I refer readers to my first blog on this situation.
Since then, the manager who seemed helpful refused to return several calls as to the status of my Xbox 360. On Christmas Day, he finally returned our call. His news was this: we could either replace the melted chip at a cost of 5,000 bhat wit a guarantee of seven days or replace the entire board at a cost of 15,000 bhat.
Naturally, my response was "I am not paying a single bhat, you will cover the costs. In any case, your storeman told us the repair price was 1,500 baht"
The manager responded that his shop would not pay. We could pay for the new chip at a "discounted" price of 3,000 bhat (still double the original price quoted) or....wait for this.......we could sell the Xbox 360 back to the store for 7,000 bhat!!!!
Yes that's right. The system I bought for 25,000 bhat from the shop that worked for four weeks, they were now planning to buy back from me at a loss of just 18,000 baht!
My wife told them to go back and arrange a free fix for us. Today he rang again, and offered a fix for 2,500 bhat. My wife accepted on condition they provide a guarantee of far more than one week. He refused. My wife responded that we would go to the Thai equivalent of Trading Standards, he replied "Do what you want" and hung up.
And it still doesn't end. We managed to contact the repair company and were told that actually the repair charge for a chip was 3,000 bhat. The manager's quote of 5,000 was another con.
It's now been four months since my system worked. Since then I've been cheated and lied to and nothing else. Sadly, we will have to take this further.
The problem is, I've lost the original receipt. Probably it was destroyed by my son who loves to play with my wallet. I do have the repair receipt though.
I could use any advice here. In the UK, we have a watchdog group called "Trading Standards" that assist consumers in problems like this. I understand there is a similar group in Thailand but nobody can seem to translate the name. Can anyone help?
Any ideas for my next action? I'm planning to contact the police, the manager of The Mall Bang Khae , post a message on pantip.com and write to every newspaper. Perhaps my best tactic would be to hand out letters in Thai to customers in The Mall but of course then things could get nasty.
It's a real disappointment that this has happened but we either let these people get away with stealing 25,000 bhat from me or we fight it out.
Oh and by the way NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM PS BOX IN THE MALL BANG KHAE unless you want this to happen to you!
Showing posts with label thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thailand. Show all posts
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
The debate on Thaksin and income equality (round 2)
Jotman has sparked me to blog again. The man who put forward the "theory" that thousand of Bangkokians and PAD members took to the streets in rage because of a "decline in income gaps" and motivated me to type a long response (Jotman had looked at a gini coefficient chart that amounted to a maximum gain of 910 bhat for Isaan people on Bangkokians) has now put forward another argument.
This time Jotman champions Thaksin's anti poor initiatives because of his "analysis" of the data. It appears "analysis" means he looked at two separate charts posted by Bangkok Pundit.
Jotman blogs:
Money was put to good use. Loans did not wreck the Thai economy. Whatever you call them, Thaksin's anti-poverty measures transferred lots of cash into the pockets of poor Thais. In the West, when the state makes it easier for poor folks to obtain credit, we call it social assistance. But for some reason, when this happened in Thailand -- and millions of poor people actually got their hands on some money -- they call it "bad policy."
Largely disparaging accounts of Thaksin's anti-poverty initiatives do not jive with my own analysis of the data. The fact is that Thaksin's tenure was marked by sweeping poverty reduction, despite a relatively modest increase in GDP. And if you couple this observation with the strong evidence that broader access to debt financing gave more people access to durable goods such as housing, amounting to welfare by another name.
With great respect to Jotman , I simply couldn't disagree more and I wonder how much research he has really done on his politics. He does not allow comments on his blog, so I'll have to make my response here.
I also note Jotman referred to my last post and claimed I suggested that economic data on household debt could be "bogus". Actually what I said was that the data could have been handled liberally, I certainly did not suggest it was a blatant fake. (I don't think Jotman was being malicious though, I'm sure it was a miscommunication. Thai political bloggers in English tend to be a very good bunch who like a good debate without dropping to the flame war nonsense we get so much of on line.)
Jotman also responded to my post by repeating polemics from Bangkokpundit "If Thaksin manipulated the figures, why doesn't the current government tell us the real figures, they have now had 11 months?"
This may be a good point of polemicism, but it is not an answer. How did Thailand accumulate its data on salaries if a huge proportion of Isaan farmers have no official salaries?
I don't want to make this post as long as my previous one, but let us begin by taking a look at the policy platform that formed the catalyst for Thaksin, the most dynamic and controversial politician in recent Thai history:
1) War on drugs. (A full length blog in itself. In a nutshell, the crooked police went on a killing spree with Thaksin's blessing).
2) War on corruption (A bit like David Beckham declaring war on football).
3) War on poverty or to be exact, a target of zero poverty in six years. (This is the same man who promised to eliminate Bangkok's traffic congestion in six months. I'm still waiting for him to promise Manchester City to win the Champions League "within three years").
That final goal included a 30 baht health care scheme, a debt registration programme and a Village Fund Scheme.
In short, TRT set up a huge credit system and a debt moratorium for the poor.
One of Thaksin's first acts was to transfer the sum of .....wait for it.......seven hundred and eighty one billion baht of bad debts to a state asset management company. When Jotman talks about "the rate of non-performing loans is on the decline" I wonder if he realises the reason why. The spate of NPLs borne from the Asian Financial Crises of the nineties has been transfered to the state.
It doesn't stop there. Thaksin set up a Village Development fund, an SME loan system and an Agrarian Bank all for the purpose of directing credit at the poor and clearing old debts. After repeated failed negotiations with commercial banks, Thaksin gave up and simply cleared the debts via state groups for the government banks and basically forced them to lend.
And lend they did. Under the Village Development scheme, village leaders were given one million baht and authorised to allocate the funds (a maximum of 20k per time) to villagers. The Agrarian Bank set up a small loans system. Credit card restrictions were loosened and allocated to smaller earners. The name of the game was credit, credit credit.
In essence, it was a huge gamble on stimulating consumption and to an extent, it worked, albeit at the huge expense of the state via quasi fiscal spending (another point Jotman omits to note as it does not suit his argument). Private consumption went up above pre crisis levels even as productivity decreased.
But how was the money spent? If it was directed into investments, produce and education it could have been highly beneficial. However, despite the rhetoric from Jotman that "money is being put to good use", genuine research tells another story.
The poverty figures quoted by Jotman come from the NESDB ( National Economic and Social Development Board) . I am unable to find any other data covering the same period so we have to take NESDB's word for it, but there is a problem....
The NESDB stated that of all their funds distributed in the Village Development programme, only two percent were used for consolidation purposes. Meanwhile the Chamber of Commerce estimated that forty percent of recipients used the cash to consolidate other debts and a survey by a farmer's group put the figures as high as seventy percent! (Source: "Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand" by Pasuk and Baker)
Given these monster discrepancies, can we put absolute faith in NESDB figures?
So let's re-cap. Thaksin allocated a lot of credit by forgiving bad debts (at state expense) and pushing unwilling banks to allocate further credit to create a consumption stimulus. Now let's look at the aftermath of all that spending.
Household credit did increase substantially, despite Jotman's claims that it was "relatively low measured against other countries" (Jotman was referring I cited in my previous blog concerning his 'income equality' argument which I felt was totally untrue) . Thailand's own levels of debt rose substantially but not alarmingly. However, what is alarming - as stated in the same paper and explained by myself in my previous blog - is the artificially low interest rate, the fact that Isaan people see debts as the greatest burden and their vulnerability to economic shock. A hike in interest rates could spell serious trouble for this sector.
So what Jotman's analysis amounts to is two graphs, one of which is highly suspect. The reality of the situation is that we have is a scheme that may have stimulated short term consumption (credit to Thaksin for that) but coincided with a drop in GDP (which ironically Jotman cites as evidence for Thaksin's greatness) and a highly vulnerable group that have used debt through official channels for consolidation, have not received genuine opportunities for further investment or education and could be set for massive default loans if the economy does not pick up as expected.
It may sound cynical, but it's a fact that throwing money or credit at people who lack the education or understanding to use it does not help in the long term. Left wingers and Thaksin apologists often respond to this argument with knee jerk, fashionable accusations of "contempt for the poor" or something similar. In fact, such observations about the reality of the situation for poor people in Thailand are in my opinion the kindest and most respectful. The rural workers of Thailand are wonderful people who play an important part in tradition, culture and productivity. They deserve more than 'short fix' schemes designed to buy votes and allow corrupt politicians to run rampant. They deserve huge investments in education that allow them to change the future for their families.
Thaksin undoubtedly had some good policy platforms for the poor. Some worked, some did not. His populist rhetoric and encouragement to indulge in great credit may yet prove to be a great liability.
Oh by the way, there is a another part of Thailand suffering from poverty in the deep south. Little has improved for them.
Let me leave you with these two quotes:
"The fact is that Thaksin's tenure was marked by sweeping poverty reduction, despite a relatively modest increase in GDP. And if you couple this observation with the strong evidence that broader access to debt financing gave more people access to durable goods such as housing, amounting to welfare by another name"Jotman
The Principle of Productivity of Debt asserts that the ratio of net gain in GNP to the gain in debt must never be allowed to become negative. If this principle is observed, then debt is properly harnessed and constrained, and is socially beneficial, It makes a positive contribution to economic growth and public welfare.
Antal E. Fekete
Professor Emeritus
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Professor Emeritus
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Friday, August 3, 2007
The 'no' vote
One of the side effects of political upheaval in Thailand is that my wife - who usually has just passing interest in politics like most normal humans - actually has her interest aroused enough to discuss it with me. Instead of the usual pleas for me to refrain from discussing the finer points of constitutional reform, my better half actually discusses, debates and reasons with me. She does it rather well, too.
So after the arrival of the new draft constitution in the mail, I waited a couple of days for my spouse to reach her verdict, then I asked her to explain.
My wife is going to vote "no" for the following reasons:
1) She felt the constitution was basically a re-hash of the 1997 one. This was a good constitution but she wanted more improvements to be made. She believes a genuine attempt at a new constitution would be greater in its enhancements. She doubts the sincerity of the drafters.
2) She felt the CDC and CDA selection was tainted. The fact that a virtual unknown who happened to be a close friend of General Sondhi received the most nominations was highly dubious. She feels that a 'yes' vote condones this.
3) She also mentioned that a large number of voters in rural areas would be unable to understand the constitution and would be easily manipulated. If the draft were to be accepted, it would legitimise a referendum on a document that some people cold not or would not wish to read.
