Insult to the flag of Thailand
In Krabi, two Italian tourists aged 18 and 19 have been arrested by police for insulting the Thai flag. When they returned to their hotel in a drunken stupor, they tore one or two Thai flags from the wall, causing them to fall to the floor. Unfortunately for the boys, the whole thing was recorded on camera.
The video was posted on YouTube (see below) and generated a storm of reactions, mainly from Thais, who reacted indignantly to this indecent behaviour. “The flag is a symbol of Thailand, our country, which should be respected” was the core of the protest.
Insulting the flag of Thailand is a criminal offense and the boys can be fined or even imprisoned. In a statement after their arrest, the boys confessed that they were not familiar with Thai law and, in their drunken stupor, had no idea that they were offending the Thais. “We are terribly sorry, we had no intention of doing anything wrong. We did not realize that the Thai flag was so important, because in Italy it is not. We love the Thai people, we love Thailand and again, we're terribly sorry.
A bit of a lame excuse, I think, because such behavior is not appreciated in many countries, including Italy. As a visitor you show respect for everything that has to do with the flag or other national symbols. In the Netherlands and Belgium there is a flag protocol, which describes the "rules of conduct" with the flag. While not adhering to this protocol is not legally punishable in our home countries, it is considered disrespectful and indecent.
I have already written a story about the flag of Thailand and that of the Netherlands, which you can read again, see: www.thailandblog.nl/cultuur/vlag-nederland-thailand
The video of the incident:
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSClfiaAh8o[/embedyt]
Those two Italian guppies did not know that it was punishable while it is just as punishable in their own country.
The original bangkokpost article states:
“In Italy, desecration of any Italian or foreign nation's national flag is also prohibited by law and punished with fines between €1,000 and €10,000 for verbal desecration and with reclusion up to two years for physical damage or destruction”
So they should have known you're not doing this.
Weak excuse from those Italians; "We meant no harm." Nonsense! If you destroy things, then you are doing something evil and also consciously. That you are not familiar with the law is their problem and actually nonsense; in other countries too, destroying the national flag will be seen as an insult. Even in the Netherlands, although it is not punishable here.
A punishment is therefore appropriate, but not like our compatriot in Burma who had to go to prison for 3 months. I thought that was too idiotic. But 48 hours in a nice Thai cell and a hefty fine will (hopefully) teach them.
Disrespectful, playing the popie jopie as a European, a hefty fine and six months in jail.
Plus paying for the damage, of course, because knowing or not knowing as an excuse, it is and remains destructiveness that must be severely punished.
Not “1of 2” but even more.. No respect for the flag. And that's illegal in most countries, so it's a stupid action. Fine is very appropriate, stick to norms and values wherever you are. We didn't know it's a flimsy excuse
At least a month on water and bread and eat the fragments of the flag if there is anything left
A childish and disrespectful piece of vandalism!
No matter how young, this idiotic behavior must be punished. Not so much with prison or fine. To me, a lifelong or very long exile seems appropriate and an immediate departure from the country.
This stupid excuse…I didn't know that in Thailand it is forbidden to insult the country and its people. Yes, we also have that in Europe, but a country like Thailand? Foreign.
It's the same disrespectful behavior as that woman who posed nude in a temple. Get rid of those idiots.
When I see how difficult it is for a Thai to holiday in Europe and how easy it is to come here, I think it would make a difference if stricter rules were introduced. Maybe you have less scum…
Just punish harshly. Then next time they will leave it alone. Whether it happens in Thailand or elsewhere. This behavior should simply not be tolerated because it is truly abnormal behavior!
bunch of ignoramuses!!
I have no respect for that, a prison sentence is not necessary, but you do have to leave the country, no longer entering the country for 5 years. And a fine for vandalism. They'll get it. That is a bit lax in Europe, more and more is allowed there, and they think that is also allowed here. Please respect Thailand!
Dear, for me they can leave the country FOREVER. We don't need that kind anywhere.
Boy what a response. Yes, this behavior is disrespectful, but is it really more disrespectful than pulling a flag of a beer brand from the facade? Or a banner or other object? It's all vandalism, anti-social and disrespectful. Doesn't seem to me that a national flag is worse than stealing, damaging, etc. another object. You keep your paws off other people's things, that's it.
If you do so, then an appropriate punishment, for example a fine of 100 euros or community service in the hope that someone will tell you that you must respect other people's property.
Prison sentence seems to me only appropriate for serious crimes, 6 months as someone writes here. If a minor offense is already worth 6 months, then with those ratios a petty theft or potentially life-threatening traffic violation (running a red light, for example) should result in a prison sentence of 2 years and a more serious offense such as robbery or wrongful death for many decades in prison. .. Such punishments seem disproportionate to me. Make people feel guilty, try to drop the penny that they should/will not do this anymore, but also be forgiving, the end result is a nicer, fairer, more just society, that's what you should strive for.
You obviously don't live in Thailand?
Other manners, other customs. Other penalties. Respect or accept the punishment.
Dear Inquisitor,
If I have not commented anywhere on the punishment that will follow, that is not possible because it is not yet known. So I can't say anything about that yet. Law is law, although of course you can also have your opinion about it. I did, however, comment on the other commenters here who demand very high penalties such as long periods of imprisonment or years of entry bans. If the authorities decide to impose such a heavy sentence on someone, that is the way it is, but then I would have an opinion about it.
