There is a country in SE Asia that often likes to harp on the

words 'unity' and 'harmony'. But actions on the ground almost

always never correspond to the original meanings of those words.
(From time to time other fanciful words also get their temporary
claim to popularity in this nation).

The country is full of race supremacists, right-wing groups

and religious bigots and they have the free licence to flay
the minority groups from time to time or whenever they felt
that it was needed to be done to keep the minorities in line.

Right-wing groups with fanciful names like PEWA*** or PERK***

often do not hesitate to march in the streets or issue open
threats should the minorities ever dared to speak about things
like 'discrimination' or 'marginalization'.

Even some political parties that are not in the ruling class
are not above the act of asserting race supremacist politics.
They're still willing to talk about the 'benefits' of pursuing
'cooperation' based on racial and religious 'considerations'.

The country has just seen a desired change in leadership and

there are indications that the new leadership wants a really
genuine and fresh approach towards community relations in the
country. Some steps have been taken to ensure everyone has a
real stake in the future of this nation.

However, the right-wing quarters are starting to feel somewhat

apprehensive. They have been recently using certain issues to
keep old fires alive. The minorities were either directly or
indirectly accused of many sins, including 'attempting' to do
'changes' to the federal constitution. The accusations were
all totally false and baseless. They were accused of trying
to undermine the royalty and the position of the palace.

Such accusations were not different from those manufactured by

fascist powers to justify power grabbing & territorial conquests.
And caused untold harm to the innocent in the process.

The right-wing groups have been attempting to pressure the new

leadership to stick to the old ways. Or the ways and practices
of the race supremacies. A meeting was held with the leadership
to insist that the racist policies of old were kept alive.

However, the new leadership has apparently stuck to its guns

and the leader of the right-wing fascists in the country by the
name of 'I'.'A'. had to eat humble pie. At the resulting media
conference he had to utter a mild-mannered speech without the
usual racist tirade. The leader had 'explained' why it was
neccesary to implement new concepts & why previous restrictions
on the minorities were lifted in 27 economic sub-sectors.

The nation's previous leadership had allowed the extremist groups

to seize the stage and openly and freely make their demands. It
was a very wrong thing to do and the leadership had to pay the
price. Minorities were lambasted unfairly and openly, but when
they dared to answer back, they were either hauled up by the
enforcement people or they were asked to either 'apologise' and
state their allegiance or leave. Such attitudes don't contribute
to 'unity' and 'harmony' at all, never mind 'civilisation' and
'peace-loving society' or whatever.

The minorities in this country have long been shortchanged by

the extremist groups which have leaders in the highest echelons
of the country's administration but they have not resorted to
physical confrontation. Instead they have practised a form of
exemplary tolerance mainly due to the desire to seek social and
economic progress rather than political warfare. The land is
rich in resources and well positioned geographically to bring
development to those who wished to pursue it. There are those
who want to seize it all from the people who have worked hard
and toiled tirelessly and are now enjoying the fruits of their
labours but with the right leadership in place, the efforts of
the extremists would definitely come to nought.

In the meantime, neutral observers should keep a close eye on

the movements and actions of these extremist groups for they
have no compunctions in pursuing antisocial activities such as
rewriting history and cursing and damning the silent segments
of society which, unlike them, are only interested in peace,
progress and prosperity. (These extremists are like ulcerous
sores to the people, nothing more).

These extremists groups will never disappear from the scene,

but with the right leadership, they could easily be kept in
check and forced to eat humble pie. For the good of everybody.
May they continue to eat more humble pie !