Questions for the PM-elect

COMMENTARY

Published: 7/07/2011 at 10:12 AM
Newspaper section: News

Please be prepared, Khun Yingluck. On your way to be the first woman prime minister of the country that is also an international hub of commercial sex, you are bound to face questions from the media on how you are going to help your underprivileged sisters who have to make a living by selling their bodies.

I certainly hope your team will not advise you to stick to the stock answer, that education is the key to women's development.

It is a safe answer, but it camouflages the root cause of sexual exploitation.

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About the author

: Writer: Sanitsuda Ekachai; Position: Assistant Editor

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bencanuck
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Discussion 24 : 08/07/2011 at 10:14 AM24
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domdunn, discussion 22

"This article is not about prostitution, it is about government policies that create the conditions in which some women feel that prostitution is the best option they have."

Thank you.

(Same as, it's not about illegal abortion... it's about the government policies and social conditions in which women feel it's the best option they gave, etc.)
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spiceman
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Discussion 23 : 08/07/2011 at 03:34 AM23
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So what does the author wants PM-elected Ying-Luck to do? Does she want to legalize & regulate prostitution in Thailand like the Netherlands, where prostitutes are treated like any other legal professionals subjected to regulation & taxation? Of course poverty and lack of morality continue to drive women to prostitution, especially, in a third-world country like Thailand. So, a long-term solution is to try to alleviate the level of poverty through practical education and better employment opportunity. Finally and most importantly, the rich must learn to love the poor through cheerfully donating some of their time, talents, and treasures, to help them to lift themselves up form poverty for the Love of God.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 22 : 07/07/2011 at 06:59 PM22
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This article is not about prostitution, it is about government policies that create the conditions in which some women feel that prostitution is the best option they have.
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zulu
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Discussion 21 : 07/07/2011 at 04:52 PM21
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even the longest journey starts with the first step. what step could that be? i think it is absolutely necesssary that EVERY man in thailand must be held acoountable for fathering a woman. 'till now he walks away scot free, leaving it to the girl/women to take care for the baby alone. so she leaves the baby with the grand parents up country, and go to look for a job elsewhere. this non/existing law alone , guarantees the constant flow of young, uneducated (isaan) women into the bars of pattaya, soi cowboy, nana, patpong, pukhet - you name it.
when the man can't pay, government jumps in providing support ( whatever is useful, details have to be worked out) - AND is going after the father, to get the money back.
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chybyk
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Discussion 20 : 07/07/2011 at 04:22 PM20
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Prostitution is as old as man himself. Some people have inherent inclination to harlotry. Prostitution gives two benefits at a time, the pleasure and the money. The level of prostitution in Thailand is due to policy. A country which claims to have cultural values still allows semi-nude photos and ponorgraphs within the reach of under-age children. Tourism industry in Thailand brazenly promotes sexual tourism. Sometimes, I think the Thailand elites wants the poor people to remain poor so that they will keep exploiting them. The authorities turns blind eye to those responsible for sexual exploitation.
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aruna
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Discussion 19 : 07/07/2011 at 03:32 PM19
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She was inherited with this problem from her predecessors who were many times as guilty for not doing enough to fix it. Given that she is barely one month into office and the line-up of cabinet ministers and various office bearers have not been officially endorsed, this problem should be tabled and parked aside for her to look into it at an appropriate time. There are many major problems that need immediate attention, and economy is one of them. She is no powerful angel who could wave a magic wand over Thailand and wish away all the problems away in one stroke. I think we should cut her some slack for now and observe for a while first.
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massein
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Discussion 18 : 07/07/2011 at 03:24 PM18
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YL's own brother was a sexist. He made the statement while in office.that he wouldn't give her a cabinet post because she was a woman. If anything she was more qualified. After all she received a master's degree in Political science 21 years ago. What took Mr T so long to recognize her for her potential. I wish her well. I pray she can get out from under Mr. T's shadow, and serve the country well
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bencanuck
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Discussion 17 : 07/07/2011 at 03:16 PM17
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hawaiiMAN, discussion 13

"Although few would condone actual sex slavery, many folks of both sexes have voluntarily entered prostitution as a way to help parents, provide an education for siblings, and raise their own standard of living."

In other words, it's an indication that we've failed to meet the needs of women and families. So how "free" and "voluntary" is that "choice", again?
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kaweeka
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Discussion 16 : 07/07/2011 at 12:19 PM16
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Now the women right activists, all elites that have done nothing in 70 years to fix these very problems, expect Yingluck to come in and fix them all in one clean swipe. The hipocricy of this ariticle leaks so much. Why not start by talking about why it has gotten this far under the blind eye of so many generations of politicians?

Education is and alwasy will be the answer to most social ills, but why is that we continue to bring extremely poor quality in education to the people? These are root problems of Thai society that goes long long long before Thaksin. Want to castigate and punish someone, go after those that have done nothing for Thailand's education in 60+ years - and I assure you it isn't the so easy to blame Shinawatras.
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Peter L

Discussion 15 : 07/07/2011 at 11:54 AM15
You time start now! Strange, why time stop during previous administration. She has even yet take office! Conciliation is of utmost importance. Divided Thailand is scaring away investors and tourists. Taming the economy next. Thai Love Thai and peace will prevails. No more fightings please. Thailand have suffered enough. Forgive and forget. An eye for an eye make all blind!
from iPhone application.
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