4) She disliked what she believed be veiled threats from the junta that a no vote would delay reform.
She wasn't all critical. She liked the idea of an appointed senate, the abolition of a required bachelor degree for all politicians and media protection, though she felt the latter didn't go far enough.
I was actually hoping my wife would vote 'yes' but she made an excellent argument for her decision, as you see above. If you disagree with any of the above, complain to the wife, not me, and she'll probably ignore you as she does me! :-)
So after the arrival of the new draft constitution in the mail, I waited a couple of days for my spouse to reach her verdict, then I asked her to explain.
My wife is going to vote "no" for the following reasons:
1) She felt the constitution was basically a re-hash of the 1997 one. This was a good constitution but she wanted more improvements to be made. She believes a genuine attempt at a new constitution would be greater in its enhancements. She doubts the sincerity of the drafters.
2) She felt the CDC and CDA selection was tainted. The fact that a virtual unknown who happened to be a close friend of General Sondhi received the most nominations was highly dubious. She feels that a 'yes' vote condones this.
3) She also mentioned that a large number of voters in rural areas would be unable to understand the constitution and would be easily manipulated. If the draft were to be accepted, it would legitimise a referendum on a document that some people cold not or would not wish to read.
4) She disliked what she believed be veiled threats from the junta that a no vote would delay reform.
She wasn't all critical. She liked the idea of an appointed senate, the abolition of a required bachelor degree for all politicians and media protection, though she felt the latter didn't go far enough.
I was actually hoping my wife would vote 'yes' but she made an excellent argument for her decision, as you see above. If you disagree with any of the above, complain to the wife, not me, and she'll probably ignore you as she does me! :-)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Fight for freedom
For anyone who cares about freedom of speech - especially Thais - I would plead with them to sign the petition discussed below.
From my friends at facthai.wordpress.com
THAILAND: Petition for lecturer accused of insulting monarchy
Asian Human Rights Commission: July 23, 2007
FACT supporters, please sign! http://www.petitiononline.com/4bs2007/petition.html
(Hong Kong, July 23, 2007) An online petition has been launched in support of a Thai lecturer who has been accused of insulting the monarchy through the questions asked in a university examination paper.
Boonsong Chaisinghanon, who teaches philosophy at Silpakorn University, has been asked by its administration to hand copies of his examination papers over to the police “to be used in the preparation of evidence for lèse majesté charges”.
Students had also reportedly been told to hand over their notes from the course, Thai Civilization, without being told how they would be used.
According to the Bangkok-based Prachatai news service, Boonsong has refused to give the papers and has protested that answer papers of students should not have already been sent to the investigators without first consulting him.
The questions over which he is being investigated include, “Do you think the monarchy is necessary for Thai society…? How should it be adapted to a democratic system?” and “How should we combat the culture of militarism and feudalism in Thai society?”
The online petition, launched by members of the Midnight University group, calls the investigation of Boonsong “an unprecedented… threat to academic freedom”.
“Such an action also indicates that attempts to use lèse majesté charge as a tool to impede freedom of expression among Thai people still exist, and now they have encroached into the academic realm,” it reads.
Under the penal code of Thailand, causing insult to the monarchy is a criminal offence carrying a penalty of three to 15 years in jail.
The full text of the petition is given below. It can be signed online at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/4bs2007/petition.html
Basil Fernando, executive director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, expressed his support for the embattled lecturer.
“It appears from this that a good teacher who was simply provoking his students to ask sensible and important questions about their society and form of government has been slapped over the head with an archaic law by persons with exactly the sort of feudal thinking that he was questioning in his classes,” Fernando said.
“It bodes ill for Thailand at a bad time for the country, when there are strenuous efforts to roll back all sorts of modern thinking and institutions in favour of those that serve only the interests of its elite,” he observed.
The head of the Hong-Kong based regional rights group was the 202nd person to add his name to the petition on Monday.
“We are encouraged by Assistant Professor Boonsong’s determination to not be bullied and strongly support calls to end this pointless criminal investigation,” Fernando wrote.
“There are, besides, many other things that the police in Thailand could and should be investigating,” he remarked.
Further details on the case can be found on the Prachatai website: http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=115
ONLINE PETITION: PLEASE SUPPORT ASST. PROF. BOONSONG CHAISINGHANON, AND OPPOSE THE THREAT TO ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Dear Friends of Thailand,
Asst. Prof. Boonsong Chaisinghanon, a philosophy lecturer of the Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University is reported to have received a letter from Asst. Prof. Maneepin Promsudhirak, Acting Dean of the Faculty, requesting the answer sheets and score details in Thai Civilization courses that Asst. Prof. Boonsong teaches. The letter reads;
“A request has been made by investigating officers of Muang District Provincial Police Station, Nakhon Pathom, for the answer sheets and scores given to students who sat the examinations for the Thai Civilization courses from the years of 2005 until the present. The documents will be used in the preparation of evidence for lèse majesté charges. Please send the said materials to the Faculty by 20 July 2007 for onward submission to the investigating officers.”
We the undersigned deem the move made by the investigating officers and the university administration an unprecedented gravest threat to academic freedom. Such an action also indicates that attempts to use lèse majesté charge as a tool to impede freedom of expression among Thai people still exist, and now they have encroached into the academic realm.
We the undersigned would like to send our moral support to Asst. Prof. Boonsong Chaisinghanon and demand that all attempts to severe academic freedom be immediately halted.
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The anti-coup and anti-Prem protests
I'm back! A few days ago my blog was locked by 'spambots' who somehow decided my blog was spam!!!
********************
The shocking rumour
Towards the end of this week, an alarming and shocking piece of false news spread throughout my area via SMS. The topic was so sensitive that I don't want to detail it here.
About the same time, The Nation ran a headline that did not mention the rumour but gave clear information to show the rumour was false. I wonder if TN got wind of the gossip but didn't want to refer to it directly due to the sensitive subject matter.
Did anyone else here this rumour? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please don't worry.
****************************
Photo from The Nation
"Pa Prem" is still widely admired and held in great affection by many Thais, to see violent demonstrations outside his residence is cause for alarm...... (This interview is a giveaway of Prem's aged outlook on the world)
On the surface, we see a group calling for one man to protest. Under the skin, we see a whole lot of power plays and various interests colliding, resulting in friction.
As discussed in my "Matroskya" blog, Thailand - like all nations - engages politics on several levels. Some visible to the public, some hidden and protected. A prevalent example of this is the protest and subsequent key members arrest of the DAAD (Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship).
The DAAD are ostensibly a group of civilians against the coup and the coup leaders. They bear a striking similarity in appearance (colours, headbands, etc) and behaviour to the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) a group that staged frequent street marches against Thaksin when he was PM and widely credited as being instrumental in his downfall.
The DAAD however, are on the other side of the spectrum. They have strong ties to various elements of the now dissolved TRT party. One of the main speakers of the DAAD is Chakrapob Penkair. His recent interview in The Nation was passionate and shockingly open. Chakrapob spoke undauntedly about who he held responsible for the coup, and suggested Prem "is destroying democracy."
But of course, General Prem is the privy councillor in a country that reveres its king. Prem is widely considered to be a highly trusted aide of His Majesty the King , some even consider the views aired by Prem to reflect those of the palace. It's a tenuous, sensitive issue that has caused charges of lese majeste in the past.
During the build up to the coup of last year, Prem publicly made several comments apparently aimed at Thaksin, who responded by suggesting a "charismatic figure outside the constitution" was conspiring against him.
So when - after the coup - the people's groups against the junta began protesting against General Prem and calling for him to reign his post, concerns were raised. The "mobs" have suggested that Prem engineered the coup and he must take responsibility.
It's hardly difficult to see the sensitivities of this issue. A group claiming that the octogenarian privy councillor engineered the coup alone is precarious. It sets a precedent for unrest between pro and anti Thaksin groups, aristocracy and working class, and tradition and progressive democracy.
So what will the long term effect be on the country? Certainly the junta face more pressure, the demonstrations are gaining in frequency and attention, despite the junta's best attempts to play the "They are small in number and paid for by Thaksin the devil" card. What's more, the junta are taking a gamble by charging the group leaders, it can be perceived as suppression of freedom by many and simply increase sympathy for the group
The junta have achieved little except to show they have no capacity or tolerance of protests, Prem is untouchable and they will deal with civilian protests not by arresting the few who cause violence, but by arresting the leaders such as the highly articulate Chakrapob to silence them.
My family has PAD connections. I am no fan of Thaksin, but as the military insult the intelligence of Thais by telling them every democracy group is "paid for by Thaksin", by dealing with every disturbance with intimidation, and by letting us know that Prem can behave as he likes without being held accountable, the tensions and disturbances can only increase.
********************
The shocking rumour
Towards the end of this week, an alarming and shocking piece of false news spread throughout my area via SMS. The topic was so sensitive that I don't want to detail it here.
About the same time, The Nation ran a headline that did not mention the rumour but gave clear information to show the rumour was false. I wonder if TN got wind of the gossip but didn't want to refer to it directly due to the sensitive subject matter.
Did anyone else here this rumour? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please don't worry.
****************************
DAAD vs The Junta
Photo from The Nation"Pa Prem" is still widely admired and held in great affection by many Thais, to see violent demonstrations outside his residence is cause for alarm...... (This interview is a giveaway of Prem's aged outlook on the world)
On the surface, we see a group calling for one man to protest. Under the skin, we see a whole lot of power plays and various interests colliding, resulting in friction.
As discussed in my "Matroskya" blog, Thailand - like all nations - engages politics on several levels. Some visible to the public, some hidden and protected. A prevalent example of this is the protest and subsequent key members arrest of the DAAD (Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship).
The DAAD are ostensibly a group of civilians against the coup and the coup leaders. They bear a striking similarity in appearance (colours, headbands, etc) and behaviour to the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) a group that staged frequent street marches against Thaksin when he was PM and widely credited as being instrumental in his downfall.
The DAAD however, are on the other side of the spectrum. They have strong ties to various elements of the now dissolved TRT party. One of the main speakers of the DAAD is Chakrapob Penkair. His recent interview in The Nation was passionate and shockingly open. Chakrapob spoke undauntedly about who he held responsible for the coup, and suggested Prem "is destroying democracy."
