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High Schoolers Challenge Their Education Minister For A Better Future

Chatwan Mongkol
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High Schoolers Challenge Their Education Minister For A Better Future

THAILAND. Bangkok. High schoolers from over 50 schools across the country came together on 5 Sept to demand an education reform at the Ministry of Education (MOE) while the Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan also joined a student leader in debating the issues.

The students’ demands were an end to harassment on students, an abolition of outdated rules that violate student rights, and a reform of the whole education system. They asked the minister to resign if he cannot address those.

Most participants were under 18 and came in student uniforms.

The wall of the MOE was decorated by funeral wreaths with names of schools of student organizers.

There were symbolic expressions throughout the event such as singing parody music, blowing whistles, Miss Education pageant contest skit, and mourning over victims of suicides caused by education problems. 

The debate on the education issues lasted about an hour.

The education minister made a move before the youth

Only hours before the event, Teepsuwan held a press conference in front of the ministry addressing proposals from students, as The Standard reported.

He said the ministry is ready to push forward some, but not all, changes students proposed.

  • Haircut policies: The minister has dropped a section of the regulations that allowed school authorities to determine what is appropriate for students.
  • Dress code: There is no change in the dress code regulations. The minister cited student uniforms rules in other countries, the security of students, discipline, and inequality.
  • Gender inequality: The minister said the cabinet has passed the Civil Partnership bill, which is a good sign that shows understanding toward the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Harassment: The minister has already temporarily fired 15 teachers, and has opened a way for students to file complaints.
  • Overloaded duties of teachers: The minister said he is ready to change this.
  • Educational inequality: Private sectors will have more opportunities to provide educational resources through the MOE’s platform.
  • English learning: The cabinet has approved hiring more foreign teachers.
  • Curriculum: The ministry is aware of the flaws seen in the current curriculum and plans to review it in 2022.
  • National test: The ministry will reconsider this year’s national test because students’ learning opportunities have been affected by the pandemic.
Standees of the education ministry in various poses appeared at the event. Photo Credit: SiamRath

Teepsuwan said he was not looking forward to debating with students because debating in his definition must be a conversation between “people who have different opinions,” but he said he has the same goal as the students, the goal of improving the education system.

He said it was his right not to go talk to students, but he ended up going on stage.

When asked by a reporter on the condition students have for him, he said he saw students pressuring him to resign as harassment.

Teepsuwan was one of the protest leaders who pressured Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign in 2014.

That political unrest later resulted in a military coup, in which it has put in place the current authoritarian regime.

High schoolers have been active

Following the mass university student-led protest in Bangkok on 16 Aug, high school students across the country began showing solidarity with the protesters by doing a three-finger salute, which is known as a dictatorship-opposed sign, during the national anthem. Many of them were harassed by their teachers.

On 19 Aug, over 300 high school students protested for student rights to express their opinions on campus as well as other education-related issues in front of the MOE.

They also blew whistles to drive the education minister out as he discouraged students from participating in political activities.

A whistle was used as a symbol of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee movement in 2013-2014, in which the minister was one of the leaders.

The education minister is sitting on the ground after being refused by students to speak on the stage on 19 Aug. Photo Credit: Prachatai

The minister attempted to negotiate with students that day but they refused to let him speak on the stage, instead, the minister had to sit on the ground while debating with student leaders.


Prior to these events, the students also filed a lawsuit against the outdated haircut policies and hosted a pride parade advocating for gender equality in schools.

Thailand Found First COVID-19 Case After 100 Days Of No Local Transmission

Chatwan Mongkol
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Thailand Found First COVID-19 Case After 100 Days Of No Local Transmission

THAILAND. Bangkok. A 37-year-old male inmate was tested positive for COVID-19 on 2 Sept, according to the Ministry of Public Health’s press conference.

The case marks the first infection within the country as Thailand has not found any local transmission for over 100 days. The only new cases found in the past months were imported from foreign countries in quarantine facilities, however, the man has no travel record outside of Thailand.

