A still image shows Thanabodi Polrak slapping several of his students Tuesday at the Thammasat Khlongluang Withayakhom school in Pathum Thani province. Image: La Bikini / YouTube
PATHUM THANI — A 59-year-old math teacher faces disciplinary action after a video spread showing him smacking schoolgirls in front of the classroom.
Director of the Thammasat Khlongluang Withayakhom School in northern metro Bangkok said the teacher, Thanabodi Polrak, had good intentions when he slapped the ninth-graders Tuesday morning for repeatedly failing to turn in their homework.
“The teacher admitted he was caught up in momentary rage. He didn’t intend to use violence on the children,” school director Surachai Pinyocheep told reporters Thursday. “He used the wrong method of punishment, but his intention is for the kids to have [good] marks for their grades at the end of the semester.”
The incident was captured on video and uploaded Wednesday to YouTube. The video showed the teacher lining up a group of female ninth-grade students in front of the classroom and smacking some of them in the head.
The video uploader said Thanabodi slapped the girls because they wore winter clothes to school and “looked like hill tribe children,” but director Surachai denied that was the case.
The Ministry of Education has banned corporal punishment such as caning since 2005, but the practice is still common in many Thai schools.
Comments in the slapping video are divided between those who believe Thanabodi’s actions were excessive and those who applaud his methods as justified in Thai culture.
“I have seen this kind of thing, but it was way more violent,” wrote YouTube user Ratchaphon KM9. “I was in 3rd grade. It was over 10 years ago. [The teacher] slapped me, beat me, threw books at me, and scolded at me. But I love this teacher. If that teacher didn’t teach me with such a dark style, today I’d still be illiterate. I don’t know why I love this teacher so much.”
Others disagreed.
“If they didn’t turn in their homework, just give them an F,” wrote Penneuhng Chan-o. “He didn’t have to be this violent. The kids could [literally] lose their heads. This is insane. Don’t say you slapped them because you love them, because if you are this violent, it’s better not to love them, lest their heads and brains get splattered.”
School director Surachai said Thanabodi has been verbally reprimanded for his actions. Any further punishment will be decided by the inquiry committee, he said.
The students’ families, he added, said they will not press charges.
Pranee Chachavalpongpun poses with a soldier she said arrived Feb. 19 at her family home in Bangkok to pressure her and her sister to urge their brother living in exile to end his public criticism.
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK — The sister of an exiled academic said Thursday she expects a visit this afternoon by officers as part of ongoing harassment over his vocal opposition to the junta and critical stance on the monarchy.
Pranee Chachavalpongpun said she was told to expect another visit Thursday six days after soldiers visited their family home to tell her and her family to convince Pavin Chachavalpongpun, currently a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, to stop speaking out publicly or be charged with defaming the monarchy.
“They told my sister to tell Pavin to stop today, and everything will be over. They said if it doesn’t end, if he doesn’t stop, he will face a lese majeste charge,” Pranee said.
In an interview early Thursday morning, Pavin denounced the junta for intimidating his two sisters and called on it to stop harassing his family.
“She is annoyed since she has nothing to do with what I am doing. I told her that she could only convey the message to me but could not force me to do things… They go after everyone in my family,” he said, adding that some time ago, visits were also made to his mother, a housewife, which didn’t seem to work.
Junta spokesman Col. Winthai Suvaree said it’s unlikely that any threats were made, but said the allegations were being looked into.
“I dont think it was done by our officers. I don’t think anyone was threatened. Why would we make any threat? It’s not like we’re going to arrest (the sisters),” he said, adding that soldiers routinely identify themselves when “seeking cooperation.”
Pranee said soldiers were polite when they arrived Feb. 19 to their family home in Bangkok. She said that she told them there was no point in coming to see them, and the men told her they were acting under orders. They took photos of the home, and Pranee took photos of them.
Pranee said men identifying themselves as officers from the Crime Suppression Division called Wednesday to insist they tell Pravin to stop talking.
“I don’t know if he’s going to listen to us, but the man on the phone told my sister, ‘That’s not going to work because you’re from the same family,’” Pranee said.
Pavin said the alleged harassment is the price paid by those who oppose the junta in Thailand and abroad. He added that the junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order, should understand that such indirect threats won’t work on him.
“It could be effective in some cases, particularly those with a low profile. In my case, it’s different. I can depend on my networks to defy such threats from the army.”
He added however that it’s difficult for those who are not public figures.
“[It’s] difficult to say. If they want to stand on their principles and be defiant, that will come with a hefty cost… Those with positions and status should do more, those small people must fear the consequences. After all, there is this culture of impunity.”
