Thailand prepares first report on racial discrimination
BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL
Thailand is preparing its first country report on racial discrimination, to be presented to the United Nations next year, Justice permanent secretary Jarun Pukditanakul said yesterday. The report will be made under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Mr Jarun expressed confidence that the country has no problems related to racial discrimination, saying Thailand would be in the forefront of giving and protecting racial equality.
Thailand has been a party to the convention since January 2003 but has never sent a country report on its situation, problems and ways to eliminate racial discrimination to the world body.
Mr Jarun said a report drafting committee should straightforwardly present facts and information and propose practical measures in dealing with the issue. The committee, chaired by a representative of the Justice Ministry, comprises officials from various state agencies.
The report will be examined by 18 international experts who, Mr Jarun said, will eventually endorse it if there is supporting information.
He said that while Thailand may have a problem in dealing with alien workers, hilltribes and unrest in the South, it is not a case of racial discrimination and any state actions have been in line with international standards.
Mr Jarun said Thailand fared well in accepting ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.
The ongoing unrest in the South was caused by an ill-intentioned group that has distorted history and incited the public to misunderstand state officials.
The drafting committee expects to finish the report this year.
It will then hold public consultation sessions at both regional and national levels.
Regional forums will take place in major provinces including Kanchanaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Mai and Songkhla.
Is Thailand racist?
Racist immigration laws.
Racist property laws.
Racist investment laws.
Discrimination and bigotry against people from neighboring countries in employment, education, portrayals in movies, TV and news media. Here is an article in the same issue of Bangkok Post.
Discrimination and bigotry against hill tribe people, Isaan people, Thai-Indians and people in the South.
Discrimination and bigotry when it comes to hiring.
Racist advertising.
Racist in providing service.
Racist epithets are common in everyday language usage.
Racist national anthem
Racist in providing justice--court system, police, administrative problems, insurance, business conflicts, traffic.
Also, there is a lot of racist self-hatred as well, especially when it comes to things like skin color.
Here is also a commentary, The Racist Legacy of a Name, in today's Bangkok Post about the name Thailand, which many think is a racist name.
Personally, I don't think Thailand is a racist name. Thailand was called "Muang Thai" long before anybody even understood the meaning of racism. Indeed, the word Thai means "free" and it meant that before anybody decided to attach racial significance to the word.
Muang Thai is an old ancient name for Thailand, meaning "Land of the Free." It is not a racist term.
The only people who seem to get excited about this name change are the Thai-Chinese academics who don't have a drop of Thai blood in their veins.
But while Thai-Chinese academics worry about stupid things like whether Thailand should be called Siam or Thailand, real racist discrimination is happening in this country, which I made a long list of above.