But of course, General Prem is the privy councillor in a country that reveres its king. Prem is widely considered to be a highly trusted aide of His Majesty the King , some even consider the views aired by Prem to reflect those of the palace. It's a tenuous, sensitive issue that has caused charges of lese majeste in the past.
During the build up to the coup of last year, Prem publicly made several comments apparently aimed at Thaksin, who responded by suggesting a "charismatic figure outside the constitution" was conspiring against him.
So when - after the coup - the people's groups against the junta began protesting against General Prem and calling for him to reign his post, concerns were raised. The "mobs" have suggested that Prem engineered the coup and he must take responsibility.
It's hardly difficult to see the sensitivities of this issue. A group claiming that the octogenarian privy councillor engineered the coup alone is precarious. It sets a precedent for unrest between pro and anti Thaksin groups, aristocracy and working class, and tradition and progressive democracy.
A small portion of the demonstrators threw rocks and other objects, attacked vehicles and violently assaulted police. The face charges, as do the leaders of the group.
So what will the long term effect be on the country? Certainly the junta face more pressure, the demonstrations are gaining in frequency and attention, despite the junta's best attempts to play the "They are small in number and paid for by Thaksin the devil" card. What's more, the junta are taking a gamble by charging the group leaders, it can be perceived as suppression of freedom by many and simply increase sympathy for the group
Photo from The Nation Thailand
The junta have achieved little except to show they have no capacity or tolerance of protests, Prem is untouchable and they will deal with civilian protests not by arresting the few who cause violence, but by arresting the leaders such as the highly articulate Chakrapob to silence them.
My family has PAD connections. I am no fan of Thaksin, but as the military insult the intelligence of Thais by telling them every democracy group is "paid for by Thaksin", by dealing with every disturbance with intimidation, and by letting us know that Prem can behave as he likes without being held accountable, the tensions and disturbances can only increase.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Article analysis: Father of Benz driver warns he will take legal action
Note this case will note receive any astute insights or comments from me. Rather I have used it as a true example of "real life Thailand" for it refects the gap between the upper and lower classes not only in terms of income but in terms of influence, atitude and perception in the law.
Published on Jul 6, 2007 in The Nation
Benz driver mows down 3 people, killing one, after incident with bus
Police are preparing to press a premeditated-murder charge against a 20-year-old man who swerved his Mercedes-Benz car into a crowd of people on a footpath in Bangkok shortly after he attacked a bus driver with a rock on Wednesday night.
The incident critically injured three people, one of whom died yesterday.
I'm sure any sane person would feel huge sympathy for victims of this tragic accident. Sadly road deaths are commonplace in Thailand.
The driver was identified as Kanpitak Pachimsawas. He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.
There are three factors here that distinguish this case. The first is the fact that the accident was deliberate and in full view in a tourist area, the second is that it was a 'high society' young man driving the car, the third is, of course, the fact that his mother is a former Miss Thailand.
The driver was identified as Kanpitak Pachimsawas. He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.
That last clause is crucial. Need I say more?
After he swerved his car into the crowd and ran over three victims, witnesses attacked him. As of yesterday, Kan-anek said his son was crying all the time and was depressed.
"He has suppressed his feelings since he was young. He often became stressed out and hospitalised," Kan-anek said.
The father said his son had recently lost consciousness and was sent to hospital. "He has suffered from stress relating to his girlfriend and his mum," he said.
He said he had taken care of Kanpitak from Monday to Friday, while Savinee had taken care of him on weekends. "From now on, I won't let my son drive. He will also enter the monkhood in dedication to his victims," Kan-anek said.
The father also expressed deep condolences to the victims and offered to compensate them
These comments will be met with a contrast later on, as we shall see.
Adisorn reckoned that Kanpitak had an underlying disease that made him unable to control himself. "We have to check his health history and interrogate doctors," Adisorn said. Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute director Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat said Kanpitak had paid three visits to the institute as an outpatient.
"The first time was on March 9 and the last time was in April," he said.
However, Sirisak declined to disclose any further details because he needed to protect the patient's rights. The institute treats people with mental problems.
On Wednesday night, Kanpitak complained to Pol Sgt-Major Nukool Dechaphan that a bus had brushed against his sedan. "I flagged down the bus," Nukool said.
The bus stopped and Nukool was about to examine the vehicles when he heard Kanpitak fighting with bus driver Sathaporn Arunsiri, 37.
Sathaporn yesterday testified to investigators at Thonglor police station that he was checking on the Benz sedan when Kanpitak banged his face with a rock.
"I became groggy and then saw the man banging his Benz into the crowd," Sathaporn said.
The bus driver insisted that his vehicle did not brush with Kanpitak's luxury car. He believed the young man might have misunderstood what had happened.
"I have been driving for seven years and I have never been involved in any accident," Sathaporn said.
Fare collector Somjit Klaewkla stood by Sathaporn's account. "Our bus didn't do anything. There was no brushing accident," she said.
She said some passengers pointed their fingers at Kanpitak and used their camera phones to photograph his face after they were asked to get off the bus. When a bus is involved in an accident, passengers have to get off and wait for a new bus to come.
"I believe the man got angry and therefore swerved his car into where we were standing," Somjit said. She said she had sustained only minor injuries. Another survivor, Ratchanee Jiew, 58, also said the bus did not brush against any vehicle.
If these facts are found to be correct, this sounds like a brutal and shocking incident.
She said some passengers pointed their fingers at Kanpitak and used their camera phones to photograph his face after they were asked to get off the bus.
When a bus is involved in an accident, passengers have to get off and wait for a new bus to come.
"I believe the man got angry and therefore swerved his car into where we were standing," Somjit said. She said she had sustained only minor injuries.
Another survivor, Ratchanee Jiew, 58, also said the bus did not brush against any vehicle. Sathaporn also told police that a man, who identified himself as the father of the car's driver, threatened to harm his wife and children. "He said he knew many senior police and military officers. The threat was made in front of police officers. I am scared," Sathaporn said.
Why would this woman have reason to lie? If the allegations are true, they cause great concern. We can all understand the reactions of a father who has just heard devastating news might be in denial, but is that what we are seeing allegedly in this case or something else?
Published in The Nation Jul 7, 2007
The father of a 20-year-old man who killed one person and seriously injured three others when he drove over them in his car has hit back with threats of legal action against bystanders.
Kan-anek Pachimsawas yesterday vowed to take legal action against people who damaged his son's Mercedes-Benz vehicle after he had driven into them at a bus stop near Sukhumvit Soi 26 on Wednes-day evening.
One of the victims of the incident died on Thursday and three others remain in critical condition.
And while these people lay dying, their families overcome with devastating, heart wrenching grief, this man appears on TV and threatens legal action against the people who allegedly damaged a Mercedes car.
The incident occurred after Kanpitak apparently became angered by a bus driver following a traffic altercation. A rock was thrown at the bus driver.
Nine victims made police complaints against the driver, Kanpitak, the son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pakaranang.
But Kan-anek yesterday threatened legal action of his own. He offered rewards for any witness who captured the alleged deliberate damage to the vehicle on video or mobile-telephone camera.
He insisted the incident was the result of a disease suffered by his son and told television news later that an "uneducated and low-class person" had incited the incident.
Note the quotation here, for it is revealing. Every country has class divides but Thailand's gap is far greater than most western countries. The driver of the car would be known as "hi-so" meaning "high society" one of the top ten percent or so whose income would be exponentially greater than even the middle classes. Members of this group often believe - and are sometimes perceived to be - above the law. The bus conductor would be viewed by them as lower class.
The story prompted Internet users to post scathing attacks at popular chat sites, many of them directed at Kan-anek.
"I will compensate the victims as deemed necessary and appropriate. But the compensation amount must not be too much," Kan-anek said later. These comments were made on TV, by the way.He added that his son was unable to move his legs because of thrombosis. Kanpitak is currently in Samitivej Hospital.
"My son is so sad he told me he wanted to die," Kan-anek said. He added it was as if his son had been possessed at the time of the fatal act. "He's a man with a kind heart," the father added.
I believe sons often turn out to reflect the morals taught to them by their father.
Savinee will attend the funeral of victim Saichon Luangsaeng, but Kan-anek will not go "for safety reasons". "I just gave a television interview and used harsh words," he said.
Kanpitak accuses the bus of scraping his luxury car. Following his throwing of a rock at the driver, passengers were asked to leave the bus. When they blamed Kanpitak for the inconvenience and rock-throwing incident, he allegedly drove his car into the crowd.
The bus driver initially maintained there had been no collision but tests show the two vehicles had made contact.
However, Thonglor police maintain the incidents are separate. Superintendent Colonel Jirapat Phumisit said 10 witnesses had been questioned and police would soon interview Kanpitak.
"However, we are yet to get permission from his doctors," Jirapat said.
According to Kan-anek, the doctor who treated Kanpitak at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute earlier this year is overseas and yet to explain the young man's condition to investigators. The institute treats people for mental problems.
Saichon's daughter Sucheera Insunawan, 25, is finding it difficult to accept her mother's death.
"He [Kanpitak] should apologise to my mother. If he comes, I can forgive him and I believe my mother will forgive him too," she said.
The recent university graduate said she now had to take care of the family's condominium mortgage and her 15-year-old, mentally disabled cousin.
My heart goes out to this young woman. I hope she finds the strength to carry on and that justice is served.
Published on Jul 6, 2007 in The Nation
Benz driver mows down 3 people, killing one, after incident with bus
Police are preparing to press a premeditated-murder charge against a 20-year-old man who swerved his Mercedes-Benz car into a crowd of people on a footpath in Bangkok shortly after he attacked a bus driver with a rock on Wednesday night.
The incident critically injured three people, one of whom died yesterday.
I'm sure any sane person would feel huge sympathy for victims of this tragic accident. Sadly road deaths are commonplace in Thailand.
The driver was identified as Kanpitak Pachimsawas. He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.
There are three factors here that distinguish this case. The first is the fact that the accident was deliberate and in full view in a tourist area, the second is that it was a 'high society' young man driving the car, the third is, of course, the fact that his mother is a former Miss Thailand.
The driver was identified as Kanpitak Pachimsawas. He is a son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pachimsawas, 42, and Kan-anek Pachimsawas. Kan-anek's elder brother is Lt-General Ukrit Pachimsawas, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.
That last clause is crucial. Need I say more?
After he swerved his car into the crowd and ran over three victims, witnesses attacked him. As of yesterday, Kan-anek said his son was crying all the time and was depressed.