Read also Medical Professional Survives COVID-19 And Warns Fellow Health Workers

According to the timeline released, the man was a new inmate who was imprisoned on 26 Aug on drug-related charges. He worked as a DJ at places on Khaosan Road, Phra Ram 3, and Phra Ram 5 before the imprisonment. His symptoms, including dry cough, started on 29 Aug, and he was tested through the routine testings of the prison.

He has been moved to the Department of Corrections’ Hospital after that.

Contact tracing is underway

A Corrections Department official said his case had no effect on other inmates as there were designated space for new inmates to quarantine for 14 days. 34 inmates who shared the room with him were all tested negative.

On the day he was imprisoned, 20 people — including his lawyer and prison officers — had contact with him. They will be put in quarantine.

Five members of his family are considered “high-risk contacts,” and they are now being quarantined. His workplaces will be closed for sanitization for three days. Health officers will also trace down people who had contact with him to put them in quarantine.

A Facebook Group Discussing Monarchy Was Blocked, Then Returns

Chatwan Mongkol
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A Facebook Group Discussing Monarchy Was Blocked, Then Returns

THAILAND. After the Thai government pressured Facebook into taking down illegal content, a controversial group discussing monarchy with over a million members, “Royalist Marketplace,” has been blocked on 24 Aug, however, a new group returned with over 917,000 members within five days. Facebook announced it is preparing to take legal actions against the government.

“Royalist Marketplace” was a group created by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai dissident living in exile in Japan. The group was founded in April 2020. Members of the group discussed and criticized the monarchy and politics in Thailand. Chachavalpongpun has been advocating for open discussions on the monarchy as criticizing the monarchy is still illegal in Thailand, and still a taboo most people do not talk about in public.

However, anti-government protesters took the risk to talk about the topic at protests in recent months.

Chachavalpongpun created a new group called “Royalist Marketplace-Royal Market” immediately after the original one was blocked. Over 917,000 people have joined the group within five days.

“The only things you can block are people’s eyes and ears, but the thing that you can’t block is people’s opinions,” group member Radarut Supasri told Transcontinental Times. 

Supasri was in the group that was blocked and also one of the thousands who joined the new group because she wanted to show that people will still find a way to express their opinions no matter how many groups the government blocks. Supasri said she anticipated this move because she believes the government will do everything to protect the national security.

“During these times, it’s not odd that the government would interpret the ongoing [anti-government] protests as threats to the national security,” Supasri said. “Because the state is afraid that the people will not be under their authority…controlling the dissidents is very important under the authoritarian regime.”

Facebook saw this as a severe intervention

Access limitation happened after the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) requested Facebook to take down illegal content relating to the monarchy.

BBC Thai reported that Facebook is preparing to take legal actions against the government as the request is violating the international human rights standards as well as affecting the people’s freedom of expression.

“Facebook’s operation has the objective to protect and reserve every internet user’s rights, and we are preparing to challenge the government request with legal actions,” the statement from Facebook Thailand read.

BBC Thai also reported that Puttipong Punnakanta, MDES minister, believes that Facebook will not sue as it has been cooperating with other requests by taking down illegal content. Not only Facebook did as requested, but YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok did as well, as the minister said.

He confirmed that the request was made within the frames of laws and culture, and it was not because of any political conflicts or the current political movement.

Read also: Facebook To Face Legal Actions From Thai Digital Ministry Over Illegal Conten

“We have to protect sovereignty,” Punnakanta said. “But this time, it’s cyber-sovereignty that works as a system.”

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the access blocking request was made through a legal process not through “dictatorship” power, as PPTV reported. He said the Thai government has to use Thai laws to fight the lawsuit if Facebook sues.

A petition submitted to the Japanese Embassy

On 25 Aug, ThaiRath reported that representatives from People Group for Nation, Religion, and the Monarchy submitted a petition to the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok demanding that the Japanese authority deal with Chachavalpongpun who is living in exile in Japan. They said Chachavalpongpun has created division in the society by encouraging people to criticize the monarchy.

Their demands were that the Japanese government must stop him from doing the activity and send him back. They also wanted Kyoto University to suspend him from being a professor there.

