Uproar over slap... then nothing

COMMENTARY

Published: 17/01/2012 at 11:37 AM
Newspaper section: News

That Sirichai Maichum, the security officer at Suvarnabhumi Airport who got his ears smacked by a high-ranking customs official till an ear drum ruptured, is distraught and worried about his career and his own safety after the assault, should have been a big slap in the face of Thai society. It should have hurt badly. And something should have broken. Something should have changed.

But of course, the reality is that the Thai moral fabric of resilience and tolerance is too tough. What should have sparked a prolonged uproar, a watershed moment that led to some real changes for equity on the scale of the Rosa Parks incident, ended up being merely the "talk of the town," an entertainment which keeps people amused for a few days but ends up in a whimper leading to no tangible improvement.

In reality, it's only natural that a low-ranking someone would feel worried for his personal well-being and professional future if he or she rubs a high-ranking someone the wrong way, even in the course of performing his rightful duty. It's fact of life. It's scandalous, but eventually it is tolerated.

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About the author

: Writer: Atiya Achakulwisut; Position: Deputy Editor (Day)

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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 36 : 09/02/2012 at 09:59 AM36
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Uproar over that slap and then nothing is certainly disconcerting but how much more so is the fact that we hear nothing more about a certain politician and prime murder suspect who obviously, at someone's or some influential entity's behest, has dissapeared from the headlines... Ah alas, bureaucracy and politics often works in weird and deceptive ways.
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Somchart

Discussion 35 : 17/01/2012 at 11:08 PM35
Respect for fellow human beings is not part of thai social order. Also being rich is considered a virtue allowing the richer person to dish out verbal or any other form of abuse to the poorer or a person lower in the social order. Thais can be termed inhumane, mean and nasty in this regard. Sad...
from iPhone application.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 34 : 17/01/2012 at 07:40 PM34
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If you keep accepting it you only dig a big hole deeper.However how can you hope to stop this. kind of thing when the police are some of the main culprits.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 33 : 17/01/2012 at 07:05 PM33
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@Ron1947 #27: Yes you are right, he can be proud. But maybe he spent one or more nights in the police station and maybe (likely) it cost him more money to get released and maybe he involved his embassy, was deported, etc.
Was he right? Maybe.
Did this experience enhance his holiday in any way? Probably not.
What did he win? Nothing: “I was right, but…”
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Silkpit
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Discussion 32 : 17/01/2012 at 05:43 PM32
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Ask any Manager of a larger company here in TH, regardless Thai or Farang, as to why seniority is still prevailing over knowledge, skill and professionalism. They might argue that's not true at their businesses, yet hard to beleive.
As for whatever is Goverment, please dont even consider this question.
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Eggmeng
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Discussion 31 : 17/01/2012 at 05:08 PM31
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@bkk-farang discussion 25

The author of this piece rightly used two words to identify a small act by one person which made history, by sparking a major civil rights movement.

Google "Rosa Parks" if you don't know who she was.
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lazar
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Discussion 30 : 17/01/2012 at 04:19 PM30
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Bkk-farang @D25: a little tip for you. Next time a copper jumps out in the road to stop you...Don't stop. I do it all the time, they won't chase you. It's not worth their time and time's money to them.
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lungstib
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Discussion 29 : 17/01/2012 at 03:45 PM29
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Change, you're expecting change? Oh, I feel all faint at such a thought. Been this way for many centuries, why should they change?
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med142
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Discussion 28 : 17/01/2012 at 03:40 PM28
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This is Thailand. This is the way of life. It is ingrained in society.But one day it will maybe stop.When you look at other countries such as America, south africa with the racism which went on, still does to a degree, actually in every country, Uk also.The class system operates in every country but in some not as prominent as others. The abuse of power by officials happens in every country.But there is more to it here, there is the class system.
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ron1947
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Discussion 27 : 17/01/2012 at 03:38 PM27
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Disc 25, That man you speak about can be proud because he stood up for his rights and can look at himself in the mirror. He would have went back to his home country and warned others about his experience, not boasted as it is normal behaviour to stand up for what is right. I experienced a similar experience, but paid because I couldn't be bothered squabbling over a paltry sum. However I voted with my feet by never having gone back there. So, who was the loser in the long run?

As for queue jumping this not only a Thai phenomena but is found in many countries.
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