"He has suppressed his feelings since he was young. He often became stressed out and hospitalised," Kan-anek said.
The father said his son had recently lost consciousness and was sent to hospital. "He has suffered from stress relating to his girlfriend and his mum," he said.
He said he had taken care of Kanpitak from Monday to Friday, while Savinee had taken care of him on weekends. "From now on, I won't let my son drive. He will also enter the monkhood in dedication to his victims," Kan-anek said.
The father also expressed deep condolences to the victims and offered to compensate them
These comments will be met with a contrast later on, as we shall see.
Adisorn reckoned that Kanpitak had an underlying disease that made him unable to control himself. "We have to check his health history and interrogate doctors," Adisorn said. Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute director Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat said Kanpitak had paid three visits to the institute as an outpatient.
"The first time was on March 9 and the last time was in April," he said.
However, Sirisak declined to disclose any further details because he needed to protect the patient's rights. The institute treats people with mental problems.
On Wednesday night, Kanpitak complained to Pol Sgt-Major Nukool Dechaphan that a bus had brushed against his sedan. "I flagged down the bus," Nukool said.
The bus stopped and Nukool was about to examine the vehicles when he heard Kanpitak fighting with bus driver Sathaporn Arunsiri, 37.
Sathaporn yesterday testified to investigators at Thonglor police station that he was checking on the Benz sedan when Kanpitak banged his face with a rock.
"I became groggy and then saw the man banging his Benz into the crowd," Sathaporn said.
The bus driver insisted that his vehicle did not brush with Kanpitak's luxury car. He believed the young man might have misunderstood what had happened.
"I have been driving for seven years and I have never been involved in any accident," Sathaporn said.
Fare collector Somjit Klaewkla stood by Sathaporn's account. "Our bus didn't do anything. There was no brushing accident," she said.
She said some passengers pointed their fingers at Kanpitak and used their camera phones to photograph his face after they were asked to get off the bus. When a bus is involved in an accident, passengers have to get off and wait for a new bus to come.
"I believe the man got angry and therefore swerved his car into where we were standing," Somjit said. She said she had sustained only minor injuries. Another survivor, Ratchanee Jiew, 58, also said the bus did not brush against any vehicle.
If these facts are found to be correct, this sounds like a brutal and shocking incident.
She said some passengers pointed their fingers at Kanpitak and used their camera phones to photograph his face after they were asked to get off the bus.
When a bus is involved in an accident, passengers have to get off and wait for a new bus to come.
"I believe the man got angry and therefore swerved his car into where we were standing," Somjit said. She said she had sustained only minor injuries.
Another survivor, Ratchanee Jiew, 58, also said the bus did not brush against any vehicle. Sathaporn also told police that a man, who identified himself as the father of the car's driver, threatened to harm his wife and children. "He said he knew many senior police and military officers. The threat was made in front of police officers. I am scared," Sathaporn said.
Why would this woman have reason to lie? If the allegations are true, they cause great concern. We can all understand the reactions of a father who has just heard devastating news might be in denial, but is that what we are seeing allegedly in this case or something else?
Published in The Nation Jul 7, 2007
The father of a 20-year-old man who killed one person and seriously injured three others when he drove over them in his car has hit back with threats of legal action against bystanders.
Kan-anek Pachimsawas yesterday vowed to take legal action against people who damaged his son's Mercedes-Benz vehicle after he had driven into them at a bus stop near Sukhumvit Soi 26 on Wednes-day evening.
One of the victims of the incident died on Thursday and three others remain in critical condition.
And while these people lay dying, their families overcome with devastating, heart wrenching grief, this man appears on TV and threatens legal action against the people who allegedly damaged a Mercedes car.
The incident occurred after Kanpitak apparently became angered by a bus driver following a traffic altercation. A rock was thrown at the bus driver.
Nine victims made police complaints against the driver, Kanpitak, the son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pakaranang.
But Kan-anek yesterday threatened legal action of his own. He offered rewards for any witness who captured the alleged deliberate damage to the vehicle on video or mobile-telephone camera.
He insisted the incident was the result of a disease suffered by his son and told television news later that an "uneducated and low-class person" had incited the incident.
Note the quotation here, for it is revealing. Every country has class divides but Thailand's gap is far greater than most western countries. The driver of the car would be known as "hi-so" meaning "high society" one of the top ten percent or so whose income would be exponentially greater than even the middle classes. Members of this group often believe - and are sometimes perceived to be - above the law. The bus conductor would be viewed by them as lower class.
The story prompted Internet users to post scathing attacks at popular chat sites, many of them directed at Kan-anek.
"I will compensate the victims as deemed necessary and appropriate. But the compensation amount must not be too much," Kan-anek said later. These comments were made on TV, by the way.He added that his son was unable to move his legs because of thrombosis. Kanpitak is currently in Samitivej Hospital.
"My son is so sad he told me he wanted to die," Kan-anek said. He added it was as if his son had been possessed at the time of the fatal act. "He's a man with a kind heart," the father added.
I believe sons often turn out to reflect the morals taught to them by their father.
Savinee will attend the funeral of victim Saichon Luangsaeng, but Kan-anek will not go "for safety reasons". "I just gave a television interview and used harsh words," he said.
Kanpitak accuses the bus of scraping his luxury car. Following his throwing of a rock at the driver, passengers were asked to leave the bus. When they blamed Kanpitak for the inconvenience and rock-throwing incident, he allegedly drove his car into the crowd.
The bus driver initially maintained there had been no collision but tests show the two vehicles had made contact.
However, Thonglor police maintain the incidents are separate. Superintendent Colonel Jirapat Phumisit said 10 witnesses had been questioned and police would soon interview Kanpitak.
"However, we are yet to get permission from his doctors," Jirapat said.
According to Kan-anek, the doctor who treated Kanpitak at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute earlier this year is overseas and yet to explain the young man's condition to investigators. The institute treats people for mental problems.
Saichon's daughter Sucheera Insunawan, 25, is finding it difficult to accept her mother's death.
"He [Kanpitak] should apologise to my mother. If he comes, I can forgive him and I believe my mother will forgive him too," she said.
The recent university graduate said she now had to take care of the family's condominium mortgage and her 15-year-old, mentally disabled cousin.
My heart goes out to this young woman. I hope she finds the strength to carry on and that justice is served.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Top brass and low logic
An article citing a previous topic from my blog - top brass and their reliance on ancient forms of nonsense.
Credit to Bangkok Post 9/6/07 for this one:
So does this mean those who correctly foretold that Thaksin would be overthrown are also "gifted"? That's a lot of gifted people!
Credit to Bangkok Post 9/6/07 for this one:
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday warned key members of the Council for National Security (CNS) not to base any of their political decisions on superstitious beliefs. Mr Abhisit said people could not be expected to accept key decisions made by the ruling military council if they were based on such irrationality.
This is the best plus for Abhisit I've ever seen. Even billionaire Thaksin was known to make use of fortune tellers and Shaman.
His comments were in response to reports that CNS chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin and other members of the military were heading to Chiang Mai today to consult renowned fortune teller Varin Buaviratlert. They reportedly want the fortune teller to perform magical rites to change the country's destiny following rising political tensions.
However Gen Sonthi denied the rumour, saying he was only meeting with the fortune teller for a meal.
The reports coincided with rumours that Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also plans to visit the same fortune teller today at his house in the Sukhito housing estate.
And indeed she did. The most powerful people in politics are basing their futures on a quack science that doesn't work, has never ever provided any useful or accurate information and has failed numerous scientific tests because it is not real.
A reliable source close to Mr Varin said today was a special Saturday with certain stars gaining strength, making it appropriate for a rite to avert bad luck.
Mr Abhisit said he did not know if the reports were true or not, but stressed that the coup makers should base their decisions on logic, not superstition.
It is normal for people in a confused state to turn to something or someone they can rely on, Mr Abhisit said. But to solve problems that affect the majority, all sides should use their brains and consciousness to find solutions, the Democrat leader added.
Commenting on reports of a possible change of prime minister, Mr Abhisit said there must be sound reasons for such a move. Decisions made by those in power must be explainable, he said. If any were driven by superstitious beliefs, no one would accept them, he warned.
A source said Khunying Potjaman, one of Mr Varin's regular clients, arrived at Chiang Mai airport at 11.30am yesterday. She briefly visited her Green Valley residence before heading for Doi Suthep to pay homage to Buddha relics at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. She is reportedly scheduled to visit him at his house today.
However, a close aide to Mr Varin denied that the military men of the CNS wanted him to perform a sueb duang chata (life prolonging) ceremony for them. The CNS leaders simply wanted to visit the fortune teller, the aide said.
Mr Varin gained Gen Sonthi's trust and became his personal seer after he correctly foretold Gen Sonthi's appointment as army chief. The fortune teller also previously correctly foretold that Gen Chaisit Shinawatra and Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Gen Sonthi's predecessors, would clinch the top army job.
So does this mean those who correctly foretold that Thaksin would be overthrown are also "gifted"? That's a lot of gifted people!
Before the Sept 19 coup, he also predicted that Gen Sonthi would lead a coup, citing that the army chief, in a previous life, had been a close aide of the late King Taksin the Great. He also predicted that Gen Sonthi would become prime minister. No comment.
Mr Varin formerly served as a rural teacher in government service, a source said. After leaving his teaching job, he reportedly met a hermit while travelling through the jungles in Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao district.
The hermit told him he possessed a 3,000-year old hermit's spirit, which gave him the powers of prediction.
Did it also include one ring to rule them all?
He then took up fortune-telling, his clients being mainly businessmen and military officers.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
The battle of wills between Thai government and Google Youtube stepped up a level this week when the MICT (Ministry for Information Communications Technology) announced it will/want/might/shall sue Youtube.
Rather than repeat an entire story, I will - as a one off - copy the style of other bloggers by copying over the entire Bangkok Post article and offering my own comments on the way.
Thailand's Information and Communications Technology Ministry will sue YouTube.com for running a video clip offending the monarchy, and accused the Internet operator of lying when it claimed it could not remove the clip.
This is the same Sittichi who admits the Internet for him is "not exciting" and confesses he is not "tech savvy" telling the fastest growing internet firm about their own technology.
ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom told a meeting of Webmasters yesterday that he would proceed with court action as suggested by the forum.
He said Google, which owns YouTube, had agreed to China's request that some clips be censored. He said he could not see why YouTube could not do the same for Thailand.