True Democracy: A Shared Goal Among People From Across Thailand

Chatwan Mongkol
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1
True Democracy: A Shared Goal Among People From Across Thailand

THAILAND. Bangkok. “Dictatorship shall fall, democracy shall rise,” a phrase over 15,000 pro-democracy demonstrators chanted throughout an anti-government rally at Democracy Monument on 16 Aug led by university students.

Following a month of over 170 anti-government rallies, people gathered to demand that the government must stop harassing the people who exercise their rights and liberty, rewrite the constitution for the actual public interest, and dissolve the parliament. All that must happen under two principles: no further military coup, and no national unity government.

Demonstrators also emphasized their one aspiration: a true constitutional monarchy system.

Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, one of the protest leaders, told reporters that this rally was a sign from the people that they are suffering from the government’s incompetence. He said the government and the parliament must fulfill their demands if they do not want more protests.

  • Demonstrators are using their phone flashlights. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • Demonstrators are holding the sign demanding the abolition of military-appointed Senate, which has the power to elect prime minister. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • A shirt with the prime minister’s name worn by a demonstrator at the rally. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • A placard held by a demonstrator. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • The placard said “free dictator’s slaves.” Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • A placard brought by a 16-year-old student. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol
  • Messages demonstrators wrote at the event, the black letters read “dictatorship shall fall, democracy shall rise.” Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol

People came out despite the obstructions from the authorities in many forms including arresting the protest leaders. While demonstrators were concerned over the safety of the people, they also believe the authorities would not do anything at this point. 

One of the demonstrators who is a father, Santi Prasoetsak, brought his child with him because he said he wanted his child to learn about civic engagement.

“I’m not worried about anything, I don’t think it’s the point that the state would decide to use violence,” Prasoetsak said. “The more the people come out, the less the state would dare to harm the people.”

However, protest leaders said they anticipated the harassment prior to the event and said it reinforced the need to be in the fight.

“When we are in the undemocratic society that isn’t supportive for our expression, it’s something we have to come out and demand,” said Juthatip Sirikhan, another protest leader.

Sirabhob Attohi, a protest moderator, said, “You asked me if I’m scared [of the harassment]? Yes, I am. But actually it’s the state that should be scared of us.”

Demonstrators said if the demands are not met by the end of the month, they will come out again.

The rally consisted of speeches from speakers, skits, dancing, music recitals, comedy shows, and concerts.

After the rally, protest leaders with arrest warrants marched to a police station to turn themselves in. They challenged the police to prosecute them with charges.

Police refused to arrest them.

Reforming the monarchy

An aspiration the movement emphasized was to put the monarchy under the constitutional like other constitutional monarchy countries. Prior to this rally, students at Thammasat University already outlined 10 demands for the monarchy. 

Those 10 demands were not accepted on stage at the rally, as ThaiPBS reported, but a parade that emphasized those demands appeared at the rally.

A parade emphasizing 10 demands for the monarchy. Photo Credit: Chatwan Mongkol

Ruangprapaikitseree said a true constitutional monarchy is still an aspiration because it is something the people cannot achieve yet as the country is still under an undemocratic constitution.

A 67-year-old demonstrator, Surasak Pattanapirom, came out to support the youth but he said he does not want them to mention the monarchy too much but rather focus on the initial three demands first. He advised that they would gain more supports from the people that way.

However, Winyu Wongsurawat, an internet personality and a demonstrator, said he does not think that the 10 demands about the monarchy were not an insult to the institution as they are not illegal.

  • A bird-eye view photo of the demonstration taken by Niranam Plod Aek.
  • A bird-eye view photo of the demonstration taken by Niranam Plod Aek.
  • A bird-eye view photo of the demonstration taken by Niranam Plod Aek.

University Ban Did Not Stop Students From Exercising Their Political Rights

Chatwan Mongkol
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0
University Ban Did Not Stop Students From Exercising Their Political Rights

THAILAND. Bangkok. Despite the inclement weather and the ban from Chulalongkorn University (CU), students led the public on 14 Aug to protest against the government, to call for an end of state harassment on dissidents, to call out the university for not supporting its students, and to call out the media for not reporting what is happening.

A 21-year-old CU Faculty of Arts student, Champ Nutchanon, told Transcontinental Times that he felt the need of coming out when he knew of the ban.

