Peace role play.

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Tourism, Development & Conflict

Role play created by Dominofrank (Francis Suleiman) as a means of possible peaceful resolution to a real problem in Northern Thailand.

As Thailand’s national and regional economy has evolved, the Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority has dealt with many challenges over the years. Traditional sources of jobs and income such as agriculture, forestry, and other extractive industry have suffered. Amid these trends, the City of Chiang Mai has a great plan for opportunities to diversify the local economy. One possibility identified is the travel and tourism industry. The City of Chiang Mai believes they have the resource base, the tourist attractions, and a great opportunity to exploit the growing tourism industry. Chiang Mai has natural resources, authentic agricultural or ecological-based activities, scenic beauty, history, and a relaxed urban charm, which may appeal to foreigners as well as Bangkokians caught up in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

However, simply possessing these attributes is not sufficient. Local leaders and business persons must engage in successful business development, marketing, management, and provision of adequate infrastructure. Sound business decision and informed local leadership is necessary to successfully diversify local economy through tourism development. The tourism project will bring financial prosperity to the local community through expansion of jobs, generate revenues, and above all put City of Chiang Mai once again on the world map.

The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourism options in the region. Since Chiang Mai is the northern hub city for tourism, the city government views its importance to enhance the community to stay strong throughout 21st century.

TEDS Valley Corp. has been hired by the City of Chiang Mai to build a world-class resort by Ping River to develop tourism. The company will sign a US$850 million agreement to develop the resort that will house 1,500 guests at a given time.

The farmers and the villagers who benefit from Ping River are in opposition to the tourism project. They view the river water as natural resource that provides for their daily livelihood; specifically agriculture, fishing, and daily living. The farmers and villagers consider the river as a focal point for recreation and religious rituals as well as a pilgrimage center for them. The land around the river provides a source for agricultural, recreation, family farm plots and general, economic sustenance. The river provides water supply through irrigation channels, and serves as spiritual linkage between the present and the past.

Professor Wallach of Chulalonkorn University’s Peace Studies Program has been invited to negotiate with the City of Chiang Mai, the villagers/farmers, and the business community for a peaceful solution to the conflict. The Professor is afraid that the government and the business community interest will continue to ignore the villagers. The Professor is preparing to teach the villagers non-violent techniques to resolve the conflict.

The Government controlled media is promoting and portraying positive images of the project- thus giving one-sided story. This propaganda media is fanning the flames through electronic as well as print media about City of Chiang Mai signing the agreement with TEDS Valley Corp. without consulting the villagers/farmers. Peace Journalism, on the other hand, is providing balance and objective news covering both sides of the story.

You are Playing the Role of an Investment Company
Chiang Mai: The Land of Opportunity and Resources!
•TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm, has received a license to build a US$850 million tourism site along the Chiang Mai River.
•TEDS will build an exclusive world-class, five-star resort by the river that can accommodate 1,500 guests at a time.
•It will be a gated community that will put the lifestyle, security and status of its guests above all other considerations.
•The hotel will have a helicopter pad for guests’ arrival from the nearby airport. The resort will be built on a boat theme.
•The guests will arrive in absolute awe and will be inspired by the resort’s underwater casino, a golf course, Entertainment Park with land and water games and a sports complex.
•When it’s time to wind down, there’s no place in the world other than the breathtakingly world-class spas.
•The resort will offer a variety of world-class cuisine including French, Italian, and Mediterranean etc.
•TEDS will have dinner cruises alongside Chiang Mai River.
•The project will bring financial prosperity to the local community through expansion of jobs, generate revenue, and above all put Chiang Mai once again on the world map.

*Your goal is to get this project through. OVER the objections of the Villagers and farmers. You are close to the Government and believe they will support you.

You are Playing the Role of Journalist



SENSATIONAL NEWS

Construction work on River to build a Watergate to raise water level will start next week.
According to our reliable sources, the Government has finally made a decision and concluded arrangements with TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm to start construction of Watergate on Chiang Mai River next week.

There are rumors in surrounding neighborhood that the leader of villagers who have been in opposition of the Watergate construction on the river has resolved the conflict and now the project will begin.

On the contrary , our correspondent have been told by a blank phone call that villagers are trying to organize a protest rally and sit in procession in front of Governor’s House on Sunday against the government decision.

Channel Wai...............24 hour truth,
PEACE JOURNALISM
Government of Chiang Mai has decided not to start construction of dyke on Chiang Mai river without consensus, according to a Government spokesman. This decision has been made for low land farmers and in public interest.

A spokesman further said that “this government does not want to suck the blood of our own peoples in the name of development.”