Fear keeps many silent, he said:
“Who would want to be a hero when there is no protection?”
Pavin has remained overseas since a warrant was issued for his arrest for failing to heed a summons in June 2014, one month after the junta seized power.
The visits to his home didn’t stop the 44-year-old exile from making more noise and warning the junta may be thinking of staying beyond its latest promise to restore democracy by the end of 2017.
Pavin said by telephone he believes the 2014 coup was about securing a smooth royal succession, and that the NCPO may stick around longer than it’s promised.
Over a year and a half has passed since the May 2014 coup, and Pavin now sees little hope for a popular uprising to oust the coup makers.
“All key institutions have worked intimately with the junta. Thai society in general is passive, plus [there’s] the culture of impunity. So sadly we will be with the junta for some time.”
Pavin, who is critical of the monarchy and the law criminalizing such criticism, said he will not return to Thailand until the draconian lese majeste law is abolished. Ultimately, Pavin said he believes democracy will prevail.
“Eventually, despite the pessimism, democracy will prevail. I will continue to work as usual as a responsible academic,” he said.
Update: Pranee said three officers arrived just after noon today, Thursday, to insist she and her sister ask Pavin desist from commenting upon the monarchy. Pranee said she told them they have communicated the message, and also told them "whether Pavin will do it is another thing." The officers left without incident.
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Bangkokians bundle up during the cold spell of January 2016. Photo: Matichon
BANGKOK — A cool spell felt in Bangkok Wednesday night and Thursday morning will linger through the weekend.
Another high pressure front sweeping in from China is easing temperatures down with evening lows of 20C and is expected to continue through Saturday, according to the Meteorological Department.
However the chilly weather will only be felt at night, as daytime temperatures will soar to 33C.
After a few days, a few days of cooler weather will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday for what’s expected to be the last of the season before Thailand transitions fully into the hot season, according to the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute.
Burmese fishermen arrive at the compound of Pusaka Benjina Resources on April 3, 2015, to report themselves for departure to leave the fishing company in Indonesia as hundreds of foreign fishermen rushed at the chance to be rescued from the isolated island where an Associated Press report revealed slavery runs rampant in the industry. Photo: Dita Alangkara / Associated Press
WASHINGTON D.C. — President Barack Obama signed a bill Wednesday that includes a provision banning U.S. imports of fish caught by slaves in Southeast Asia, gold mined by children in Africa and garments sewn by abused women in Bangladesh, closing a loophole in an 85-year-old tariff law that has failed to keep products of forced and child labor out of America.
An expose by The Associated Press last year found Thai companies ship seafood to the U.S. that was caught and processed by trapped and enslaved workers. As a result of the reports, more than 2,000 trapped fishermen have been rescued, more than a dozen alleged traffickers arrested and millions of dollars' worth of seafood and vessels seized.
Until now, U.S. customs law banning imports of items produced by forced or child labor had gone largely unenforced because of two words: "consumptive demand" – if there was not sufficient supply to meet domestic demand, imports were allowed regardless of how they were produced.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who offered the amendment eliminating that exception, said Wednesday his office is already asking U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure they begin enforcing the new rules when the law takes effect in 15 days.
"It's embarrassing that for 85 years, the United States let products made with forced labor into this country, and closing this loophole gives the U.S. an important tool to fight global slavery," he said.
Grace Taylor reunited with her uncle Tuesday night at Krabi International Airport. Photo: Courtesy Krabi tourism center
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter
KRABI — A British tourist who was reported missing by her mother was escorted home last night by an uncle who arrived to make sure she returned safely.
Grace Taylor, 21, whose frantic family had earlier reported missing, took a flight back to the United Kingdom from Krabi International Airport on Tuesday night after her uncle arrived to retrieve her, according to provincial tourism official Nittaya Piewdee.
“The tourist’s uncle took her back home,” said Nittaya, who works for Krabi’s tourist assistance center. “He arrived in Krabi around 7pm, and he brought his niece home on the same night.”
Taylor became a center of media attention after her mother, Sam Taylor, reported her missing Monday and pleaded for help from the backpacker community in Thailand to help locate her daughter.
Grace Taylor was found Tuesday at a coffee shop inside Krabi International Airport, but appeared to be in distress. Nittaya said police placed the tourist in her care because she refused to talk to any male security officer.
According to Nittaya, Taylor’s paranoia lessened during the course of the day, and she was in good condition when she met her uncle Tuesday night. Nittaya said she did not ask Grace Taylor if she suffered from any mental illness.
“While I was with her, I didn’t ask her about her issues. We only wanted to convince her not to be afraid of us and not to worry,” Nittaya said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Taylor's last name as Kelley.