“When you said no to us, you were lighting a torch of dissatisfaction,” Nutchanon said. “The more unreasonable reasons you used, the more we needed to come out to express [our dissatisfaction].”

Another placard that appeared at the demonstration. Image Credit: Chatwan Mongkol

Following the protest at Thammasat University on 10 Aug, Chaiyaporn Puprasert, CU vice president for student development, said students have the right to express their political opinions, and the university is not banning on-campus demonstrations. Puprasert also assured that the university and its professors are ready to help in case of students facing an arrest.

However, four hours prior to the on-campus event, CU backed out on its support and asked the people to avoid attending the event citing that the organizers asked for permission in very short notice, in which the university did not have enough time to facilitate the event.

The statement from CU student affairs also stated that if the event was appeared to happen, the university will take disciplinary action against the organizers.

Nutchanon told Transcontinental Times that he was confused with the university’s decision to ban because he believes a duty of a university is to support its students, including providing facilitation for political events. 

“If the university says no to and ignores its duty, I can’t think of anything except that the university is abandoning its students,” Nutchanon said.

Hours after the ban from CU, 18 CU laws professors issued a statement opposing the ban.

“University should be a free space that supports thought and verbal expressions, which are the root of the advancement of all subjects,” the statement read.

Protest’s goals

This protest also echoed the three demands from Free Youth — the dissolution of the parliament, an end to state harassment on dissidents, and a more democratic constitution.

Protest leaders encouraged people to attend the big protest on Sunday 16 Aug by Free People and its networks at the Democracy Monument.

Not Just A Reform, But A Revolution: Thais Go Beyond Protesting The Government

Chatwan Mongkol
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Not Just A Reform, But A Revolution: Thais Go Beyond Protesting The Government

THAILAND. Pathum Thani. After student-led protesters called for a monarchy reform by outlining 10 demands to co-exist with the democratic system and monarchy institution, government officials, politicians, political parties, elected representatives, and university officials refused to support their movement and threatened them with legal actions.

On the first day of a new semester, Thammasat University (TU) did not only fill with students but also with several thousand anti-authoritarianism protesters who came out to echo three demands while adding 10 additional demands for the monarchy institution.

Students of TU and its networks held a demonstration on 10 Aug at the university. According to the organizer, 15,000 people joined, which made it the largest anti-government protest so far this year.

Monarchy under a democratic constitution

Besides three main demands for the government — the dissolution of the parliament, a more democratic constitution, and an end to state harassment on dissidents — the organizers publicly criticized the monarchy despite the lèse-majesté law, which could put violators in jail for up to 15 years.

“The people should acknowledge that the king of our country is not above the politics but rather has been the root of political problems,” the declaration read.

Several thousand protesters are doing three-finger salute known as a dictatorship-opposed sign in Thailand. Photo Credit: Prachatai

According to Prachatai English, their 10 demands are the abolition of the lèse-majesté law, the abolition of the law that bans legal accusation against the monarch, a clear division between the crown’s assets and the king’s personal assets, abolition the royal office units with a clear duty, cessation of all giving and receiving of donations by royal charity funds, cessation of the exercise of the royal prerogative to express political opinions in public, cessation of education that one-sidedly glorifies the monarchy, the facts about the murders of people that criticized the monarchy, and an end of royal endorsement for further coups.

The declaration said these are not to topple the institution but it is a proposal for it to continue to be esteemed under the democratic system.

Towards the end of the event, the organizer announced that they were going to hold another demonstration at Lumphini Park in Bangkok on 12 Aug, on Queen Mother’s (Sirikit’s) birthday, but later canceled on 11 Aug because of security concerns.

The demonstration also consisted of speakers from many groups including labor rights unions, and high school student rights groups. Human Rights Lawyer Anon Nampa and University Student Panupong Jadnok also took the stage after their arrests on Friday (7 Aug).

“Do not insult the people”

A hashtag #อย่าจาบจ้วงประชาชน (#DoNotInsultThePeople) was trending on Twitter a day after the event as government officials, politicians, political parties, elected representatives, and university officials condemned the demonstration as an offensive act to the monarchy institution and the Thai people.

