Arbitrary Thai survey blames Facebook for teen pregnancies
Originally published at Siam Voices on February 28, 2012
We recently had Valentine's Day and like every year, the Thai Moral Taliban Police has been patrolling the streets to crack down on young lovebirds who might commit the crime of love (making) - since some survey suggests that many teenagers are hell-bent to loose their virginity on February 14.
Well, apparently some other arbitrary survey has found another root of evil for the unintended consequences of the sexual urges of young people:
According to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the famous social networking site, Facebook, has partly contributed to the cause of unwanted teen pregnancies.
The NESDB has revealed that people in the age group of 18-24 are the biggest group of Facebook users, accounting for 40% of all users.
The Board said that the social media growth is partly to blame for the teen pregnancy problems as some youngsters post seducing messages or video clips online.
According to the NESDB, Thai mothers under 20 years old accounted for 14% of all mothers who delivered babies in 2009 and 2010. From this percentage, the UNICEF has placed Thailand on top of the list of teen pregnancy in Asia.
The public health survey in 2010 indicated that out of 760,000 babies born, 411,000 had died. The NESDB said that the figure shows that a number of mothers decided to have abortion.
"NESDB: Facebook partly cause of teen pregnancies", National News Bureau of Thailand , February 28, 2012
Of course the largest social network is to be blamed for the all the steamy content that drive teenagers to have unprotected sex. Or it could be the much more simple explanation - Thailand has a severe problem with sexual education.
The annual public ridicule that the stupid nature of the O-NET exam questions get, in particular the questions from the health education section (which includes the infamous suggestion for kids to play football when having a sexual urge), are just the tip of the iceberg. If the moral outrage could be put to one side, the powers that be might be able to see that the only reasonable solution to avoid teen pregnancies is to have proper sexual education and face the naked truth about the existence of sexuality instead of tucking it away.
But then again, for them it's probably easier to ban Facebook altogether...!
Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and also on his public Facebook page here.
Thai 'anti-corruption vigilante' Chuwit: Cleaning up in his own ranks
Originally published at Siam Voices on February 22, 2012 We have featured the former massage parlor tycoon turned anti-corruption vigilante Chuwit Kamolvisit before (see here), whose Rak Thailand Party surprisingly scored a few seats in the House at the elections last year (and where Chuwit also knew how to make a first impression) and positioned themselves as an opposition watchdog. Since then, he has regularly exposed illegal gambling dens and prostitution rings, most of them operating with the knowledge and involvement of police, politicians and other officials.
And if the case we are highlighting today is anything to go by, he is not stopping at his own party either:
Chuvit Kamolvisit, leader of the Rak Thailand Party, has submitted a request to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) seeking an investigation into whether an MP of his own party had abused his political post for self-interest.
Mr Chuvit accused Chaiwat Krairiksh, a Rak Thailand list MP, of using his political poskition to divert funds of the Rural Roads Department for building a road passing in front of his house in Pak Phanang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. (...)
Along with the request, Mr Chuvit submitted to the NACC a video clip which he said was evidence against Mr Chaiwat.
"Chuvit seeks probe into own MP", Bangkok Post, February 8, 2012
In the mentioned video (viewable in Thai here), filmed from an obviously hidden camera, Chuwit is seen talking with Chaiwat, the latter candidly talking about his plans, pretty much confirming the allegations (at about the 2:00 minute mark when asked by Chuwit "Why all this?", he replies "Because it's in front of my house!"), even being aware of the legal implications (1:20 min: "I know it's against the law!") and hinting at a possible concession by the potential contractor who will build the road in front of his house (1:39 min: "I didn't say I won't get my share, I WILL get my share").
Chuwit also mentions an incident in parliament last November, during a vote of no-confidence against justice minister Pracha Promnok for his involvement during the flood crisis as head of the Flood Relief Operations Command. Chaiwat voted in favor of Pracha, much to the anger of his party chief (4:05 min: "...and last time [in parliament], you **** made the wrong vote - even after I told you to change it!"), since the party is in the opposition, and suspects Chaiwat of pandering to the government in hope for benefits in exchange (4:11 min: "You got to finally admit that you're with the government. You think their budget, you're jumping through hoops for, is easy to get.") - to which he firmly admits of deliberately voting for Pracha.
