"Sports" as an Innovative Solution to the Southern Insurgency,
In today's Thairath Newspaper Column, Professor Ratpong Boonyanuwat, founder of KBU SPORT POLL at the Kasem Bundit University Human Capital Development Innovation Center,
kindly shared his insights with me through an article addressing the violence problem in the southern border provinces, suggesting that "sports" could be a way to solve the issue. Please have a read.
The violent conflict in the southern border provinces is a dimension that has long impacted society, intertwined with the country's political and governance issues.
Since the southern unrest began escalating, the government and related agencies have exerted great effort, dedicating significant personnel and budget resources to address it.
From the day the conflict ignited until now, it is evident that although the government has applied innovations and adjusted strategies based on warfare principles as tools for resolution,
the situation has neither been extinguished nor diminished. Importantly, reviewing the incidents and statistics of perpetrators causing loss of life and property shows ongoing challenges.
Between 2024 and 2026, particularly in April 2025, violent incidents surged to as many as 57 occurrences.
This resulted in 18 deaths and 50 injuries.
When discussing measures to quell the southern unrest, especially those continuously undertaken by the government—such as the declaration of emergency decrees and peace talks,
including the strategy of politics leading the military with government and political party support—losses have nonetheless persisted.
One interesting dimension for building peace or extinguishing the conflict, which is practical and tangible and should be seriously and sincerely acknowledged and implemented by stakeholders,
is the royal philosophy of "Understanding, Access, and Development," as King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great once conceived.
However, for this royal philosophy to achieve real and tangible results, one dimension that government units and related parties must recognize and prioritize
is the development of human resources, particularly the youth, who are the nation's future strength.
A key aspect involves advancing through educational processes and sports activities, along with others that fit the digital era context.
Besides education, activities likely aligned with fostering peace include
"sports" as an innovation that meets the needs and can effectively drive implementation.
Regarding the use of sports activities to build peace in the southern border provinces, it is apparent that over recent years, government agencies in collaboration with the private sector
have promoted multiculturalism, youth development, and creative spaces through such activities.
Highlights include youth football competitions "Dream Weaving" in the four southern border provinces to select teams for overseas training,
as well as traditional sports contests, developing youth skills relevant to new generations through E-Sports, and promoting the region as a Sport Tourism Destination.
Today, to realize peace in the southern border provinces and effectively quell the unrest,
integrating sports activities as part of the solution
should be regarded as an innovation not to be overlooked and must be pursued seriously and sincerely.
After all, "sports" is a vital tool for "building people and building the nation"
in a sustainable way as well!!!
- B Bangpakong -