TU issued a statement expressing its regret of what happened and offered an apology. The statement stated that the organizers initially said they would only advocate for the three current-administration-related demands but it went beyond that. The university said individuals must be responsible for the opinions they have expressed.

TU Vice President Prinya Thaewanarumitkul said even though the university supports free speech, speeches should not violate any law, especially with the sensitive topic that could lead to a division among people in the society. Thaewanarumitkul, as the person who granted organizers permission, also offered an apology.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is aware of the event and its 10 demands and said he is feeling “uneasy” with those demands.

The Palang Pracharat Party, the government party, also responded similarly. 

“Those demands will lead to division within the nation, which might lead to violence,” the party spokesperson said while calling the university officials to hold responsibility.

Pheu Thai Party, an opposition party that has been clear on its political stance that it is anti-authoritarianism, disagreed with what was said at the demonstration. Sudarat Keyuraphan, its chief strategist, said protesters should leave the monarchy out of this as it could lead to violence, which will result in another coup. This sparked anger.

Senators proposed dealing with protesters with legal actions

Prachatai reported that Kamnoon Sidhisamarn and Somchai Sawangkarn, two military-appointed senators, proposed the parliament to use legal actions with protesters. Sidhisamarn said what happened at the demonstration has gone beyond protesting the government and demanding a new constitution; he said it was too aggressive.

Sidhisamarn added that the demonstration at TU has mocked the long-practiced and most-respected tradition through two suspects that were arrested then released, and a recorded video of a political refugee with lèse-majesté law charges, Pavin Chachavalpongun, who resided in Japan.

Sawangkarn suggested seven “strict tactics” to deal with the protest leaders: Anti-money laundering and special investigation offices to check all the supports behind every political movement, Digital Ministry and technology crime police to deal with illegal content, police to withdraw bail for Napma and Jadnok, universities to be responsible for any further events, the media to stop reporting on the event, Foreign Ministry to deal with asylum-granted countries as political refugees in those countries attack the Thai national security from abroad, and finally for everyone to debate and compromise.

What protesters did was not illegal

As the students believe the proposal is not an insult to the monarchy, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights stands with them.

“Freedom of expression over the monarchy institution whether it be on its expenses, its power, duties, and behavior as the king, or system of the state must be able to mention. Because the monarchy institution is an organization under the constitution,” TLHR statement read.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the progressive and opposition Move Forward Party, insisted that the 10 demands are not threats to the monarchy but they are an inconvenient truth that people must be able to debate.

Two Key Protesters Arrested, Released On Bail While 31 More Are Targeted

Chatwan Mongkol
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1
Two Key Protesters Arrested, Released On Bail While 31 More Are Targeted

THAILAND. Bangkok. In a democratic country, citizens are free to express their dissents, but in a democratic country under a military-drafted constitution, things are working differently.

After Free Youth’s protest and weeks of nationwide anti-government protests, two protest leaders were arrested with eight charges. Following a night at a police station and long hours in court, they were released on bail. Local news reported 31 other names who are targeted by the authorities. Members of the public objected to the arrests stating “if we don’t fight, we will live as slaves.”

On Friday (7 Aug.) afternoon, Human Rights Lawyer Anon Nampa and University Student Panupong Jadnok, both appearing at many anti-government protests in the past weeks, were arrested with eight allegations include violation of the state of the emergency act, sedition, and traffic obstructions, according to arrest warrants.

Prior to Nampa’s arrest, he publicly criticized the monarchy at a protest despite the lèse-majesté law.

Both of them appeared at the Criminal Court as the police requested detention orders from the court after interrogations at police stations.

The court denied the request four hours into the hearing citing that the request was submitted outside of the court operating hours, which Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that it resulted in police losing custody on the two suspects. However, the police insisted on detaining them before forcefully carrying them into a police van. Nampa and Jadnok were held at Huai Khwang Police Station for a night.

On Saturday (8 Aug.) morning, Nampa and Jadnok were taken to the Criminal Court again to review the request. The court approved the detention orders but released both of them in the afternoon on bail with conditions as they requested.

The two protest leaders initially announced that they would not request to get bailed out as doing so would jeopardize their political activities.