"This YouTube issue is about a private firm in the U.S. trying to bully a small country like Thailand," Mr Sitthichai said.
Yes you got that right. Make no mistake, the MICT are part of the junta. The military coup faction - who took power through tanks, guns and soldiers and then displayed utter incompetence at their job have accused Google You Tube - who have recently spent substantial sums to setting up a charity arm of the company to help impoverished countries - of being "bullies" for not obeying Thailand's lese majeste laws over in America.
The government's decision to block access to the clips was not politically motivated as it was done to prevent public anger from watching them.
Paiboon Amornpinyokiat, consultant of the Thai Webmasters Association, recommended the government secure a court order in the United States to coax YouTube into cooperation. He said the government's approach to the issue may be construed ("construed" as in "clearly was") as an order, to which the Web site may be reluctant to respond.
No mention so far as to what act or law will be used to enforce this. I'm no legal expert, but I fail to see how a law broken in Thailand can be used to sue an American business.
Lese majeste is illegal (in Thailand not in the US!!!!!!) and so it was reasonable for the government to seek a court order (in the US?) to ban the Web site, he said.
The minister and representatives of the association joined a discussion on freedom of expression in the digital age at the Thai Journalists Association on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day yesterday.
Mr Sitthichai, meanwhile, denied the government had violated media freedom, saying it blocked only 16 Web sites as opposed to 9,000 Web sites banned by the previous government.
This is a either an out and out lie, a mistranslation or spin. There are just as many sites blocked now and in fact, I think what Sitthichai means is that they have only blocked sixteen more since he came in. I also view this statistic with great scepticism.
Though non-elected, the government was more democratic, he said. (I'm lost for words here)
Paiboon proposed the government promote self-censorship among Webmasters.
Pantip.com founder Wanchat Padungrat said that instead of blocking Web sites, the government should encourage constructive ways of expression, for the sake of reconciliation. He said a clear and specific law was needed to combat cybercrimes.
Also Thursday, YouTube's owner Google opened an office in Singapore, in a move thought to be unrelated to the Thailand dispute.
The search juggernaut said it wanted to be closer to its customers and advertisers in Southeast Asia, a market of half a billion people.
In addition to the above, the Radio Thailand news bulletin yesterday quoted the MICT as saying( and I quote this carefully) :
"The MICT said the government should look into enforcing its Lese Majeste laws throughout the world"
If you didn't know they mean it, you'd laugh your head off.
HM The King has already said in his birthday speech that he welcomes criticism. However, Lese Majeste laws deter this.
Imagine, you are sitting in a bar in Australia, your home in the States or a library in England. You see a documentary or read a book and you make a comment concerning sufficiency economy or voice concern over certain other issues I dare not mention. If these Junta had their way, you'd be whisked off to a court house. It's bad enough they restrict freedom to their own nation.
To believe they should do it "throughout the world" shows not only how outmoded they are, but just how insecure and out of touch with reality they are to think they have the means, right, respect, or ability to do so.
The good people of Thailand are more than capable of making up their own minds without thought control from the antiqauted junta.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
More potshots
Thank goodness April is over. The hottest month of the year is oppressive. It's not just the heat but the accompanying humidity that can be very difficult to live with. Bizarrely, we have since been bestowed with four days of almost endless rain, something unknown to many locals.
The junta continue to establish their legacy as a real life version of Dad's Army. Sections of the US media have attacked Thailand on intellectual property violations and compulsory licensing. The hidden agenda here related to the fact that Abbott Pharmaceuticals have been antagonised by compulsory licensing to their AIDS drug in Thailand. The fact that CL has lowered the price for HIV afflicted consumers is not of their concern. Abbot, along with a US lobbying firm that includes ousted PM Thaksin amongst their clientele, have launched media tirades from across the pond at the Thai government.
The junta have not responded well. As ever, they project their bungling , nepotism gifted and outmoded image by threatening to take the action Thaksin took moths ago - hiring a PR firm. Other PR tactics include loans to the poor and censoring all marches , rallies and websites that oppose them. Surprise , surprise, these were also Thaksin maneuvers. Every time the junta seem to make fools of themselves, they compound it by taking retaliatory measures identical to those of the man they ousted because he was "bad".
Given Thaksin's recent bid to purchase Manchester City we can only wonder - will the junta respond by sending him to jail for corruption of making a desperate bid for a football club themselves? It may sound pathetic but don't rule it out.
In a related move, PM Surayud - one of the few in charge who still has the respect of most people, has taken the incredibly dangerous move of suggesting amnesty for terrorists and rebels in the south. His exact quote was "amnesty provided they have not broken a criminal law of Thailand" which begs the question: what self respecting terrorist does not break the law? It seems that we have not yet learnt that offering peace to the bloodthirsty is perceived as a sign of weakness. Offering amnesty to killers as far as I am concerned is a sign of surrender.
One reader Abdel sent some very interesting comments on one of my recent blogs concerning Islam. I contacted him and he very kindly agreed to let me blog his comments and respond to them. I also promised Abdel a chance to reply to my own comments. Stay tuned.
The junta continue to establish their legacy as a real life version of Dad's Army. Sections of the US media have attacked Thailand on intellectual property violations and compulsory licensing. The hidden agenda here related to the fact that Abbott Pharmaceuticals have been antagonised by compulsory licensing to their AIDS drug in Thailand. The fact that CL has lowered the price for HIV afflicted consumers is not of their concern. Abbot, along with a US lobbying firm that includes ousted PM Thaksin amongst their clientele, have launched media tirades from across the pond at the Thai government.
The junta have not responded well. As ever, they project their bungling , nepotism gifted and outmoded image by threatening to take the action Thaksin took moths ago - hiring a PR firm. Other PR tactics include loans to the poor and censoring all marches , rallies and websites that oppose them. Surprise , surprise, these were also Thaksin maneuvers. Every time the junta seem to make fools of themselves, they compound it by taking retaliatory measures identical to those of the man they ousted because he was "bad".
Given Thaksin's recent bid to purchase Manchester City we can only wonder - will the junta respond by sending him to jail for corruption of making a desperate bid for a football club themselves? It may sound pathetic but don't rule it out.
In a related move, PM Surayud - one of the few in charge who still has the respect of most people, has taken the incredibly dangerous move of suggesting amnesty for terrorists and rebels in the south. His exact quote was "amnesty provided they have not broken a criminal law of Thailand" which begs the question: what self respecting terrorist does not break the law? It seems that we have not yet learnt that offering peace to the bloodthirsty is perceived as a sign of weakness. Offering amnesty to killers as far as I am concerned is a sign of surrender.
One reader Abdel sent some very interesting comments on one of my recent blogs concerning Islam. I contacted him and he very kindly agreed to let me blog his comments and respond to them. I also promised Abdel a chance to reply to my own comments. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Ghosts and susperstitions in Thailand
What do Bill Clinton and General Sondhi have in common? Denial of "sexual relations"? An endearing yet somehow occasionally irritating tone of voice? Maybe, but that's not the answer I'm looking for.
In fact both men have used astrologers for purposes of political prognostication.
In defence of Bill, reports state it was actually Hilary who consulted an astrologer for purposes of guidance (yes, that would be the same Hilary leading the polls right now) whereas general Sondhi has no such excuse. He has consulted a famous Thai fortune teller ever since the same seer "forecast" Thaksin's downfall.
Sondhi is not alone. Thaksin Shiniwat also consulted an astrologer and a shaman on a regular basis and actually refused to talk to press for an entire month because of negative planetary alignments. The same fortune teller did not forewarn of the coup, but this seemed to go unnoticed.
With men in such positions of power behaving in such antiquated manners, can we really criticise the rest of the nation for their staunchly superstitious beliefs?
Thais from any class have strong adherence to rituals and superstitions. Most Thais will have a "spirit house" outside their home to accommodate local spirits and blessed Buddhist amulets are a fixture in most taxis and buses as a safety charm. The same style amulets are often worn around the necks of males. The higher the rank of the monk who blessed the amulet, the higher the fee.
Many Thais believe strongly in spirits. Teachers (not students) in my old government school would ask me - in all seriousness - how I could stay alone in a classroom without being afraid of "the ghost". After the tsunami ravaged Phi Phi, Thais refused to visit for fear of stalking spooks. Hospital workers have often relayed to me tales of deceased patients walking the corridors at night. One girl told me a "ghost" walked so close to her she could actually read the name on the death tag.
Thai males often seek tattoos drawn by monks using a traditional bamboo needle , as they believe the tattoos bestow magical powers. A former colleague once told me to "be careful" because a local man had been knocking on doors in our village and using "black magic" to make people give him their valuables. The man only had to touch someone to cast the spell. These are not simpletons relaying these tales, they are educated and respected members of the community.
During the early operating days of Suvarnabhumi Airport, so much 'bad luck' and so many strange sightings occurred that a group of high ranking monks were called in to bless the airport. During their chants, a man came from nowhere and claimed to be possessed by a well known Chinese spirit. The spirit "demanded" the building of a spirit house. When the monks agreed, the "possessed" man passed out and had no recollection of what happened when he awoke.
The locals are not alone in this of course. It was a fellow teacher and friend that prompted this blog by his report of seeing a ghost in his English home. It's difficult to gauge just how many Brits believe in ghosts but I'd wager the number is less than Thailand.
So what, then, is the reason for the firm Thai beliefs? It would be easy to be snide and say lack of development is the root of the issue, but while such cynical and possibly offensive assumptions may unfortunately have a drip of truth , I'm sure that's not the whole picture.
A very bright private student of mine actually asked me the preceding question during class. I spent forty minutes trying to give an effective answer. What it boiled down to was religious doctrine and inherited culture. While less than ten percent of Brits are now practising Christians, the idea of heaven and hell - and thus spirits leaving the world - has taken root. As such, our psychological make up encourages us to be sceptical if we see something we don't understand. We don't automatically interpret the strange light we just saw in the hospital as a passing ghost, because many of "us" don't have that trail of logic.
In contrast, Buddhists have no belief in heaven or hell as such, they believe spirits move between "planes". Since most Thais are practising Buddhists, their logical trail allows for spirits to be seen and heard. Thus, the perception functions in the brain are far more likely to interpret and therefore visualise unidentified phenomena as spirits. Remember those "mind trick" pictures like the two faces that is also a vase? It's the same principle, when confronted with an unclear or confusing picture, the mind tries to "fill in" the details by matching the picture against previous experiences or beliefs.
