A video-recorded confrontation over a parking spot reserved for the disabled that went viral online has sparked debate over disabled rights, appropriate behaviour and training of security guards at Bangkok shopping malls.
The video was posted on Pantip.com, a popular internet forum, by a user identified only as "Gazook."
Gazook wrote that he and his wife went to shop at Pure Place community mall in the Ratchaphruek area Sunday. As they were about to return to their car, they saw a security guard signalling for another driver to park in the spot reserved for the disabled.
"I was waiting to see if there were any disabled people coming out of the car but there weren't any. I saw a man, who was the driver, his wife and her child of about three years old," Gazook posted.
He wrote that he politely told the driver that he should not park his car in the that spot, as there were many available parking spaces nearby. The driver told him that the security guard told him to park there.
Gazook argued that the driver did not have to follow the security guard if he knew what is "appropriate". The driver then asked him what his problem was.
"Society is becoming more depraved because of people who lack common sense," he replied.
The original poster wrote that the situation intensified as the driver started to speak impolitely and tried to hit him. However, he did not fight back but instead used his smartphone to record the incident. When the driver saw him raising his phone, he started to calm down, but still tried to push him back, as seen in the video clip.
Several security guards and some staff in the area later came to intervene.
One of the staffers told Gazook that Thai people should be more generous. Gazook argued it was not about being generous, but about protecting the rights of the disabled and that the driver should have more common sense. The driver and his family later drove off.
Gazook asked one of the security guards why he allowed people without disabilities to park there. The guard said it was because there was a small child in the car.
Gazook said there was no sign saying that the space was also reserved for small children and that there would be no point of having disabled parking in the first place. The guard nodded.
The poster then asked what the guard would do if a disabled person could not park his car at the spot reserved for him.
Another employee at the community mall later said the parking space was actually for the disabled as well as "children and elderly" and that the security guard knew what he was doing and was not at fault.
Gazook repeated that there was no "children and elderly" sign at the parking space and that he did not want people to exploit the privileges of the disabled.
Thai netizens mostly praised Gazook for his courage and bravery to do the right thing, but warned him that his life could be endangered by that type of situation. They also criticised the guards and staff for trying to make excuses.
Pantip user "Salew" said the original poster's action should be applauded, but he should not risk his life in this case. "Many Thais are killing each other because they're hot-headed," Salew posted.
Youtube user "ingyeelin" wrote that the guards and staff should not claim that the parking space was also reserved for children and elderly and the community mall should be held responsible.