One aspect that makes this case somewhat interesting is the decades-long friendship between these two. In an interview with Matichon Online, Chaiwat notes that they have been friends since school ("ผมเป็นเพื่อนเรียนที่โรงเรียนเทพศิรินทร์มาด้วยกัน"), but parted way during university with him becoming a lawyer and Chuwit earning his (in)famous reputation as a massage parlor tycoon. He also claims that it was him who introduced Chuwit to politics, who was not interested before - so much so as he had never used his right to vote ("วันนั้นคุณชูวิทย์ ยังไม่รู้จักการเมือง คุณชูวิทย์ยังไม่เคยไปใช้สิทธิ์เลือกตั้ง"). Together, they formed the First Thai Nation Party (พรรคต้นตระกูลไทย) in 2003, with Chaiwat being the party's general-secretary.
Fast forward to 2011 (and several party changes later), Chuwit grew increasingly contempt with Chaiwat, triggered by the deliberate vote in favor of Pracha, to which Chuwit stated that he accidentally made a rookie mistake (source). In January, Chaiwat resigned as secretary-general of the party (source). A few days later, Chuwit talked to Chaiwat, telling him that he was aware of his potential abuse of power, to which the latter supposedly reacted with the exit of the party shortly afterwards.
However, Chaiwat denied having ever signed such a document despite Chuwit's claims that several party members have witnessed the signing and these documents have been handed to the Election Commission (EC). The now former party secretary-general himself lodged an inquiry to the EC stating that he is not leaving the party and that his signature has been forged (source), thus accusing Chuwit of lying to the EC. In the video, Chaiwat has offered Chuwit to withdraw said inquiry (5:11 min), while also being determined to go through with his road project (5:21 min "But first: I really want to do this project. Second: yes, I will benefit from this project! That is the truth").
In the Matichon interview, Chaiwat defended himself from the accusation that he has not done any work from the party and not attended any meetings, since according to him there were no meetings ("มีด้วยเหรอประชุมพรรค" ชัยวัฒน์ตอบทันทีและว่า ... เพราะพรรคผมไม่ได้มีการประชุม") and whether it's politics or his businesses, it's ultimately Chuwit who decides the direction ("ทั้งพรรคทั้งบริษัท คุณชูวิทย์กำหนดทิศทางพรรคคนเดียว"). Chaiwat said that on the day of the filmed meeting with Chuwit, he has been invited by the latter for a chat 'as friends' ("เขาเป็นคนโทรศัพท์คุยกับผมเองว่า มาคุยกันในฐานะเพื่อน"). He insists that he's in the opposition and not with the government ("ผมอยู่ฝ่ายค้าน ไม่ได้อยู่ฝ่ายรัฐบาล"), even though in the clip he openly admits pandering to them.
Ultimately, Chaiwat asks the question whether or not somebody, who is secretly filming, setting up a scene and conveniently cuts everything together is in the right after all ("ส่วนในคลิปนั้น คุณจัดฉาก ตั้งกล้องแอบถ่าย ตัดแต่งเรียบร้อย สังคมก็กล่าวหาว่าคนแอบถ่ายเป็นคนถูก อย่างนั้นหรือ?"). And that is the crux of the whole story - while Chaiwat was clearly caught red-handed doing something more than questionable, it begs the question if Chuwit's means sometimes is justified. But that won't stop the anti-corruption vigilante from exposing the shady businesses of officials - even if it means he has to get his hands dirty and lose a long-time friend.
Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and also on his public Facebook page here.
Tongue-Thai’ed! Part X: The one where Prayuth calls Nitirat 'abnormal'
Originally published at Siam Voices on February 7, 2012
“Tongue-Thai’ed!” encapsulates the most baffling, amusing, confusing, outrageous and appalling quotes from Thai politicians and other public figures – in short: everything we hear that makes us go “Huh?!”. Check out all past entries here.
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha is by a stretch the most outspoken highest-ranked military officer in recent history. No one has made his stance more clearly and more frequently than he. Whether it was his 'endorsement' before the elections, his message to the victims of lèse majesté and his contentious relationship with the media - Prayuth doesn't even try to appear neutral but instead dives right into the issues and, many times unwittingly, blurbs out his partisan views.