Other protest leaders are targeted

After the two arrests were made, iLaw released a leaked document of 31 names that are suspects from the Free Youth’s protest on 18 July. The list then went viral on social media.

Matichon reported that police already requested arrest warrants for 15 protest leaders while they are still collecting evidence for the other 16 people. The report said the police will arrest all 31 protest leaders by 10 Aug.

Parit Chiwarak, one of the 31, announced he would not turn himself in as he believes the warrant is illegitimate.

Elected representatives appeared at the scene

Members of the Parliament (MP) from the Move Forward Party appeared at the court on Friday night to support both suspects while offering their elected-positions as bail for all 31 protest leaders as needed. An elected-representative position worths 1,000,000 Baht (around 32,000 USD) as a bailout.

Two of them ended up using their positions to bail Nampa and Jadnok out.

MPs from the Pheu Thai Party led by Sudarat Keyuraphan, its chief strategist, also appeared at the Bang Khen Police Station where most protesters were at to support them.

MPs from Move Forward Party are at the Criminal Court. Image Credit: Move Forward Party’s Facebook page
MPs from Pheu Thai Party are at the Bang Khen Police Station. Image Credit: Sudarat Keyuraphan’s Facebook page

Public reaction after the arrest

Immediately after Nampa’s arrest, a hashtag #saveทนายอานนท์ (#SaveLawyerAnon) trended on Twitter. Hundreds of people gathered on Friday evening at the Bang Khen Police Station where the interrogation happened to protest the arrests and demand the release. Students activists whose names appeared on the targeted list led the protest.

Protesters moved to Huai Khwang Police Station as the two were taken there from the court. Some protesters stayed overnight.

The crowd continued to gather on Saturday at the Criminal Court as Nampa and Jadnok waited for the court decision before another mass student-led flashmob was organized in the afternoon.

Hundreds of people are gathering at Bang Khen Police Station to protest the arrests. Image Credit: Prachatai
A crowd is gathering at the Criminal Court while waiting for the court decision on Nampa’s and Jadnok’s detention orders. Image Credit: Prachatai

“If we don’t fight, we will live as slaves.”

On Saturday, over 1,000 people joined the Free People group, a group that was launched by Free Youth to be more inclusive, in pressuring the authorities to release the two protest leaders at Pathumwan Skywalk. The event led to a hashtag #ถ้าไม่สู้ก็อยู่อย่างทาส (#IfWeDon’tFightWeWillLiveAsSlaves).

Despite the inclement weather and pressure from the police, demonstrators continued to raise their three fingers salute known as a dictatorship-opposed sign in Thailand and sang “Do You Hear the People Sing?”

Organizers reminded everyone again of the three initial demands: the dissolution of the parliament, a more democratic constitution, and an end to state harassment. 

Many activists whose names were on the leaked targeted list also appeared at the event. They asked that everyone joins the big protest on 16 Aug. at the Democracy Monument.

Since the dusk, a thousand of people led by the pro-democracy activists join a flash mob on the Skywalk in Bangkok to…

Posted by Napat Tar Wesshasartar on Saturday, August 8, 2020

The protest on 16 Aug. is by the Free People as Free Youth promised a bigger event if their demands were not met in two weeks. 1 Aug. marked a complete two weeks.

“We won’t stop until the dark power is gone,” chanted protesters before dissolution.

Facebook To Face Legal Actions From Thai Digital Ministry Over Illegal Content

Chatwan Mongkol
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1
Facebook To Face Legal Actions From Thai Digital Ministry Over Illegal Content

THAILAND. Bangkok. After Facebook failed to remove content that violated Thai laws, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) Minister Puttipong Punnakanta threatened to prosecute the Social media site for violating the Thai Computer Crime Act. 

Punnakanta posted on his Facebook page on July 30 that the MDES requested Facebook to remove 4,767 URLs with court orders. While only 1,316 URLs were taken down by Facebook which is around only 20% of the total.

“Any foreign platform providing services for people or doing business in Thailand must respect Thai laws,” Punnakanta wrote on his post.