Of course, because we "see" something doesn't really mean it's there.
Being a Buddhist in philosophy if not religion myself, I have no problem with other's belief in spirits , etc. but I do think I can pose a problem when it becomes open to abuse. I don't want a country's coup to be decided by the alignment of the planets, I don't like the idea of poor people spending a lot of cash on an amulet because they think it will bring them merit, and I certainly don't like corrupt politicians refusing to give answers because mars is in the wrong place.
That's no fault of the lovely Thais though, it's a fault of all mankind. We can't accept we are just "flesh and bones" , we always look for the reassuring idea that we don't just die and disappear.
In fact both men have used astrologers for purposes of political prognostication.
In defence of Bill, reports state it was actually Hilary who consulted an astrologer for purposes of guidance (yes, that would be the same Hilary leading the polls right now) whereas general Sondhi has no such excuse. He has consulted a famous Thai fortune teller ever since the same seer "forecast" Thaksin's downfall.
Sondhi is not alone. Thaksin Shiniwat also consulted an astrologer and a shaman on a regular basis and actually refused to talk to press for an entire month because of negative planetary alignments. The same fortune teller did not forewarn of the coup, but this seemed to go unnoticed.
With men in such positions of power behaving in such antiquated manners, can we really criticise the rest of the nation for their staunchly superstitious beliefs?
Thais from any class have strong adherence to rituals and superstitions. Most Thais will have a "spirit house" outside their home to accommodate local spirits and blessed Buddhist amulets are a fixture in most taxis and buses as a safety charm. The same style amulets are often worn around the necks of males. The higher the rank of the monk who blessed the amulet, the higher the fee.
Many Thais believe strongly in spirits. Teachers (not students) in my old government school would ask me - in all seriousness - how I could stay alone in a classroom without being afraid of "the ghost". After the tsunami ravaged Phi Phi, Thais refused to visit for fear of stalking spooks. Hospital workers have often relayed to me tales of deceased patients walking the corridors at night. One girl told me a "ghost" walked so close to her she could actually read the name on the death tag.
Thai males often seek tattoos drawn by monks using a traditional bamboo needle , as they believe the tattoos bestow magical powers. A former colleague once told me to "be careful" because a local man had been knocking on doors in our village and using "black magic" to make people give him their valuables. The man only had to touch someone to cast the spell. These are not simpletons relaying these tales, they are educated and respected members of the community.
During the early operating days of Suvarnabhumi Airport, so much 'bad luck' and so many strange sightings occurred that a group of high ranking monks were called in to bless the airport. During their chants, a man came from nowhere and claimed to be possessed by a well known Chinese spirit. The spirit "demanded" the building of a spirit house. When the monks agreed, the "possessed" man passed out and had no recollection of what happened when he awoke.
The locals are not alone in this of course. It was a fellow teacher and friend that prompted this blog by his report of seeing a ghost in his English home. It's difficult to gauge just how many Brits believe in ghosts but I'd wager the number is less than Thailand.
So what, then, is the reason for the firm Thai beliefs? It would be easy to be snide and say lack of development is the root of the issue, but while such cynical and possibly offensive assumptions may unfortunately have a drip of truth , I'm sure that's not the whole picture.
A very bright private student of mine actually asked me the preceding question during class. I spent forty minutes trying to give an effective answer. What it boiled down to was religious doctrine and inherited culture. While less than ten percent of Brits are now practising Christians, the idea of heaven and hell - and thus spirits leaving the world - has taken root. As such, our psychological make up encourages us to be sceptical if we see something we don't understand. We don't automatically interpret the strange light we just saw in the hospital as a passing ghost, because many of "us" don't have that trail of logic.
In contrast, Buddhists have no belief in heaven or hell as such, they believe spirits move between "planes". Since most Thais are practising Buddhists, their logical trail allows for spirits to be seen and heard. Thus, the perception functions in the brain are far more likely to interpret and therefore visualise unidentified phenomena as spirits. Remember those "mind trick" pictures like the two faces that is also a vase? It's the same principle, when confronted with an unclear or confusing picture, the mind tries to "fill in" the details by matching the picture against previous experiences or beliefs.
Of course, because we "see" something doesn't really mean it's there.
Being a Buddhist in philosophy if not religion myself, I have no problem with other's belief in spirits , etc. but I do think I can pose a problem when it becomes open to abuse. I don't want a country's coup to be decided by the alignment of the planets, I don't like the idea of poor people spending a lot of cash on an amulet because they think it will bring them merit, and I certainly don't like corrupt politicians refusing to give answers because mars is in the wrong place.
That's no fault of the lovely Thais though, it's a fault of all mankind. We can't accept we are just "flesh and bones" , we always look for the reassuring idea that we don't just die and disappear.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Thailand Vs Google youtube
If there is a Thai equivalent to the old adage "There's no rest for the wicked", then Thailand's ruling junta must be asking themselves just how bad their karma is right now.
As if the escalating tensions between the junta and the PTV (see my previous blog) and various other anti-coup groups were not enough, eh? Protests are becoming more popular and various allegations of graft and abuse of power are doing the rounds. This being Thailand, it's very rare for anyone to actually be specific, simply because everybody has some blackmail on some one else so a typical allegation is simply "a man who recently came to power has been extorting the TV stations". Another popular allegation method is to use some silly epithet. For example: "Chinese older sister has been alluding to evade tax" and so on. The junta have made counter threats as thinly veiled as possible against protesters as well as suggesting they have all been sponsored by "ostracised politicians". All to no avail, protests continue.
It seems the old brass are not learning by error though. About one week ago, an appallingly badly made "movie" on youtube.com depicted pictures of HM The King accompanied by bad quality music slowly having some kind of lines drawn across the picture. It resembled the work of a maladjusted hermit. Had it been ignored, it would have faded away. But, in their infinite wisdom, the MICT or ICT (Ministry of Information and Computer Technology) decided to ban it.
Before we knew it the issue had mutated from a bad and vulgar but unpopular video to an international expose of insecurity, lese majeste and restrictions on freedoms in Thailand.
There was nothing new about this decision. ICT have been revelling in their self appointed role of purity guardians for a long time, and any of their staff will proudly quote the number of blocked sites as being well into the thousands. What was new this time around however was that the blocked site wasn't internal pornography or a local university website that dared to question the coup, this time the victim was a very popular international American nerd site. And of course, western nerds don't like being told what the hell to think.
After the usual tactic of denying responsibility didn't work out, the ICT accepted they had blocked the site and "demanded" youtube take down the video. Youtube initially refused but eventually succumbed -- presumably due to the drop in advertising revenue for the region -- and removed the offending "clip". However, the first frame (i.e. a still picture) remained viewable. The ICT continued the ban and again "demanded" that even the first frame go down. This time, a collectively vexed youtube issued a statement explaining they "will not assist censorship."
Having lost face, the ICT responded in the only sensible, modern and adult manner possible. Like a kid in the playground that doesn't want to admit he lost at marbles , the nation's moral thought police responded with "We were right, and to show we were right we'll ban more sites!". And indeed, the ICT made an official notice of more closures and official "warnings" to other sites. This time though, they played it safe and stuck to bullying Thai websites. The most popular Thai newspapers which print pictures of dead and mutilated bodies of woman and children on its cover almost every single day, remain non - samizdat.
The backlash against such censorship was inevitable and, in my opinion, self inflicted by the medieval level of incompetence and maladjustment by the ICT. Various other forms of disrespect to sacred Thai institutions have appeared on line and youtube have issued a statement offering to "educate" the ICT on how to block a specific video rather than an entire site. The offer appeared genuine but the stress placed on the word "educate" means a further loss of face to our juvenile minded moral guardians and , ergo, more tantrums and more censorship from Big Brother seems sure to follow.
The ICT represents a microcosm of Thailand's developmental conundrum. They want to be viewed as a modern, developed country with rich tradition, yet the rulers are neither modern nor developed. Their Jurassic beliefs that people will respond to cogency dictatorship and their embarrassing level of incompetence at communications censorship has bought nothing but problems for Siam. It smacks of insecurity and hidden agendas. What's more, it may prove to be ultimately self defeating. It seems that for the first time in a long time, Thais are actually starting to ask something to the effect of: "If people have nothing to hide, why are we not allowed to criticise them?" A good question indeed.
A bizarre cartoon and a silly reader's letter appeared in 'The Nation Thailand' today. The letter slated Google for its defence statement: "we also have videos mocking George Bush on our site". The writer stated "Effigies of Bush are burned across the world by those who revere the Thai king." I found this statement in condemnation of Google not only false, but bizarre. The writer seemed to be using the logic "If the person is already disrespected it's OK to do it on youtube, otherwise, it should be censored".
I suspect fanatics like this are the people who would most benefit from a dose of global reality and un - manufactured truth. Freedom of speech does not allow freedom to incite or encourage harm, but it most certainly does include freedom to say something we might not like.
One can only hope some good comes out of this. Some foolishly optimistic part of me hopes that the ICT will learn that not only is it wrong to tell people what to think, it's impossible. The more one is told not to peruse something, the more recalcitrant and curious they become. Sadly, the kindergarten mentality of ICT's "each time someone denies us we'll block more sites" response does not bode well. The temperature climbs.
As if the escalating tensions between the junta and the PTV (see my previous blog) and various other anti-coup groups were not enough, eh? Protests are becoming more popular and various allegations of graft and abuse of power are doing the rounds. This being Thailand, it's very rare for anyone to actually be specific, simply because everybody has some blackmail on some one else so a typical allegation is simply "a man who recently came to power has been extorting the TV stations". Another popular allegation method is to use some silly epithet. For example: "Chinese older sister has been alluding to evade tax" and so on. The junta have made counter threats as thinly veiled as possible against protesters as well as suggesting they have all been sponsored by "ostracised politicians". All to no avail, protests continue.
It seems the old brass are not learning by error though. About one week ago, an appallingly badly made "movie" on youtube.com depicted pictures of HM The King accompanied by bad quality music slowly having some kind of lines drawn across the picture. It resembled the work of a maladjusted hermit. Had it been ignored, it would have faded away. But, in their infinite wisdom, the MICT or ICT (Ministry of Information and Computer Technology) decided to ban it.
Before we knew it the issue had mutated from a bad and vulgar but unpopular video to an international expose of insecurity, lese majeste and restrictions on freedoms in Thailand.
