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by Lynn Ockersz

The explosive emergence of anti-Thai riots in Cambodia, which could have been considered a South East Asian state on the mend, following decades of civil war and strife, should compel political and economic agenda-setters of the Third World to stop in their tracks and ponder over their future courses of action.

Comprehensive details are yet to come in on the general backdrop to and the more immediate causes of the riots, but there is, obviously, no denying the fact that ethnic tensions have been on the rise in Cambodia which had at one time chosen an entirely socialist path to socio-economic advancement. The riots have, however, followed a familiar broad pattern. Some Thai business houses and establishments, besides the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, have apparently been attacked by the rabble. This points to rising commercial rivalry among some of Cambodia's ethnic groups, with those seen as dominating the business world, evoking fierce hostility among their competitors. The process of demonising "the other", who is usually a business competitor, an all too familiar pattern in some of Asia's multi-ethnic states ravaged by racial tensions, seems to be taking hold in Cambodia too.

However, it is important to note that the Cambodian Government has lost no time in normalizing relations with Thailand. Besides, the Cambodian Government's willingness to "take responsibility" for the communal strife on its soil and its quick action in defusing the riots, need to be appreciated and looked upon as exemplary. In this important respect, the Cambodian State differs from some of our governments in South Asia, which have not at all been forthcoming in admitting responsibility for the mishandling of ethnic relations in their countries and for resultant riots and lawlessness.

The readiness on the part of the Cambodian Government to hold itself accountable for the anti-Thai riots has had the effect of sustaining healthy relations with the Thai Government, whose Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra had reportedly observed on receiving these reassurances from the Cambodian Government that, "If the Government moves fast and is sincere in this matter, things will get better soon."

Governments in our part of the world, including those in Sri Lanka, need to take complete responsibility for the forging of sound ethnic relations within their states and for the prime task of nation-building. However, a grave anomaly in the political cultures of South Asia is the recurrence of mindless opportunism and the flagrant exploitation of ethnic tensions for political survival by hardline forces.

This is happening right now, among sections of Sri Lanka's political opposition. In even India, a victory in the Gujarat state elections recently for the Hindutva forces, is seen as a forerunner to the resurgence of religious extremism, ahead of general elections next year. As long as the political elites of South Asia continue to play the "Communal Card", with a view to boosting their political fortunes, South Asian states wouldn't enjoy any respite from war and strife. This is the "writing on the wall".

With evidence increasing of ethnic tensions lying dormant or flaring into the open in some of Asia's multi-ethnic states, the question needs to be asked whether the political and social systems of these countries are keeping pace with their avowed desire to join the "brave new world" of globalized economies.

Globalization, presumably, demands an internationalist and cosmopolitan world view on the part of its adherents. In the case of some Asian States at least, increasing induction into globalization seems to be having no impact on internal ethnic relations. In fact, ethnic animosities seem to be only worsening in these States.

This anomaly, should require these States to have a closer and scrutinizing look at their agendas and programs for socio-economic advancement. Perhaps, we are looking very superficially at globalization.

Perhaps we are not even prepared for its challenges.

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