And ever since the heated debate over the proposals by the Nitirat group to amend the constitution and reform the lèse majesté law, the general has not stayed at the sidelines and has more than often chimed in and absolutely without exception blasted them at every single goddamn opportunity - more often than not trying to emotionalize the issue by invoking the loyalty to the royal institution and at the same time questioning those actually daring to challenge the issues if they have any.
This excerpt is typicsl of his relentless tirades against Nitirat:
พล.อ.ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา ผู้บัญชาการทหารบก ให้สัมภาษณ์ถึงกรณีที่กลุ่มนิติราษฎร์ (...) ว่า (...) มีคนอยู่หลายกลุ่มด้วยกัน กลุ่มหนึ่งอาจจะไม่ปกติ อยากจะทำโน่นทำนี่ โดยไม่คิดว่า อะไรควรไม่ควร แต่เป็นเพียงบางส่วนเท่านั้น กลุ่มที่ 2 คือ นักวิชาการบางกลุ่ม ซึ่งเป็นนักวิชาการส่วนใหญ่กว่า 90 % ยังรักและเทิดทูนสถาบัน อยากจะเรียนไปยังบางส่วนว่า ต้องกลับไปทบทวนว่า ตลอดระยะเวลาที่พระองค์ท่านครองราชย์มาจนมีพระชนมายุ 84 พรรษา มาแล้ว แต่คนที่เป็นนักวิชาการอายุเพียงแค่ 30-40 ปี เรียนหนังสือจบมาแล้วไปเรียนต่อ เคยได้ทำคุณประโยชน์อะไรให้กับแผ่นดินบ้างหรือไม่ เพียงแค่เรียนหนังสือจบมา แล้วเอาความรู้ต่างๆเหล่านั้นมาเพื่อจะแก้โน่น แก้นี่ ซึ่งยังไม่เคยลองปฏิบัติอะไรสักอย่าง
Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha commented on the Nitirat group (...) that (...) there are groups of people that are abnormal. They want to do this and that without thinking what is appropriate or not, but that is just one section. The second group are some academics - of which more than 90 per cent are certainly loyal and respectful to the royal institution - you have to recall that His Majesty has ruled for so long that he is 84 years old now, but the academics are just 30 to 40 years old, who have graduated and continued their studies - what have they achieved for the fatherland? They have just studied and used their various knowledge to solve this and that, without really taking action whatsoever.
“(...) ผมไม่สามารถไปบังคับใครได้ ถ้าพูดแรงไปก็จะหาว่า ไปบังคับ (...) ไม่ใช่ แต่ต้องการให้ทุกคนระลึกอยู่เสมอว่า บ้านเมืองมีชื่อเสียงเกียรติยศในโลกนี้ ส่วนใหญ่ที่รู้จักประเทศไทย รู้จักมาจากสถาบันก่อนทั้งสิ้น (...) ถึงวันนี้ไม่รู้ว่าใครมาจากไหนเหมือนกัน ชาติตระกูลเกิดประเทศไทยหรือไม่ ไม่รู้ถ้าท่านพูดจาแรง พูดไม่ดีต่อสถาบัน ผมจำเป็นต้องใช้คำพูดที่ไม่ดีกับท่าน (...)” พล.อ.ประยุทธ์ กล่าว
"(...) I cannot force anybody, [but] if I speak with authority then people say I'm forceful (...) That's not right! But everybody has to remind themselves that the reputation of this country comes from the monarchy (...) Today, I don't know where they [the academics, in this case Nitirat group] come from or if their ancestors were born in Thailand at all. If they speak bad about the institution, I shall bad about them (...)" says Prayuth.
"'ประยุทธ์'ซัด'นิติราษฎร์'พวกไม่ปกติ", Kom Chad Luek, January 25, 2012 - translation by me
The dictionary defines 'abnormal' as something "deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying". Let's leave it here.
Foul-mouthed chat app has Thai Cultural Heralds up in arms
Originally published at Siam Voices on February 6, 2012
We thought we would hear less of Thailand’s National Knee-Jerk Outrage Machine (“กลไกสร้างปฏิกิริยาอย่างไร้ความยั้งคิดแห่งประเทศไทย”, trademark pending), also known as the Thai Cultural Heralds or ThaiMiniCult, now that that there's someone new in charge at the Ministry of Culture. But apparently it was just a matter of time, and now they're back to bemoan the perceived fall of whatever they call "Thai-ness":
The Culture Ministry is concerned about young people using the Simsimi artificial intelligence conversation program as it uses impolite and rude words.
