Volunteers stream in to help flood victims across country

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Volunteers stream in to help flood victims across country

People from all strata of society join in

Published: 12/10/2011 at 03:01 AM
Newspaper section: News

People from all walks of life are working tirelessly to pack donated goods at Don Mueang airport for people around the country who have been affected by the floods.

Volunteers of all ages yesterday were busy packing food supplies, bottled water, clothing and other donated goods on the first floor of the airport's terminal building, which has been turned into the government's flood relief operations centre. Most volunteers live in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Chalerm Changthongmadan, chairman of the Hired Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, has brought about 30 association members to help pack donated goods since Monday.

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: Writer: Amornrat Mahitthirook; Position: Reporter

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englishbob
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Discussion 16 : 12/10/2011 at 06:10 PM16
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I volunteer and will continue to do so. I cleared up after the tsunami. I cleared up after the floods last year. I cleared up after the Red Shirts' chaos and I was building sandbag barriers earlier this afternoon.

My work permit doesn't cover any of that, but Thai people are generally very fair. I can't imagine any judge (and I've met a few) making an example of anyone for work of this nature.

On a side note, my friends and peers are generally the wealthy and 'elites' that get such a pasting in these fora. I'd like to point out that they are almost always at my side and donate time and money to help Thais at every opportunity.
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pletwo
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Discussion 15 : 12/10/2011 at 03:03 PM15
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The article is sub-headed "People from all strata of society join in." My point in writing ( and again I apologize to everyone for the multiple posts) is to indicate that one, in some areas of Thailand, rather significant "strata of society" is legally prohibited from "pitching in to help."

Discussion 14, you raise some of the issues that perhaps went into the writing of the visa/work permit laws, though some of those you mention are more probable in other more "law-focused" countries. Considering the careful detail presented by most Thai laws, certainly the provision could be made for true volunteer work with the local people involved making decisions about quality, merit,limelight, risk or attribution.

Bottom line here: how about a simple statement in the Bangkok Post from the Director of Immigration and the Police Chief that foreigners who pitch in to help with flood relief will not be pursued. prosecuted or held in contempt of Thai visa laws?

Foreign students? . .sure. No risk there as they will be gone in a semester or two anyway. A foreigner with a Thai wife and family who lives here on a permanent basis? . . .I dont know any who would take that risk.
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paul_giles
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Discussion 14 : 12/10/2011 at 01:12 PM14
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If foreigners were legally allowed to do volunteer work whenever and wherever they felt like it, a number of problems would arise, a short list: injury and death resulting in lawsuits and bad publicity; blamed for anything that went wrong such as damage and looting; ignored for anything that went right; arousing superstitious views; lessening/stealing the media limelight away from Thai volunteer efforts making some Thais look lazy/selfish/less patriotic; foreign volunteers getting in trouble with officials or local people; not worth the risk, i.e., not enough foreigners to make a meaningful difference, etc.

This is the "glass is half empty" view, but this is how most authorities would view it. That said, foreigners could probably help out individually or with their families in a low key manner and not run into any problems at all.
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lazar
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Discussion 13 : 12/10/2011 at 01:08 PM13
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Discussion 11: Yes I have had dealings with Immigration and never a problem for me, guess I'm just lucky.

Generally I would not put my trust in the Thai Police. However, this is a "special case" and if anything all authorities will welcome all the help they can get.
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Victor
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Discussion 12 : 12/10/2011 at 12:13 PM12
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If ANYBODY, farang or whatever, would like to help, then go and do it. On one pix shown on this page there're several foreign students already doing that without much of a fuss. Otherwise, please refrain from making any more negative remark until it's over.
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pletwo
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Discussion 11 : 12/10/2011 at 11:22 AM11
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Sorry for duplicate posts. I was just editing myself to make my comments more acceptable.

Discussion 6: Have you ever had dealings with Immigration? Would you place your trust in the Thai Police Department? Breaking the law is breaking the law.

The floods are dreadful and the pictures have been heartbreaking. One wishes to be able to help in real ways .. not just by giving money to students with boxes on the street. I feel especially sorry for the rice farmers. This is my family background and I know how grindingly hard the work is even in the best of times.
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pletwo
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Discussion 10 : 12/10/2011 at 11:10 AM10
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I have to agree with Discussion 2. Thanks to Thailand's visa laws and restrictions, any foreigner who wants to help out with this crisis in person can not legally do so without risking violating the terms of their visas and possible fines and/or deportation. A foreigner is not allowed to work - paid or unpaid - without a work permit. Filling sandbags, distributing food or supplies, helping people in need . . .this is all classified as WORK by Thai law and strictly forbidden to foreigners
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pletwo
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Discussion 9 : 12/10/2011 at 10:58 AM9
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I have to agree with Discussion 2. Thanks to Thailand's backward visa laws and restrictions, any foreigner who wants to help out with this crisis in person can not legally do so without risking violating the terms of their visas and possible fines and/or deportation.

A foreigner is not allowed to work - paid or unpaid - without a work permit. Filling sandbags, distributing food or supplies, helping people in need . . .this is all classified as WORK by Thai law and strictly forbidden to foreigners

When will the Thai government wake up to this huge untapped reservoir of volunteer help both in times of crisis and in ordinary times.
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ianprince
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Discussion 8 : 12/10/2011 at 10:51 AM8
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Reconciliation?
Even the 2 PM (AV & YS) work together.
So why can't the Red & Yellow work together to fight corruption?
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pletwo
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Discussion 7 : 12/10/2011 at 10:39 AM7
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I have to agree with Discussion 2. Any foreigner who wants to help out with this crisis in person can not legally do so without risking violating the terms of their visas and possible fines and/or deportation.

A foreigner is not allowed to work - paid or unpaid - without a work permit. Filling sandbags, distributing food or supplies, helping people in need . . .this is all classified as WORK by Thai law and strictly forbidden to foreigners. I know many foreigners, some living here for years, some just visiting, who want to help but who will just not risk their visa status.

When will the Thai government wake up to this huge untapped reservoir of volunteer help both in times of crisis and in ordinary times. I have had several farangs ask about volunteering to teach English in a poor village school, but who, when informed of the law, are unwilling to risk their visas.
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