If you know my submitted pieces, you know that I do not live in Thailand and that unfortunately has become more unlikely without a Thai partner. I came and of course come there every year, spoke and speak with various Thai. Mostly family or friends of my love. So that certain subjects are more sensitive there than here, of course, I know very well. For example, I remember well the fuss about Boels and the Buddha on a mobile toilet cubicle. Many Thais were offended by this and I had good discussions about it. Nothing better than a respectful debate. Was able to have nice conversations with my wife and the other Thai about sensitive and less sensitive subjects (politics, current affairs, Dutch and Thai society, norms and values, etc.). Nothing better than that, especially to better understand other people and opinions.
And just say 'you', I'm a young thirty-something. 🙂
Those guys may have had something to drink, but I don't believe that they "acted in a drunken mood." The man, on the right in the video, yanked not one, not two, but FOUR flags to the ground and then walked away without staggering. Drunk ???? no, deliberate vandalism, YES.
These are those snot noses who come to smear our foreign reputation once again. They had to deny such guests access to Thai territory for years. With the current modern pass control, this is perfectly feasible. Furthermore, a hefty fine and awaiting payment in prison.
” ……. This is my statement and you will have to deal with it….” to quote the words of the Dutch program, The Driving Judge.
Dre
ps ; I am a Belgian
recover damages from those 2 vandals and immediately deport them from the country and deny access for 5 years.
How clumsy can you be! Name me one country where you can dishonor a national flag.
So much disrespect, even if you are drunk, you remain liable for your actions and misdeeds, nothing no excuse.
Let's hope they get a fat prison sentence and if I may say so as an extra bonus personna non grata, forever, scum is no use and once scum always scum.
Nico B
Disrespectful and indecent yes, but reading some of the comments here I don't think you're going too far. Those guys are still very young and were drunk, that's no excuse, but I think they've been punished enough with a hefty fine and a lot of fright in their legs. Because let's face it who hasn't even done something rowdy at that age, it's not a murder or rape that has been committed.
So if Thailand is smart they will leave it at a fine and the well-known public Thai pillory, which is also a lot better for your tourist industry. Then if you're going to give those guys a prison sentence for a disrespectful but relatively minor offense, Thailand doesn't have to become Singapore in a big way either.
Those young boys were still very young, but … boys aged 18 and 19 are already allowed to vote, drive a car, etc., they are no longer boys, but adult young men.
This kind is the hooligan of today and otherwise of tomorrow.
Football World Cup, imagine Italy against Spain, even before a game is played, these types of people, whether drunk or not, already burn and kick the opponent's flag and when the match is lost they demolish half Paris, fight with everything that seems Spanish.
No, this kind has not learned any respect, at least not at home in Italy, soft approach really doesn't work. Harsh punishment will teach them not to show respect for a national flag.
That this would harm tourism can easily be taken for granted, incidentally I think that harsh punishments do not damage tourism at all. Thailand, you can go there as a tourist, they keep scum outside the door and if necessary that scum is corrected, great country to go on holiday.
My analysis here is this after I saw the video. The 1st to take down a flag was not drunk, no excuse, by the way, but had apparently just been given the keys to the hotel room. Apparently he was not satisfied with the treatment he received, perhaps already elsewhere. So let's take it easy on the Thai flag. Then mister 2 also becomes active, jerks the flags to the ground, where he has to make every effort at flag 3, coming on his toes, the bastard managed to take down the 3rd flag and then the 4th, nothing drunk, nothing no excuse, on the contrary.
No, as far as I'm concerned, harsh punishment, see my earlier response.
Nico B
'Simply' require all tourists upon entering the Kingdom to take the 'Thai Customs and Habits for Tourists' exam, and to deposit a deposit of 100.000 Baht. Don't they make it? Next flight back home.
During their stay in Thailand, tourists are required to wear a body cam 24/7, the recordings of which are read by an artificially intelligent computer before departure. In the event of misconduct, a receipt automatically rolls out of the computer with the amount that will be deducted from the deposit, and a recommendation to deny access to the tourist in question for a certain period of time, or detain it where appropriate. That will teach them!
All joking aside, I'm glad that compatriots who would like to impose more than a fine, compensation and a suspended community service order for this kind of 'out of hand rowdy' are not in charge.
Aaah, the brainwashed and hang 'em high brigade is out again. What is a flag? A logo of a country, nothing more.
Quite strange, all those fierce reactions to this faits diverse. Especially when I think of the countless derogatory comments about the Thai that regularly appear on this site. Thais will always be children, Thais can't organize anything in an orderly way, Thais can't drive a car, Thais are out to take advantage of our money, Thai women are no good, only when they are young, beautiful and willing can we still have fun to experience, etc. etc. Just browsing through the archive of thailandblog and one comes across a series of such generalizations that show racism and colonialism. That is real disrespect.
These two were not drunk but destructive. Italians on holiday in their own country are corrected by compatriots, so don't even think about doing this. But once outside, all borders open and these two apparently felt so free to do so. There is no Italian who can understand this and I think that both gentlemen are still waiting for something when they return home..
And a flag is more than a logo of a country, those who do not understand or do not want to understand that will also see a temple as a building of a faith. Has nothing to do with brainwashing but with respect.
Then the death penalty should also be reintroduced if, according to many here, a prison sentence should follow for an offense such as pulling down a flag. Should the death penalty for murderers and rapists be introduced again immediately in Thailand, otherwise the relationship in the punishment will be lost.
Well well what would Thailand then rise in the list of countries where the most death penalty sentences are imposed.
Would like to know what punishment they end up getting.