There was nothing new about this decision. ICT have been revelling in their self appointed role of purity guardians for a long time, and any of their staff will proudly quote the number of blocked sites as being well into the thousands. What was new this time around however was that the blocked site wasn't internal pornography or a local university website that dared to question the coup, this time the victim was a very popular international American nerd site. And of course, western nerds don't like being told what the hell to think.
After the usual tactic of denying responsibility didn't work out, the ICT accepted they had blocked the site and "demanded" youtube take down the video. Youtube initially refused but eventually succumbed -- presumably due to the drop in advertising revenue for the region -- and removed the offending "clip". However, the first frame (i.e. a still picture) remained viewable. The ICT continued the ban and again "demanded" that even the first frame go down. This time, a collectively vexed youtube issued a statement explaining they "will not assist censorship."
Having lost face, the ICT responded in the only sensible, modern and adult manner possible. Like a kid in the playground that doesn't want to admit he lost at marbles , the nation's moral thought police responded with "We were right, and to show we were right we'll ban more sites!". And indeed, the ICT made an official notice of more closures and official "warnings" to other sites. This time though, they played it safe and stuck to bullying Thai websites. The most popular Thai newspapers which print pictures of dead and mutilated bodies of woman and children on its cover almost every single day, remain non - samizdat.
The backlash against such censorship was inevitable and, in my opinion, self inflicted by the medieval level of incompetence and maladjustment by the ICT. Various other forms of disrespect to sacred Thai institutions have appeared on line and youtube have issued a statement offering to "educate" the ICT on how to block a specific video rather than an entire site. The offer appeared genuine but the stress placed on the word "educate" means a further loss of face to our juvenile minded moral guardians and , ergo, more tantrums and more censorship from Big Brother seems sure to follow.
The ICT represents a microcosm of Thailand's developmental conundrum. They want to be viewed as a modern, developed country with rich tradition, yet the rulers are neither modern nor developed. Their Jurassic beliefs that people will respond to cogency dictatorship and their embarrassing level of incompetence at communications censorship has bought nothing but problems for Siam. It smacks of insecurity and hidden agendas. What's more, it may prove to be ultimately self defeating. It seems that for the first time in a long time, Thais are actually starting to ask something to the effect of: "If people have nothing to hide, why are we not allowed to criticise them?" A good question indeed.
A bizarre cartoon and a silly reader's letter appeared in 'The Nation Thailand' today. The letter slated Google for its defence statement: "we also have videos mocking George Bush on our site". The writer stated "Effigies of Bush are burned across the world by those who revere the Thai king." I found this statement in condemnation of Google not only false, but bizarre. The writer seemed to be using the logic "If the person is already disrespected it's OK to do it on youtube, otherwise, it should be censored".
I suspect fanatics like this are the people who would most benefit from a dose of global reality and un - manufactured truth. Freedom of speech does not allow freedom to incite or encourage harm, but it most certainly does include freedom to say something we might not like.
One can only hope some good comes out of this. Some foolishly optimistic part of me hopes that the ICT will learn that not only is it wrong to tell people what to think, it's impossible. The more one is told not to peruse something, the more recalcitrant and curious they become. Sadly, the kindergarten mentality of ICT's "each time someone denies us we'll block more sites" response does not bode well. The temperature climbs.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Meds meds meds
For many, medical care in Thailand never stretches further than the drug store in Patpong, which must be the only store to proudly display its range of condoms in the window. But bear in mind that illness can strike at any time....
Let's cover the good stuff first. Thailand has a wide range of excellent private and international hospitals. The buildings and equipment are far better than your average English state hospital. The cost is usually great value and well covered by most insurance policies. Doctors are often educated abroad and speak good English.
However, as I type this it's 2330 and my son has finally come down from his drugged high. He overdosed heavily. For the last two hours he's been zipping around the bedroom in a frenzy, while I tried and failed to calm him. He won't be going for counselling however, my son is only sixteen months old and his drug was supplied by local doctors.
I defy anyone, anywhere within Thailand to visit a doctor and come away without at least two forms of medication. Go ahead, try it. Visit any random medical centre and tell them you had a slightly runny nose a couple of days ago. See what happens.
Thais love their medication and in all my time here, I have never known anyone to come out of a clinic or hospital without three types of medicine. There seems to be a two fold reason for this. First, it's an all over Asian culture (right Bri?) that the second you feel unwell, you throw drugs down yourself. After all, drugs make you better so why not take plenty, just to be sure? The other reason is one that is subliminally accepted but not widely discussed in Thailand: the doctors and hospitals get kickbacks.
Thailand has only a minimal healthcare system built into its infrastructure. Staff salaries , standards and medication are monitored only by a very inefficient and anachronistic system. When you pay to see a doctor here, you pay not a set charge but a charge fixed by the age, rank and experience of your doctor. A GP of fifty years of age would command a far higher fee than a newly qualified twenty five year old. However, even the steeper fees are actually very reasonable, it's not where the money is made.
The real windfalls for these institutions - be they government or private - comes from the meds. Its a terribly kept secret that pharmaceutical companies pay monster kickbacks to medical centres, and that little line can only be kept going if GPs are errr.....'liberal' with their prescriptions. Have a cold? Take this bottle for your stuffy nose, this liquid for your cough , etc. Bad stomach? Take this stuff for the stomach pain, these tablets to stop the runs, this antibiotic to kill the virus, this orange drink to replace your salts, etc.
What's more, the charge for these medicines is usually four to ten times the cost for the exact same product from the pharmacy across the street.
One of the most prevalent areas of this practise is in the paediatric section. After all,what parent wouldn't be relieved to hear the doc say: "Just take these four types of medicine home and your precious little one will be fine"? Not a bad little sales pitch is it?
I may sound horribly cynical, but there's nothing here that isn't solid fact. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of doctors in Thailand are excellent. I must also note the doctors will usually prescribe the right kind of medicine so you will get better. There are exceptions though, I know first hand cases of overzealous hospitals and pharmacists giving antibiotics for colds and sore throats. Even a dunce like me knows that ABs don't work for them.
If you're single, the above shouldn't be too much of a problem. The charge is still relatively cheap, especially if you're only on holiday.When I was single, I used to politely but firmly decline every prescription I didn't need. All the creams, salt drinks and other nonsense I refused and if I was given a month's worth of meds for a cold, I'd just take one week's worth and visit the pharmacy with the box if I needed more later.
A friend of mine - new to Thailand - fractured his arm playing football. He was delighted with how well the hospital treated him and bandaged him. However, when sent to the hospital desk he was parented with a bag full of creams, tablets and other goods he had no wish for that more than doubled his bill! He simply refused the extra meds and his bill was cut by more than half!
However the problem has become more serious and difficult to tackle since I wed and became a father. My lovely son has been ill a few times, and on one occasion a doctor prescribed a whopping eight forms of medication for my boy's stomach bug. I reacted angrily, telling the doctor I was well aware that too much medicine is damaging to anyone and asked if he would give so much to his own child. Justified as I may have been, it caused problems for my wife. In Thai culture it's a big loss of face to disagree with a doctor and even more to dispute what medicines you are given. Embarrassment and annoyance reigned on both sides.
So while it still makes me unhappy, I've given up trying to fight the "meds" mentality. If you have a kid, you're as likely to escape the problem as you are to escape taxes , as likely to overcome the problem as you are to overcome death.
It's also worth noting once again that local clincs are just as helpful as hospitals for minor ailments. You'll still get the same volume of medication, but the charge will be lower.
So as my beloved boy recovers from bronchitis, we have to deal with the drug highs caused by his three types of medicine that are al rich in sugar and glucose causing him to hit the roof for hours each day. As long as he recovers, I can't complain.
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Potshot updates:
I have found no other riders of the lesbian bus.
The Thailand and Singapore spat seems to have died down though no formal apology or settlement has been mad eon either side. With the upcoming trial of Kurb Kalew a Singaporean company accused of being an illegal nominee for ex PM Thaksin - the sparks could fly again.
The airport investigations are ongoing but no progress seems to be coming through.
A colleague of mine is journalist and is due to be given her journalists licence soon. We've set up a contact list and plan to work on a book or website concerning the southern troubles. The plan is to interview with activist groups and leaders from the Buddhist and Islamic community. It will require trips the deep south and a little danger therewith, but it will be worthwhile. Stay tuned!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Confused? I nearly cried
A quick lesson in Thai politics
Never been to
OK, So there was this guy Thaksin. Clever, very good businessman but utterly cold, manipulative, devious and highly superstitious. Naturally, he formed a political party of people just like him. He got so bad that there was a coup (possibly with an order from someone even higher than the PM) and in came the coup leader General Sondhi who installed Surayud (ex trooper) as interim PM.
Sondhi quickly explained they staged the coup due to a) Rampant corruption b) National disunity and c) Economic dangers from capitalism. Sondhi and Surayud both explained they would switch to a "sufficiency economy".
You following so far? Good, this is what happened next…..
Surayud installed a cabinet. It was a decent line up but it was true “old ginger” the average age being about two hundred and five. The junta also installed a corruption investigation team, and a very able one at that. Sadly, they forgot to stop every single one of Thaksin’s henchmen from hiding evidence and intimidating witnesses. Also the old boys in government realized that a) Things had changed since they were last in command and b) Nobody could actually explain their new "sufficiency" theory. It was all a bit of a pickle, and something needed to be done….
Still OK so far? OK brace yourself for the last paragraph…….
So, the junta had a great plan, they employed Thaksin’s right hand man and finance minister Somkid Jatusripita to explain sufficiency economy and counter Thaksin’s propaganda. That's right, they got one of the really bad men that they removed in a coup to explain why they removed the bad men in the coup. They took one of the greedy capitalists to explain why they were rejecting greedy capitalism. They employed one of the men under investigation for patronage in a rubber saplings scandal by the AEC to explain the corruption in the previous government. What’s more they were happy about it.
You got all that? Good. How's your head?
The spat with
Readers of my previous article on
Once again, it all seemed to be dying down until suddenly General Sondhi made a stupid and bizarre remark to the public.
Clearly Mr. Sondhi is on some kind of propaganda for his own means here. With comments about “patriotism” “nation building” and “sacrifice for the good of the country” it can only mean they are after something that involves manipulation of the national psyche. Watch this space.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Business the Thai way
For many people, the big decision to move to Thailand is not made with a realistic expectation of what the future will bring. For my part, I thought that every day would be filled with sunny haze, polite students and ever smiling Thai colleagues with whom I would work in perfect harmony. Of course, this was not to be. I jumped a few hoops and sailed a few learning curves on my way to peaceful co-operation with my colleagues. Let me share a few of those experiences accompanied by a few other pointers.