He also said that in the past seven months, the MDES has been monitoring online content that violates Thai laws. On July 23, The court issued an order for the removal of 7,164 URLs, in which over 4,000 URLs belonged to Facebook.

While YouTube removed around 90% of what was requested, Facebook removed only 20% of the illegal content on its platform. Punnakanta expressed his disappointment against Facebook as it has not cooperated with the local laws.

“Facebook could be fined up 200,000 Baht (around 6,400 USD), and up to 5,000 Baht (around 160 USD) daily for the number of days it fails to follow Thai court orders,” said the minister.

Facebook mistranslated King’s birthday post

On July 28, on the occasion of the Thai King’s 68th birth anniversary, Facebook’s automatic translation system mistranslated English-to-Thai descriptions during a news channel’s live Facebook broadcast of the King’s birthday ceremony. As per Khaosod English report, the mistranslated message might be offensive for many in Thailand.

In Thailand, one can face up to 15 years in prison when criticizing or insulting the monarchy due to the lèse-majesté law.  

The MDES minster said he immediately sent a letter to Facebook after the incident. Thai PBS World reported that Facebook offered an apology to the Thai people and has temporarily disabled the English-to-Thai automatic translation feature. However, Punnakanta thinks it wasn’t enough and the ministry will prosecute Facebook.

“We have to take legal action because such misinformation could create social chaos and disharmony,” Punnakanta said.

Thailand Appoints Its First Female Supreme Court President

Chatwan Mongkol
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0
Thailand Appoints Its First Female Supreme Court President

THAILAND. Bangkok. Methinee Chalothorn, current Supreme Court vice-president, will serve as the country’s 46th and first female Supreme Court president after the Judicial Commission endorsed her nomination on 24 July.

Supreme Court president is the highest position of the Thai judicial branch. The position is legally equivalent to the prime minister of the executive branch and the president of the National Assembly of the legislative branch. Chalothorn’s presidency will start on 1 Oct.

Methinee Chalothorn. Photo Credit: The Supreme Court of Thailand

Besides Chalothorn, two other women were also appointed to the second and third most powerful positions in the Thai judiciary, as ThaiRath reported. 

Piyakul Boonpam, current president of the Bankruptcy Case Division of the Supreme Court, will serve as the next president of the Court of Appeal. 

Wasana Hongcharoen, current president of the Juvenile and Family Case Division of the Supreme Court, will serve as the next vice-president of the Supreme Court.

Lack of female representation in the judiciary 

However, the judiciary system in Thailand is still male-dominated according to research by Usamard Siampukdee of Chaing Mai University. 

While other bureaucratic sections comprised of over 50% of women population, the judiciary organizations including police, judges, and public prosecutors comprised of less than 25% of women. Siampukdee saw a significant gender gap.

“Women are considered new faces in courtship,” Siampukdee said in the research. “The recognition of women judiciary and public prosecutor gradually developed whereas the opportunity for women to these professions appears to be low comparing to male counterparts. Even though the tendency of women getting employed has been increasing, women comprise less than a quarter of total workforce serving as public prosecutors and judges.”

Siampukdee also stated that even fewer women have achieved high-level positions in this field.

Other branches of government are also male-dominated

In January of 2020, the United Nations Women ranked Thailand 137th out of 193 countries in women representations in parliament. There are 81 female representatives out of 500 members of the House of Representatives, only 16.2%. There are 26 female senators out of 250 members of the Senate, only 10.4%.

For the executive branch, none of the cabinet members is female. Leaders of all 24 ministries are male, which ranked Thailand the lowest in terms of representation of women in ministerial positions.

Students Take Control Of Their Future Amid An Outdated Education System

Chatwan Mongkol
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0
Students Take Control Of Their Future Amid An Outdated Education System

THAILAND. Bangkok. Most of the time when students speak out and advocate for their rights, adults tell them to go home and focus on their studies so they can have a better future. However, many would argue how that´s even possible in such a problematic and underdeveloped education system.

In the past week, many student rights groups organized protest activities. Some of these include filing a lawsuit against education authorities for the abolition of outdated rules in schools, writing letters to their future selves, and holding demonstrations.