Still image of someone jumping into ‘Grand Canyon Hangdong’ in Chiang Mai province in a video posted Aug. 24, 2015. Source: Palapilii Thailand / YouTube
CHIANG MAI — Two foreign tourists were hurt in separate incidents at Chiang Mai adventure tourism sites in the past week, four months after authorities pledged to improve safety standards in response to a string of incidents.
A European tourist reportedly fractured his spine after cliff-jumping into a former quarry this past weekend, while a Chinese tourist was slightly injured on the same zipline ride a Chinese tourist snapped her neck and died in October 2015.
Although several news agencies report that the provincial authorities ordered both venues to close down in the light of the injuries, representatives at the two attractions said they had not received any such order.
“The news about us being closed down is not true,” Amphika Masanong, assistant manager of zipline operator Flying Squirrels, said Wednesday. “Today we are still open as usual. The news damaged us a lot.”
Amphika said she couldn’t remember which date the accident at Flying Squirrels took place. She would not explain the circumstances that led to the tourist’s injury other than saying it was a “human error” on the part of her staff, which allowed the Chinese tourist to land at the end of the zipline at high speed, bruising him.
She said the staff responsible for the accident has been fired for not following safety procedures.
The owner of Grand Canyon Hangdong said the venue remains open to the public after a European tourist broke his spine after jumping into its “Grand Canyon,” actually a flooded, disused quarry.
Owner Napatsutthi Chulathararak said she could not recall which day the unidentified man was injured, saying “it was either Saturday or Sunday, I’m not sure.”
The tourist is being treated at a hospital, she said.
The incidents at Grand Canyon Hangdong and Flying Squirrels came four months after Chiang Mai officials including Gov. Pawin Chamniprasart promised to regulate and improve safety at adventure tourism sites in the province, including its numerous zipline attractions.
That pledge followed the death of a Chinese tourist who reportedly broke her neck Oct. 11, 2015, while ziplining at Flying Squirrels on. At the time, operators of zipline stations contacted by Khaosod English said they had no licenses whatsoever for their businesses, and officials admitted there was little or no oversight of their safety standards.
Ordered Shut?
Following the accidents, Manager Online quoted Gov. Pavin saying Tuesday that both Grand Canyon Hangdong and Flying Squirrels were ordered shut down immediately for 15 days pending an investigation into their safety standards.
Both Napatsuthi and Amphika said they only saw the order reported in the media, as they have not received such notice from the authorities so far.
Customers at Flying Squirrels zipline adventure in Chiang Mai province on Oct. 13, 2015.
Reached for comment Wednesday, Gov. Pavin said was unavailable for an interview because he had to attend a royal visit by Princess Soamsawali in Chiang Mai.
Amphika, the assistant manager at Flying Squirrels, said some improvements have been made in the ziplining industry since the fatal incident. According to Amphika, there is now a standard set of safety measures agreed to by all operators and enforced by the Department of Public Works. The last safety inspection took place in late December, she said.
Her company also acquired accident insurance, Amphika said.
‘Accidents Can Happen Anywhere’
But Napatsutthi, owner of Grand Canyon Hangdong, said her business is still in the legal vacuum with no license and no insurance. The European tourist had his own travel insurance that is covering his medical expenses, she said.
Chiang Mai officials have yet to conduct a safety inspection of the site, she said, even after the tourist was injured this past weekend, she said.
Yet, Napatsutthi said, the Tourism Authority of Thailand visited the former quarry and promoted it as a major tourism attraction in Chiang Mai, despite its lack of an operating license.
She said she has tried to apply for a license, but her request has been turned down by the authorities.
“We have been open since last April,” Napatsutthi said. “We asked them what do we do to get a license, but they said they are not sure because we do not completely qualify as an adventure tourism site, because we have a restaurant and coffee shop, and we allow people to swim in the pond, and we provided lifeguards and flotation devices.”
Napatsutthi said the European’s injury was the first since her business opened almost a year ago, and played down the severity of the incident.
“This is the first time we have had an injury, and it’s not serious enough to warrant a shutdown,” she said. “Accidents can happen anywhere, especially minor accidents. We admit there was an accident. We can’t control everything, but we try our best to take care of their safety.”
Online reviews of Grand Canyon Hangdong include several complaints of injuries, however.
A Wongnai.com user named Pradae wrote in September 2015 that his uncle dislocated his spine after jumping into the pond and landing on his back. “He was admitted to hospital for five days, and he had to recover at his home for about three more months,” Pradae wrote.
The only known death of a tourist at the site took place in 2014, when the former quarry was an undeveloped site. In that incident, a South Korean tourist drowned after jumping into the pond.
