News from Thailand – Saturday, March 21, 2015
This page contains a selection from the Thai news. We list headlines from major news sources including: Bangkok Post, The Nation, ThaiPBS, MCOT, etc.
There is a web link behind the news items. When you click on it you can read the full article at the English source.
News from Thailand – Saturday, March 21, 2015
The Nation opens on Saturday with the message that VAT in Thailand will not increase. There were plans to increase the VAT to 10% in September this year, but the poor economic developments do not allow this now. The agreement is now that if the economy improves, VAT can rise slightly, but not to 10% but to 8%: http://goo.gl/pS1HvS
Bangkok Post writes that the Thai government can avoid possible EU sanctions. Thailand can from Europe receive a 'yellow card' because the country does not do enough about abuses in the fishing industry, such as slave labour. That would have far-reaching consequences because the EU could then decide to ban the import of fish from Thailand. To prevent problems, the Thai government has started registering fishing boats and issuing permits. Thailand will also introduce a special law on fishing that should prevent excesses. Thailand has a bad reputation when it comes to fishing and the fish processing industry, there is slavery, inhumane working conditions and child labor: http://goo.gl/K3xUsu
– Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr has warned that anyone who alleges that the military tortured the suspects in the Bangkok grenade attacks will be taken into custody and charged with libel. A human rights organization previously said that the four suspects had been mistreated in order to obtain a statement: http://goo.gl/Kx8Pwa
– A 23-year-old Thai has been sentenced to death because he had ordered assassins to kill his parents and elderly farmer. Four accomplices received 'only' life sentences because they confessed to the crime: http://goo.gl/hhixoj
– A European man whose identity has not yet been established has drowned near Koh Chun near Pattaya. The man had rented a beach chair and went for a swim but did not return. After a search, the victim was found: http://goo.gl/THtSvZ
– You can read more current news on the Twitter feed of Thailandblog.nl: twitter.com/thailand_blog
Thailand = the land of the free man.
What I'm reading now (torture suspects, slavery, inhumane working conditions and child labor) seems like something completely different… I'm worried.
John, you didn't read that right. It says in good Dutch that those who claim that the military have tortured the suspects will be arrested and prosecuted. It does not say that there is torture. Incidentally, it does not say that there is NOT torture, but that is not surprising.
'Slavery' refers to the inhumane working conditions and child labour, modern slavery, not to be confused with real slavery before the 20th century. This is of course nothing new and occurs in many developing countries and countries in Southeast Asia including India. So it's not just Thailand. Doesn't mean that's unacceptable.
Frans: I also read “a human rights organization previously announced that the four suspects had been mistreated in order to obtain a statement: http://goo.gl/Kx8Pwa"
Be that as it may… in countries like Thailand, Burma, Cambodia (+++) human rights are quite subject to Government “votes”. Even Malaysia (Anwar Ibrahim case) is guilty of it.
Add corruption to that. And they learn that at university! (or whatever passes for that). A cousin of my girlfriend studies at “a” university in Chiangmai. Her “class” (approximately 20-25 people) received an unsatisfactory mark for subject X as a whole. The teacher has now given everyone the chance to copy a number of studies from various USA universities. So, for example, the person who got the grade 1 for the exam has to print 20 x 50 pages of text, while the person who got a 5 on the exam has to have 10 x 50 printed. In return, one will still receive a pass!!!!????
That means that the entire class will soon get a 6 for the exam and the teacher will have the texts she wants in printed form for free……………. very much like a bribe.
That principle is already woven into education. No wonder that people later find this “normal”. In the Netherlands/Belgium the rule is very simple: did you get a failing grade? Repeat the exam. Otherwise in Thailand.
You may also have to buy the paper from the teacher in her shop and pay for the copying.
Here the students had to make a drawing and copy a number of pages, along with doing various work at school and in the temple, so that they were clean and tidy again, in order to get better grades.
So better grades for good behavior.
Knowledge is less important.
This also applies to the government's extracurricular courses of two days a week, where early school leavers can still obtain a diploma.
They usually don't learn much there, but they still get the diploma because they made the effort to come to the training 2 days a week for a few years.
The effort made is apparently very much appreciated.
A third-class secondary education diploma gives you a chance for a better job.
Without this diploma you only get jobs to carry and lift.
Incidentally, (additional) training for adults is also organized by the government.
Not that bad so well considered.
The knowledge is not important, the effort is appreciated. Keeping the school and temple tidy will result in a diploma. Also make the effort to come to the training 2 days a week. They usually don't learn much there. All things considered, it is not so bad that further training is organized by the government.
Remains: what is actually being taught, and what is good about it?
Discipline is taught.
High technical knowledge is unnecessary for many Thai people.
And to be honest, half of what I learned in school has been wasted for the teacher, because I've never needed it again in my life.
This applies to adult education.
Older people who are motivated to still learn something, after the poor education that was even worse in their youth than now.