Controversial haircut policies

As Bangkok Post reported, Thai students have had haircut regulations since 1972. Despite the new regulations stating that students can have long hair, which started in 1975, most schools follow the old 1972 haircut rules. Male students need to maintain a buzzcut, while female students must wear their hair in a short bob.

In early May, the current education minister issued new regulations similar to the 1975 rules. However, the new ones didn´t require every school to follow but instead gave each school director the authority to determine what was appropriate.

It´s been reported that there are schools still making students wear their hair according to the old 1972 rules and teachers punishing them severely, which includes giving students ugly haircuts, when these rules are not followed.

Students were given bad haircuts as a punishment for not following the rules. Photo Credit: Postjung

Students file a lawsuit against outdated regulations

On 30 July, high school student activists from the Education for Liberation of Siam (ELS) group filed a lawsuit with the administrative court against the Ministry of Education (MOE) and its minister for the abolition of the current haircut policies.

According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, the group accuses the MOE and its minister of five things.

The lawsuit states that relationships between students and the MOE should be limited to education-related things. As the law defines students as being under control of the MOE, the lawsuit says they should not be using that authority to control a student´s personal issues, such as their haircuts. 

The lawsuit states that both the 1972 and 2020 regulations violate the constitution as they devalue a student´s human dignity. Also, the lawsuit outlines discrimination against minorities, especially LGBTQ and intersexual students, as students must follow the rules written for their biological genders.

The ELS believes haircut policies allow authorities to abuse their power since they cannot use and have not used those policies to achieve the goals stated in the laws. They also described severe punishments that many students face when they are not in compliance with the policies.

Lastly, the lawsuit explains how these policies violate the goals of education as stated in the National Education Act. The act specifies that education must be used to develop a Thai citizen into a “perfect human,” and also be used to make a citizen become knowledgeable of the political system, their rights, duties, freedoms, laws, equality, and human dignity.

Seventy-three people signed their names in the lawsuit.

A demonstration in front of the MOE

After the Bad Student Group submitted a petition to the MOE regarding haircut regulations, which saw no progress, members of the group organized a demonstration on 31 July. The theme of the protest was, “Thai students cannot bear it anymore,” according to Komchadluek.

Their demands were that teachers must not treat students poorly. Rules must not violate students’ basic human rights, and students must also be able to express their opinions. They projected those demands through singing a sarcastic parody song after giving speeches and handing out commonly used items that violate their rights.

Dr. Ketthip Suphavanich‎, the assistant to the MOE permanent secretary, negotiated with the students before inviting them to demonstrate inside the MOE area. Suphavanich said she would forward students’ concerns to the Permanent Secretary, Prasert Boonruang.

Issara Sereewatthanawut, a member of the Democrat Party and the vice-chair of a parliament committee, said on 1 Aug. that he will propose to his committee this week that they listen to the concerns of the students, according to ThaiRath.

The ELS and the New Life Network also organized a similar event on the same day about haircut policies and undeveloped curriculums.

Students raised their hands when asked if they have experienced issues with haircut policies and have been hit with a stick as a punishment at the demonstration in front of the Ministry of Education. Photo Credit: Twitter @InkaewO

Students share their dreams and hopes for the next 10 years

The Student Union of Thailand (SUT) and the Popular Student Network for Democracy (PSND) led the public in writing letters about what they hope to see in 10 years, as The Standard reported. The event was meant to let everyone express anything they wanted to tell themselves in the future and also people in the next generations.

All letters will be kept in the Museum of Commoners before disclosing them in 10 years time.

Some of the letters included sentiments like, “I lost many opportunities in the past years, some of them are long-term, who is responsible?” There was also optimistic commentary such as, “In the next 10 years, I hope Thailand will be great again,” and, “Do you know that on this day ten years ago, we had to fight a dictatorship. I hope that our fight is over if you’re reading this.”

All these events came after the protest by Free Youth on Saturday 18 July. The protest leaders said if their demands are not met in two weeks, they would take the protest to another level.

They launched a group called Free People and said they will announce the details of the next protest in the coming dates.

Letters that will be kept for 10 years before being opened hanging on a rope at the fence of Grand Postal Building. Photo Credit: Twitter @chatlada_ch8
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