One thing that's important to bear in mind from the offset is that , as a developing country, there is more than one mainstream psyche to the Thai business. To generalise greatly, I will split the Thai system of thought into two sections. The first is the 'old school' system. These include government institutions such as state schools, state banks, the police force and so on. These institutions are ubiquitous. The second is the commercial sector. This could be said to include the commercial banks (of course) , television and computer companies, private schools and more. Most of the following comments will apply to Thai culture which is prevalent in both sectors but commercial institutions can be more aware and understanding of foreign culture which can be helpful in resolving misunderstandings and tribulations.
Respect is crucial. That might sound glaringly obvious but it's also important to appreciate that methods of showing respect can be different in Thailand. The "Wai" is a famous cultural embelem, but many farangs don't understand that there are different kinds of wai. The greater the rank of the person you wai, the lower the head should bow. Thais are generally forgiving about westerners' wais and will appreciate the effort and the sentiment even if the wai itself is technically incorrect.
Wais should be offered to anyone older than you and anybody ranked above you at work. It's crucial to do this on a first meeting and probably thereafter until it becomes obvious that it's not necessary (I still wai my parents in law every time I see them). As a rule, children who wai you should not be waid back. A foreigner once said to me: "I always wai them back, why should I belittle them?". What she didn't understand was that returning a wai to a young child is so unusual that it runs the risk of embarrassing that child or making them uncomfortable. As a rule of the thumb, it's best to "go with the flow" when waing others rather than designing your own rules.
Other forms of respect involve use of language. It's important to use "khrap" for males and "ka" for women at the end of sentences, especially at the beginning of a conversation. There are other polite markers and terms to use. Thais are big on bestowing titles on people; "doctor" "teacher" "captain" and so on are often used in place of names.
Saving face:
Again it's a well known rule that Asians place value on the concept of keeping face. Whilst being a widely appreciated concept, it can sometimes manifest itself in ways that we foreigners can find hard to recognise and as such, can become angered over. As one example of this, a fellow teacher once arrived at work to be told she was late for her lesson. She replied that she wasn't late, her first lesson started in one hour. It turned out that she had been allocated an extra period by a senior teacher ("ajarn yai") but the senior teacher had forgotten to inform the girl. The girl immediately shouted across the room "I wasn't told about the lesson" The senior teacher replied "OK You have time, you can go now" The girl again complained that she wasn't told about it, and the teacher repeated her statement before walking out of the room.
In the eyes of the foreign teacher, she was not receiving an apology for a mistake that had placed her in hot water. What she didn't realise was that by discussing the senior teacher's error in the presence of others, she was causing her to lose face. Such a problem would have been far better to discuss in private.
This is perhaps the area with the most confusion, dealing with mistakes. Thais will occasionally allow a document, a public announcement or almost anything else to go out with errors or mistakes if they believe that such corrections would cause a loss of face to someone. Westerners often snigger or criticise such actions, often for the purpose of boosting their own fragile ego that they can see mistakes that other's can't. This may occasionally be the case but often it's simply a matter of the locals saving face for somebody.
Confrontation, dealing with problems and complaints
If I'm being honest, this is the area where I've had the most trouble adapting, and still suffer the occasional flare up.
Thais dislike confrontation of any nature. This partly because it leads to the danger of losing face (see above) but also as it generally goes against their nature and makes them feel uncomfortable. I could offer numerous examples of this, but one springs to mind:
My house is the end of a beautiful, newly built village. As our house is the final house, a large area of farmland lies to the south of it. Across that farmland is a village for the farm workers. Last week, I noticed music blaring out from across the farm so loud that I could hear it like it was playing in my own living room. I ignored it for a long time. By the time the sun had set, I was feeling a little aggrieved at the non stop barrage of dance music and bass that was now so loud it was causing my house to shake (If it had been quality rock music like Korn, Nirvana or Guns N Roses it would have been OK!). At bedtime it was still going. My wife reacted in the customary Thai way, she simply pulled a pillow over her head and tried to ignore it. I did the same but the music was getting louder and had now been played for over seven hours. At midnight I looked out of my window and I could see other homeowners with their lights on looking out of windows trying to see where the music was coming from. At one-thirty am , with my baby son unable to sleep, my wife finally succumbed to my granddad like moaning and called the police. The music stopped within twenty minutes.
What was significant about this was that one person who decided that it would be great to hold his own disco marathon in the middle of two villages was causing discomfort for well over five hundred people. We were the only ones to complain. The others had all resorted to the Thai characteristic of simply trying to ignore it and showing the Buddhist traits of calmness and tolerance. The idea of confrontation was very hard for them to fathom.
Incidentally, I checked with my wife that it was not some village party or another cultural event as this would have made it easier for me to understand. Her reply was "No it's probably someone who has bought a new stereo and wants to show it to people".
So given this gentle nature of avoiding conundrums, how do the locals deal with problems or disagreements in the workplace? Well, often they don't. Part of the reason that some farangs get away with offensive or vulgar behavior in Thailand is due to the Thai tolerance (and also the fact that many Thais don't understand what is being said or done). However, that's not to say Thais don't have their own methods of dealing with trouble.
One system is to use an intermediary. Remember I mentioned before that age is a big factor of rank in Thailand. When faced with a problem between a young person and a senior, the custom is to use someone nearer to the young person's age to act as a 'go between' or a messenger of the problem. The "go between" will either state directly the message they are carrying or they will simply discuss and deal with the problem themselves.
There are many examples of this happening in any school. For example, a teacher who arrives late and is noticed by a senior teacher is likely to be spoken to by a younger teacher who is close to the ajarn yai.
Sackings and firings are rare events here. Anyone who is close to being "fired" for any reason is simply transferred. In prominent positions the term is "transferred to an inactive post" such as the army generals who were deemed to be close to Thaksin Shiniwat, for example. In lesser jobs the individual could simply be nudged to a position that is untenable. I recall last year one teacher was transferred to my school by another school in our chain. His previous workplace was close to his home while our school was very, very far for him. It quickly transpired that he had had clashes with the manager. Despite his length of stay in Thailand, he didn't seem to understand what was happening. He would complain that he had been told 'There's no work for you here' despite the fact that he had been doing the same job for five years and the school was short of teachers. I was tempted to point out to him what was happening but I figured it was better to keep out. Eventually, he seemed to get the message and found a different job.
Abuse
The Thais can be very subtle with their abuse i.e. talking to or about someone they don’t like. Foreigners, even those who speak Thai, can be caught out by these little ploys. I don’t know all the words or the tricks, partly because my Thai is poor anyway but partly because, once I stopped to think, I figured that I didn’t need to know. If someone wants to put one over on me by using subtle little changes of tone or ’sound alike’ words then good for them. I have better things to worry about. Speaking of subtle tricks….
Smiling
Ahhh, the famous Thai smile. It’s real. Young people in particular can dazzle with their beautiful and innocent smiles. Like anywhere else, well meaning people who cannot communicate with you in other ways will offe
r a smile and love to receive one back.
That’s the tourist promoted smile and it is everywhere (just like on the left here!). However, there are many other forms of smiling. Smiling to cover embarrassment, smiling to deliver bad news, smiling to convey a strong dislike.
“Strong dislike”? No that’s no an oxymoron, and it’s a fact that Thais have their own phrase for this. Its called “Kee maa” (dog crap) smile. This smile is formed by pulling the lips tightly together and almost dragging them across the face, the kind of face you’d make if you stepped in dog poo.
The last time I saw this smile was in my last day at my old school. A teacher that had a particular dislike for me (the same teacher that enjoyed hitting kids) saw me coming out of the school immediately after I had signed in. Unable to take any other action – we had already made eye contact – she gave me a nice, tight full faced “kee maa” smile. Maybe she thought she was being smart. I lost no sleep.
For my part, I don’t worry about the kee maa smiles or even let on that I know what they are. I just ignore them and return the genuine smiles. They make such a difference to my day.
Marriage and dowry
This is probably the area that causes the most problems. I was very lucky here, my wife came from a wealthy and very easy going family and I was never asked for a dowry (that's a little more personal than I usually get on here and I won't discuss my private life any further, I will talk generically). In Thailand, the concept of living is that the male will provide for his wife. It is a symbol of his love and commitment that he will provide and provide very well. What some westerners would perceive as greed or materialism, the Thai would recognise as a sign of showing love and care.
From my experience of other's problems, there seems to be two areas of confusion. The first is with the dowry and support for the wife's family. It's a sad fact that many marriages end or become stormy because the farang believes the spouse's family are being covetous or just asking too much. However, the fact is that when living in Thailand it's important to at least understand Thai customs, and Thai customs state that in marriage, the richer family should provide support for a poorer family. It just so happens that many foreign men marry a woman from a poorer family.
The second area of confusion is that there are greedy woman and families here. There are many, many good Thai men and woman but also like any country there are some greedy ones who will try and screw every last penny out of the foreigner.
I guess it's down to each individual to decide if their spouse is honest and wants their partner to simply follow culture, or if they are being plain greedy. Considering the environment where you met is one consideration that is often overlooked. It's not something I have extensive knowledge on. Stickmaninbangkok has a very interesting selection of letters on this kind of topic.
So that's a few pointers. I'm certainly not pretending I'm a cultural guru. On the contrary, I still have problems and rare losses of temper even when I know the problem at hand is cultural. Once the novelty of living here has worn off, it can be difficult to contain natural western characteristics with attitudes like "If you've got a problem, tell me face to face" or "Why the hell is nobody complaining about that idiot?" and so on. However, after making a few mistakes and mellowing a little, I can roll with it a lot better than I used to. It helps.
I'd still love to smash that dance disco guy's stereo over his head, though.
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Two more explosions happened in Bangkok yesterday. Nobody was hurt.
Fellow (but more experienced) blogger and occasional debate opponent Bangkok Pundit has posted a very interesting analysis of the New Year bombings and for my money, paints an interesting argument for the suggestion that squabbling factions of the army did it. I often disagree vehemently with BP's politics but his blog is very well maintained and if you read his post, the arguments against TRT or Muslim insurgent involvement are compelling.
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