New History Textbooks To Teach 'Correct Democracy'

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20 October 2014, 19:42

Junta chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, 14 Oct 2014.

BANGKOK — The educational reforms devised by Thailand’s military junta will instill students with a "correct" understanding of democracy, top officials say.

"I am afraid that children understand democracy in an incorrect way because of the events in the country’s recent past," said Gen. Suthat Kanchananonkul, who was appointed to advise the Ministry of Education by the Cabinet last month. "Therefore, I want all the teachers and school administrators to promote correct democracy for the kids."

After seizing power in a coup on 22 May, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ordered an overhaul ofThailand's education system to promote patriotism among Thai youth.

Kamol Rodklai, the secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said the junta’s revised history textbooks are ready to be used in public schools across the country from 3 November onward.

"There has to be a drastic change in the way history is taught," Kamol said, "It shouldn't focus only on the details of what happened, but also focus on creating a sense of Thainess and patriotism for the children."

Last month, it emerged that the Ministry of Education's new history textbooks failed to mention former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an extremely influential political figure who backed the government toppled in the 22 May coup.

The revelation alarmed many observers who interpret the move as an effort by the junta to "rewrite" history.

NCPO chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has also encouraged Thai students to practice his "Twelve Values," a set of teachings that include gratitude for parents, morality, and loyalty to the Royal Family. Last month, the Ministry of Education unveiled a poem inspired by Gen. Prayuth's Twelve Values that students will be recquired to memorise.

NCPO chairman Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Prime Minister of the interim government, says he led the 22 May coup to prevent anti-government protests from spiraling out of control. Nearly 30 people were killed during the six months of street protests against the government of then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

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New History Textbooks To Teach 'Correct Democracy'

By

Khaosod English

-

20 October 2014, 19:42

BANGKOK — The educational "reforms" devised by Thailand’s military junta will instill students with a “correct” understanding of democracy, top officials say.

"I am afraid that children understand democracy in an incorrect way because of the events in the country’s recent past," said Gen. Suthat Kanchananonkul, who was appointed to advise the Ministry of Education by the Cabinet last month. "Therefore, I want all the teachers and school administrators to promote correct democracy for the kids."

After seizing power in a coup on 22 May, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) called for overhauling Thailand's education system to promote patriotism among Thai youth.

Kamol Rodklai, the secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said the junta’s revised history textbooks are ready to be used in public schools across the country from 3 November onward.

"There has to be a drastic change in the way history is taught," Kamol said, "It shouldn't focus only on the details of what happened, but also focus on creating a sense of Thainess and patriotism for the children."

Last month, it emerged that the Ministry of Education's new history textbooks failed to mention former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an extremely influential political figure who backed the government toppled in the 22 May coup.

The revelation alarmed many observers who interpret the move as an effort by the junta to "rewrite" history.

NCPO chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has also encouraged Thai students to practice his "Twelve Values," a set of teachings that include gratitude for parents, morality, and loyalty to the Royal Family. Last month, the Ministry of Education unveiled a poem inspired by Gen. Prayuth's Twelve Values that students will be recquired to memorise.

NCPO chairman Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Prime Minister of the interim government, says he led the 22 May coup to prevent anti-government protests from spiraling out of control. Nearly 30 people were killed during the six months of street protests against the government of then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Search For Missing Tourists In Krabi Speedboat Crash Continues

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20 October 2014, 19:28

Thai authorities dispatched helicopters and patrol boats to search for the missing tourists for a second day on 20 Oct 2014, but to no avail.

KRABI — Thai authorities are still searching for two South Korean tourists who went missing after their speed boat crashed into a fishing vessel in southern Thailand yesterday.

The incident took place at around 5 pm near the Pi Pi Islands in the Andaman Sea. Thirty-seven tourists and six crew members were injured in the crash, and the two Korean tourists, who were not wearing life jackets, were tossed overboard from the force of the collision.

Most of the tourists were Chinese, police say. The rest were from South Korea, Australia, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. The boat was bound from Maya Lagoon to Phuket island.

Thai authorities dispatched helicopters and patrol boats to search for the missing tourists for a second day today, but so far there has been no sign of the Koreans. Several officials expressed their belief that the tourists may have drowned to death by this time.

Khaosod English is withholding their names until it is certain that their families have been notified.