The Government also gave the assurance to the investors TEDS Valley Corporation, a US-based firm who are interested to develop the area after raise of water level.”This conflict will be resolve with consensus of all related parties"

Villagers have welcomed the Government statement. The village leader in his press release has said that they are ready to have a round table talk with government for negotiations.

* You are a Journalist and you can decide to play either role but ultimately you will need to work for a solution that pleases both sides.


You are playing the role of Professor of Peace Studies at Chulalonkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.


SCENARIO: Chang Mai, Thailand:

The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority (CMRDA) has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourist options in the region. They would like to dam a river to create more water in the downtown and build hotels, restaurants and walkways.

The villagers would lose water downstream in this case and are strongly against this project, they feel the government and business interests are not listening to them.


Your goals are first and foremost talk to villagers, Government, and Business interests to see their sides and feelings.

Ultimately, you would like to negotiate with the Government and Business interests for a peaceful solution to the conflict BUT you are concerned that the Government and Business interests will continue to ignore the villagers. Thus you are prepared to teach the villagers these nonviolent tactics from Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement.

This is in order of nonviolent tactics.

RECRUITMENT and Non- violent training

STRATEGIC DRESS AND LANGUAGE for respect and positive media attention

TEACH- INS

SIT- INS

NEGOTIATION with GOVT/Business

PROTEST MARCHES (with media attention

and if unsuccessful)

BOYCOTTS and media attention, leaflets to tourists and locals.

CIVIL DISOBEDIANCE- such as squatting on government land and allowing yourself to be arrested.

The last resort would be MASSIVE STRIKES...

You are playing the Role of Government

The Chiang Mai Regional Development Authority (CMRDA) has been working with the City of Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai Tourist Bureau to better enhance the tourist options in the region. Being that Chiang Mai is the central northern hub city in Thailand for tourism, it is important to continue to enhance the community to make sure it is strong throughout the 21st century.

One main objective is to better utilize the Chiang Mai river frontage along the Ping River. Currently the river is under utilized by tourism standards and there is very little development along the river. The CMRDA has seen many other communities around the world develop their river frontage to either create or enhance a tourist industry. River walks, cafes, hotels, river cruises, cultural/historic walks are all part of the overall economic development strategy for these communities. CMRDA thinks they can create the same for Chiang Mai by developing the river and creating more jobs and strengthening its core for economic growth.

During dry season, the Ping River gets so low that the river frontage looks dirty and unappealing. In addition, boat cruises and water sports could not be utilized on the river during this time. Dry season is also the tourist high season. In order to raise the elevation of water in the river, the CMRDA is interested in creating a water gate below the city in order to sell the project to developers. CMRDA has been working with the City of Chiang Mai to get the project started.

CMRDA is very politically inclined as many wealthy business owners are on its board of directors. These wealthy business owners have connections around the country.
Goals:
1.To develop the Ping River frontage and in order to do so the river level has to be stabilized year round.
2. Create a water gate or other structure to raise the water within the core city area.
3. There is a current international hotel chain that would like to develop a resort/ hotel that would accommodate 1500 people on the water, but only if the river level is raised in order to utilize the river frontage.

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You are playing the Role of
FARMERS/ VILLAGERS /COMMUNITY

The farmers /villagers group have a strong ties to the LAND/RIVER/DYKES.
1. The river provides water for the lively hood, daily living, agriculture, Fishing Recreation and Religious /pilgrimage Center for them.
2. The Land provides a source for food growing –internal /external agro cropping – a place of recreation – business and economic sustenance and other resources.
3. The Dykes serves as control or water ways –aids agricultural irrigation channels – serves as a spiritual linkage between the present and the past, a bridge over troubled waters.
The community of Farmers and villagers maintain the Land – River –and Dykes for prosperity and continuous the crude agricultural and fishing practices.
Recently a news media has announced the contract between the government and Multinational conglomerate to build a Watergate – to control future flood and develop the area. The government did not consult/discuss with the Community before embarking the implementation of this project. This resulted in a tension almost leading to a public mayhem between the government and farmers/village communities.
The Goals of Bargaining
• Ensure enough water for daily living, Agricultural, Fishing now and in the future.
• Expand and promote Agricultural Economic sustainability
• Rehabilitate the environment for spiritual economic gains.
The fact is that the Villagers/Farmers need to be very outspoken to be heard by the government. Observations have proved that this move by the government has never been successful in any of the three neighboring villages. And more so the people do not trust the government promises.

This role play is inspired by my visit to Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) in February of 2010. This is a real problem and there has been no solution as at April 2010 when I left Thailand due to the political crises between the red shirts and the Government. I wish to propose such group facilitation for the resolution of this problem and also to portray the important role of the media in our modern world, showing some aspects of sensational, journalism and Peace Journalisms

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