The curfew in Thailand also applies to homeless people
Two homeless men were recently arrested in Chiang Mai and charged with violating curfew rules. This was told by Pikhaneth Prawang, who works for the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights network.
Homeless people in Thailand and the corona crisis
Now that all attention is focused on the coronavirus, how to prevent it and what measures should be taken, there will always be groups that miss this message. Especially in Thailand where there is still a lot to improve.
More than 10% more homeless in Bangkok
The Issarachon Foundation, an NGO that works for the homeless, says that the number of homeless people in the capital increased by 10 percent last year. At least 4.000 people in the capital have to do without housing.
The number of homeless people in Bangkok has risen by about 10 percent. Sixty percent of homeless people over the age of 40 make a living by providing paid sexual services, according to a survey by the Issarachon Foundation.
Homeless people are the pariahs of Thailand
Article 55 of the constitution reads: 'A person, homeless and with insufficient income to support living, shall have the right to receive proper aid from the state.' Those are nice words, but what does it mean in practice?
Mentally disturbed homeless people roam everywhere in Bangkok and other cities. The Mirror Foundation is doing what it can. The government largely ignores it.
Souls of Bangkok: The homeless tuk tuk toy maker (video)
During this Christmas Day it is good to also think about people who have it much worse than we do and do not sit down at a spacious table with food and drink today.
'Happy meals' at the Thai homeless shelter
The homeless shelter in the provincial capital of Prachuap Khiri Khan houses more than 300 people. Most of them are mentally and/or physically disabled, but we also meet HIV-infected people, former beggars, vagrants and even some foundlings picked from the street. People with Down syndrome are well represented.
Dutch homeless person, 'Five-Star Tony', died in Pattaya
Tony, a Dutch homeless person, well known in the Pattaya community, where he spent more than 20 years, has passed away, according to a message from his church, the Encounter Church.
Western homeless people in Pattaya (video)
Thailand has more and more to do with homeless western foreigners. In this video you can see a short impression of Kotto, a homeless American living in Pattaya.
Homeless Europeans in Thailand (video)
In this video a report of a Briton who has become homeless in Thailand and has been living on the street for two years.
'More and more homeless western foreigners in Thailand'
The number of western homeless people in Thailand is increasing. The Thai government is not prepared for this social problem, aid organizations in Thailand warn, according to the Bangkok Post.