Surat Martosot, the 36-year-old driver of the boat, was detained by the police and charged with reckless action leading to injury of others.

Surat told police today that prior to the accident he left the steering wheel "for 30 seconds" to fetch a plastic bag that was about to fly into the sea. When Surat returned, he realised the boat was about to crash into a fishing trawler but was not able to steer away in time.

He did not explain why the two Koreans were not wearing life jackets. He also claimed that poor visibility played a part in the accident.

The boat crash took place amid rising concerns over the safety of foreign tourists in Thailand, following the brutal killing of two British tourists on the southern island of Koh Tao on 15 September. The investigation is ongoing.

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Junta OKs Yingluck's Trip To Japan

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20 October 2014, 18:01

Sondhi Limthongkul, the co-founder of the Yellowshirt movement, at Suvarnabhumi Airport before catching a flight to Japan, 19 Oct 2014.<br /> — Sondhi Limthongkul, the co-founder of the Yellowshirt movement, at Suvarnabhumi Airport before catching a flight to Japan, 19 Oct 2014.

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left for Japan last night after receiving permission from the military junta, its spokesperson said today.

Col. Winthai Suwaree, a spokesperson for the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), told reporters that Yingluck informed the regime before leaving for Japan with her son last night.

"But I will not disclose the details about her trip and date of return to Thailand, because it is personal information that should not be disclosed to the media," Col. Winthai said at the press conference.

Yingluck and her 12-year-old son Suphasek Amornchat left last night, her aides said, though the exact destination and purpose of the trip was not disclosed.

After staging a coup against Yingluck's government on 22 May, the NCPO stipulated that the former leader must seek permission before traveling abroad. The same requirement has also been applied to scores of other politicians and activists deemed to be sympathetic to Yingluck’s administration.

When Yingluck applied for permission to travel to Europe in July, shortly after a national anti-graft body found her guilty of corruption, there was intense speculation over whether she was trying to leave Thailand for good to avoid the charges.

Her older brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been living in self-imposed exile since he was deposed in the 2006 military coup to avoid a corruption conviction.

However, Yingluck returned to Thailand in August and vowed to the fight the charges laid against her by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

In a peculiar coincidence, Sondhi Limthongkul, the co-founder of the Yellowshirt movement that has campaigned extensively against Yingluck and her brother, was also seen leaving for Japan at the same airport last night.

Sondhi arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport several hours after Yingluck and her son departed. He told reporters simply that he was going to Hokkaido, but did not provide any more details.

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Celebrity Nabbed In Police Raid On Drug-Fueled Gay Bar

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20 October 2014, 17:47

Sitthipong "Pom" Jiracharoenwong, 24, a well-known celebrity among Thailand's online gay community, at the police station on 19 Oct 2014 after testing positive for drug use.

BANGKOK – Police raided an unlicensed gay bar in northern Bangkok over the weekend and found dozens of party-goers who tested positive for drug use, including a well-known internet celebrity.

Hijack bar, located in Lat Yao district, posed as a sauna but was illegally operating as an entertainment venue without a license, said Pol.Col. Saktawee Sribantao, a police officer at Phaholyothin Police Station.

The police raid at the venue on Saturday night followed complaints from local residents, Pol.Col. Saktawee said.

Itthipol Traiduangrat, the owner of the bar, attempted to prevent police officers from entering the venue and claimed to be a newspaper reporter who knew influential people. He also reportedly threatened to press charges against the police for criminal damages during their raid.

However, police detained Itthipol and proceeded to storm the venue and detain more than 80 party-goers, Pol.Col. Saktawee said. One of the patrons was Sitthipong "Pom" Jiracharoenwong, 24, a well-known celebrity among Thailand's online gay community, who was at the party with his 18-year-old boyfriend.

Officers soon uncovered narcotics in the venue and forced all of the party-goers to undergo drug tests, but Sitthipong refused and scolded police officers for detaining him. Officers then separated Sitthipong from the group and successfully convinced him to undergo the drug test. He tested positive for narcotics, as did 32 other patrons.

Sitthipong and other drug-users were charged with drug abuse and scheduled for further medical examination to determine the type of narcotics they consumed, while Itthipol, the bar owner, was charged with operating an entertainment venue without permit.