Vanessa Mae holds the Olympic torch April 6, 2008, at the Southbank Centre in London, England. Photo: Yemisi Blake
OBERHOFEN, Switzerland — The International Ski Federation has settled a defamation claim by pop violinist Vanessa-Mae, who it wrongly alleged had qualified for the Sochi Olympics at fixed races.
FIS said it had apologized and made an "appropriate payment" to the Vanessa-Mae, which she intended to pay to a charity.
The musician and her entourage "did not in any way fix, contrive or improperly influence the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect" of qualifying races in Slovenia, FIS says.
Vanessa-Mae, who competed as Vanessa Vanakorn, was born in Singapore to Thai and Chinese parents. She won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last June overturning a four-year ban placed in 2014 by the federation for allegedly manipulating trial results to qualify for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
The court said qualifying races arranged at short notice in January 2014 were allowed by weak FIS rules.
Vanessa-Mae, then 35, competed in Sochi for her father's native Thailand and finished last in the giant slalom.
Police were called to the Grand Wana Hotel in Uttaradit on Tuesday night after the hotel owner reported a suspicious smell from the guest’s room. The body of a 64-year-old Australian national discovered inside the room appeared to have been dead for over three days.
No sign of struggle was found inside the room. The body was transferred to Buddhachinaraj Hospital for further examination.
“We cannot conclude the cause of the death yet,” said police Maj. Thongsa Singkorn.
Khaosod English is withholding the name of the deceased as police are still attempting to notify the Australian Embassy.
The deceased man reportedly taught English at a high school in Uttaradit and rented had the hotel room monthly since 2009.
A motorcycle taxi on Soi Sukhumvit Soi 11. Photo: Mark Fischer / Flickr
BANGKOK — Uber is launching service on two wheels rather than four for the first time in Thailand’s capital city, the company announced this morning.
Rolled out on the same morning as massive delays struck the BTS Skytrain system, the new “UberMoto” service is now available in limited areas of the capital city.
The San Francisco-based company’s first motorcycle service in the world enters the market about six months after GrabBike was launched by the recently renamed Grab.
UberMoto is available through the same Uber app. Drivers’ identities will be displayed, according to the announcement, and helmets will be provided for road safety.
Photo: Uber Moto / Courtesy
Introductory fares for UberMoto start at 10 baht and increase by 3.50 baht per kilometer or 85 satang per minute.
At launch, the service is available only in the Sathorn, Siam and Silom areas. The company said it will expand coverage to other areas as more drivers register.
Until March 15, first-time Uber users will get two rides worth up to 100 baht for free, by using code “UberMOTOBKK.”
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Usually crowded during rush hour, BTS Siam was packed with commuters Wednesday morning after a track switching problem caused significant delays.
BANGKOK — Long delays caused this morning by a track-switching problem along the Sukhumvit Line will continue until Thursday morning.
A switching problem between the BTS Siam and Chit Lom stations early this morning was blamed for the reduced train frequency which affected thousands of passengers during the morning rush hour, according to operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co. Ltd. Overnight repairs are needed to fix the problem, meaning the elevated rail system will continue operating at reduced capacity until Thursday morning.
The usual average of 2.4 minutes per train during rush hour increased to more than six to 10 minutes this morning, leaving long lines of passengers on platforms.
Until midnight, the train will operate every five minutes from BTS Mo Chit on the Sukhumvit Line to BTS Bang Wa on the Silom Line. Trains should be arriving every five minutes between BTS Siam and BTS National Stadium, and every seven minutes from BTS Siam to BTS Bearing.
Passengers traveling the Sukhumvit Line are advised to plan ahead as they will need to change trains at BTS Siam.
The Silom Line is unaffected by the delay, and those traveling onward toward BTS Mo Chit are not required to change trains.
BTS President Arnat Arpapirom said as the electricity must be turned off during the repair process, it then must be done after the operating hours.
Passengers can seek refunds if they decided to give up their tickets. Arnat said they will be offered cash or a coupon for their next trip.
The generally reliable system was hit with frustrated feedback from dissatisfied commuters on its official social media account for its handling of the situation.
“A malfunction is understandable, it’s an accident,” Facebook user Ploithipha Pimpasut wrote. “But I’d like to propose leaflets announcing the train was late, like in Japan, so workers can show proof to their employer.”
Another user suggested the operator use the technology at its disposal.
“There should be a text message sent to passengers who have registered a Rabbit Card,” Facebook user Chanon Soponwittayangkul wrote. “Instead of letting them enter only to get stuck at the platform like this.”