Culture Surveillance Bureau chief Ladda Thangsupachai said on Thursday the Simsimi application is popular among smartphone users at this time and many swear words have been used in the chatting bot.
"Culture alarmed about Simsimi app", Bangkok Post, February 2, 2012
The Simsimi app in question is a multilingual chat bot by a South Korean company that gradually learns new words and phrases from its users. Simply put, the more people use it, the better it 'speaks' back to you. However, it appears that many Thai users have not taken the 'learning' part very seriously and instead taught it some naughty Thai words instead. "So what?" you may think, considering this app has been around since 2002. Why the outrage now? Well, let's see how outraged they are first:
The Simsimi artificial intelligence conversation program is causing social degeneration and creating gaps between members of the family, Culture Minister Sukumol Khunploem said Friday. (...)
"I personally think that the program reflects social problems that are very worrying. Instead of talking to or interacting with friends, people today talk to themselves and normal people don't do that.
"Many young people are using this type of program and this shows the decline in the closeness of the family ties and human interaction," said Mrs Sukumol.
"Culture blasts Simsimi app as 'not normal'", Bangkok Post, February 3, 2012
Users of the SimSimi "chat robot" application who post texts deemed libellous to other persons online face prosecution, even if the offensive remarks are generated by the program, said Thailand's Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap.
"We will monitor the online world and take action against offenders," he said. He called on people to alert the ICT Ministry if they find libellous messages online.
"Thai gov't issues libel warning for users of chat robot", The Nation via Asian News Network, February 4, 2012
WOW! Only the Nitirat group gets so much hate at the moment! Kidding aside, it speaks volume how MICT minister Anudith has reacted to this whole selective outrage (over a chat AI, mind you!) if people post the results when they enter the name of somebody (e.g. a politician) - by simply dropping the legal hammer on them! The developers of the app have reportedly complied with the Thai authorities and agreed to remove the offensive words and phrases from it.
And about the culture minister blaming the social deterioration on a simple mobile app - aren't the problems far more deeper rooted like, um, education and a deeply anachronistic, monolithic perception of 'Thai-ness'? Nah, that's probably too complicated for an explanation and also too complicated to fix (let alone too expensive) - instead have an easy scapegoat to show that the ministry is actually doing something!
Also, how likely is it that such an app can be such detrimental to Thai society:
Amornwit Nakhonthap, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education, said Simsimi was only a fad. Though the language used might be rude sometimes, there were many young people who knew the appropriate usage for such language, he said.
"Simsimi robot app too rude for some parents", The Nation, February 3, 2012
Now that's some level-headed commentary right there, absolutely rational and not over-hyping... wait, there's more...?
He urged the authorities to supervise the Internet by blocking and screening inappropriate content.
"Simsimi robot app too rude for some parents", The Nation, February 3, 2012
D'oh! I praised too soon...!
P.S.: I love how those headlines attribute the concerns to the WHOLE Thai culture!
Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and also on his public Facebook page here.
Thammasat University split as it debates for and against Nitirat
By Saksith Saiyasombut
The debates over the Nitirat group's proposals to amend the constitution and the lèse majesté law have become considerably heated and in parts downright ugly over the past weeks. Thammasat University became the venue and the center of controversy as most of the lectures of the group (consisting of 7 Thammasat law lectures) have taken place at that university and lately been banned by the administration, fearing that the university could be "mistaken to organize these events" or even seen to "agree with the movement".
The ban from the camps of "any activities related to the lese majeste law" has cast a large shadow over the university's stance on academic freedom. Ever since then, there are signs that its students and alumni are taking a stand for and against the ban and for and against the proposals of the Nitirat group themselves.
Tuesday was exemplary for this divide as two different groups were rallying on two different campuses of the university:
More than 200 current and former student members of the Journalism and Mass Communication Faculty staged a rally against Nitirat at the Tha Phrachan campus. Students and lecturers from other faculties and supporters joined in the demonstration.
They were countered by a group of students who gathered at Thammasat's Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani who oppose the ban on Nitirat. The group will hold a rally at Tha Phrachan campus on Sunday. (...) about 10 students came out to oppose the ban, saying it restricted freedom of speech.