Pol.Col. Saktawee said the bar specifically catered to gay men. It also offered free condoms and private spaces for party-goers to engage in sexual activities, he said.

"The bar charges 1,000 baht as entry fee, but college students under 23 years old only pay 70 baht for entry," Pol.Col. Saktawee said, adding that on certain nights of the week all of the party-goers are required by bar rules to wear underpants only.

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UN agency ramps up for Gaza reconstruction push

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20 October 2014, 16:44

UNRWA estimates around 17,000 destroyed or damaged homes, rendering 100,000 people homeless in Gaza. [Photo: UNRWA Archives/Shareef Sarhan]<br /> — UNRWA estimates around 17,000 destroyed or damaged homes, rendering 100,000 people homeless in Gaza. [Photo: UNRWA Archives/Shareef Sarhan]

(UN News)

GENEVA – A week after a major conference in Cairo on the reconstruction of war-ravaged Gaza, and in the wake of recent visits to Gaza by the Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah and United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the key UN agency on the ground there has begun scaling up its response to meet critical needs of people in the Strip.

In a press release, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced today that it is now focusing on providing food, water and sanitation services to over 40,000 displaced people in 18 of its installations, psycho-social support particularly for children, cash grants to the homeless for rent, as well as urgent repairs to 118 UNRWA installations, so that we can bring our services to full capacity.

“Our immediate aim is to help ensure that some of the most seriously affected families are able to improve their situation rapidly,” said UNRWA Spokesperson Chris Gunness, who added that the critical priority remains urgently needed reconstruction for large numbers of people.

As assessments continue, the agency has revised upwards figures of homes destroyed and people affected. “We now estimate that over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 600,000 people. These are the latest figures and are likely to rise as UNRWA social workers and engineers continue their homes visits and inspections.”

One week ago today, at an international conference in Egypt, donors pledged some $5.4 billion in aid for Gaza reconstruction. Two day's later Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the war-ravaged enclave, where he viewed destruction wrought by the most recent conflict that was “beyond description”, and also met with the ministers of the National Consensus Government calling on them to focus all efforts on “building one Palestine.”

Today, UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl said that the enormity of the task ahead is becoming clear and the agency's increased pace of recovery and emergency work reflects this.

“Cairo saw important commitments made, which we welcome. On the ground we are confronted with high expectations by thousands of families in critical need. We therefore urge that pledges be rapidly transformed into actual contributions that will allow us to start the process of rebuilding,” he declared.

Access for building materials is critical and UNRWA has consistently called for the lifting of the blockade and again stressed that this is an essential parameter to enable Gaza to emerge from years of suffering, joblessness and a lack of prospects.

In the immediate weeks ahead, access for material must be facilitated by the recently negotiated temporary mechanism. As the UN Secretary General indicated, if applied in good faith it could make an important difference in terms of enabling reconstruction to take place, the agency says, underscoring that the people of Gaza need attention and support in this critical phase, especially with the winter approaching.

“They also need a paradigm shift, with an end to aid dependency, an end to the restrictions on movement, trade and employment imposed by the blockade. Further, freedom to travel, to import and export, to attain self-sufficiency remains a critical imperative,” UNRWA says.

European Scientists Arrested for Hunting Insects Without Permits

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20 October 2014, 16:44

The four scientists at Mae Ai police station. [Photo: Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.]<br /> — The four scientists at Mae Ai police station. [Photo: Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.]

(Chiang Mai City News)

CHIANG MAI — Four European scientists have been arrested for hunting insects in a national park without the necessary permits.

Chiang Mai police identified the four suspects as German citizen Thomas Ihle, 40, Austrian Karel Cerny, 62, and Czech Republic citizens Zdenek Weidenhoffer, 76, and Bohumil Vodrlind, 60. They had received permission from the military but not from the relevant park authorities, police said.

The four scientists were apprehended by forestry officials and border patrol police in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district, on Friday evening. Local residents had informed officials that a group of foreign tourists had pitched tents in the national park without permission.

Junta OKs Yingluck's Trip To Japan

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20 October 2014, 16:44

Yingluck Shinawatra at the funeral of a former Pheu Thai MP on 19 Oct 2014. She left for Japan later that night.<br /> — Yingluck Shinawatra at the funeral of a former Pheu Thai MP on 19 Oct 2014. She left for Japan later that night.