There were concerns by many regarding the loss of lives during cross fire and by snipers in the Bangkok encampment.
At last, just as other foreign delegates, nearly all in the Malaysian group flew into Suvarnabhumi International Airport on 22 May and transferred smoothly to their respective hotels without any inkling or traces of the shooting incidents happens earlier. As the Thais used to say, it is as smooth as silk. We were never in any occasion or have any thoughts of being unsafe, felt threathened or insecured when we were in Thailand throughout the whole conference.
Even though night curfew was enforced by the Thai government during our stay in Thailand, we never felt any sign of curfew being fully enforced especially when we were staying in Ayutthaya. A group of us were even moving along the main thoroughfare in Ayutthaya and taking the "Tuk-Tuk" transporter back to our hotel during the curfew period. Not even a soldier or military officer was seen!
The only time the foreign delegates really sees a "strong" presence of military officers was during the opening ceremony when the Crown Prince and his wife were in attendance. About 100 soldiers were seen outside the conference hall where the opening ceremony was held. In the hall, some high ranking military officers can be seen sitting in the front rows when the Crown Prince officiated the conference.
The only time when the delegates stepped into Bangkok was during the final day when the conference was held at the UN Escap Convention Hall. As usual practice all visitors to the UN office have to walk through the metal detactor and personal hand carry need to be hand over for scanning. A regular visitor to this place will not be bothered with this security check.
The Thai government has been very supportive of this conference for the last few years. One of the highlights of the conference was the surprised announcement on the development of a World Buddhist Park near Bangkok. This shows how much efforts Thailand is putting into to support Buddhism and Buddhists worldwide.
During his closing speech, the Rector of Maha Chulalongkorn University, Venerable Dharmakosajarn, who is also the conference chair thank all foreign delegates for taking the effort to travel to Thailand to attend and support the conference in the midst of the internal conflicts.
As for me and also for many foreign delegates it is the spirit of standing in unity, side by side with fellow Buddhists in Thailand that motivates us to be with them during their period of uncertainty and crisis. The UN Day of Vesak Conference this year delivers not only the Bangkok Declaration 2010 but also the true spirit of the Dharma Brotherhood that radiates and glows in the heart of all Buddhists in the celebration of the sacred Vesak Day. - Loka
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