"Nitirat ban splits student body", Bangkok Post, February 2, 2012
First off, let me express my astonishment that of all people, journalists and those striving to become one, should know better than anyone how important the subject of lèse majesté is and how threatening it is to their creed - the more mind-boggling and revealing it is to see these people rallying with posters (see above) like "Journalism [Faculty] against Nitirat", "Nitirat is not Thammasat, Thammasat is not Nitirat" and "Don't let knowledge distort morality!"
They called during a rally for members of the Thammsat community to oppose Nitirat's proposal for the amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, for the university to launch a legal and disciplinary investigation of the seven law lecturers, for the mass media to exercise discretion in presenting information on the proposed amendment, and for people in all walks of life to oppose any move deemed insulting to the monarchy.
"Journalism students oppose Nitirat", Bangkok Post , February 2, 2012
Following the Thai Journalists Association welcoming (last sentence) last week's decision by Twitter to filter out tweets on a country-by-country basis (and Thailand rushing to endorse it), today's protest by journalism students against amendments to the ambiguous, but draconian lèse majesté law is a declaration of moral bankruptcy by Thailand's journalism.
For Thammasat University, considering its history and that it was once considered to be a beacon of liberal thinking, human rights and democratic freedom in Thailand, it is a dangerous walk on the tight rope. While its rector has given refuge to a young girl called "Kanthoop", who has been over the years witch-hunted by ultra-royalists and has to face a lèse majesté complaint, the university is risking to lose all its liberal credibility with the ban of the Nitirat group. In general this debate will test the ability of all Thais to listen and at least acknowledge opposing views and uncomfortable opinions - the outcome is yet to be expected.
Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and also on his public Facebook page here.
No #outrage as Thailand adopts Twitter’s censorship policy
Originally published at Siam Voices on January 31, 2012
Last week, the micro-blogging website Twitter announced an implementation that gives them the possibility to withhold certain tweets to be viewable from certain countries, if legally required to do so. The backlash was expected and came in swiftly with countless of users express their #outrage. While some see an actual improvement in Twitter's new policy as they make the process transparent in contrast to previously just deleting the offending tweeting.
Of course many are fearing that this move will enable governments to curtail freedom of speech by requesting Twitter to blank out unwanted tweets that is going against a sovereign narrative and thus rendering campaigns of minority voices on the social media service, that has been often attributed to be a vital tool in the Arab Spring, ineffective.
One of these countries is of course Thailand, where freedom of speech has been steadily on the decline over the past few years and recents months have seen an intense and emotional debate of the Kingdom's ambiguous, but yet draconian lèse majesté law. While groups demanding a reform or the complete removal of Article 112 of the Criminal Code are battling with hardcore royalists and other opportunists, who are of course still upholding the notion that the royal institution needs to be protected above all else, the government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra are maintaining their past stance and denying any move to amend the law whatsoever.
On Monday the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), in order not to be outdone by anyone, has come to endorse Twitter's new policy:
ICT permanent secretary Jeerawan Boonperm said Twitter's move to censor or block content regarded as offensive in particular countries was a "welcome development".
The ICT Ministry will contact Twitter shortly to discuss ways in which they could collaborate, she said.
Mrs Jeerawan added the ICT already receives "good cooperation" from companies such as Google and Facebook in ensuring that Thai laws are respected.
"ICT to lay down law on Twitter accounts", Bangkok Post, January 30, 2012 via TheNextWeb
Just in case you have missed it: Thailand is the FIRST government on this Earth to embrace Twitter's new censorship policy! They have even beaten the Chinese, who of course made their own spin on this! This of course has drawn in the attention of the international media, as it also inevitably draws attention to the lèse majesté laws, which is slowly becoming synonymous for the Southeast Asian country.
What this whole controversy also shows is that Twitter, while a significant web service in today's internet culture, is still a private corporation that is there to make a profit and expand in foreign markets, such as China. It is a ride on a razor's edge between financial interests and the interests of it's users - something that other web companies like Google and Yahoo have attempted by appeasing to the local laws and eventually damaging their reputation in the end.
In the case of Thailand, Twitter is yet another frontline in the seemingly never-ending battle for freedom of expression online against a force that is curtailing the diversity of views and opinions in order to protect their sole, valid sovereign narrative of a Kingdom that is getting into world's spotlight more and more for all the wrong reasons.
Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and also on his public Facebook page here.