Many feeling haunted by ‘little ghosts’

By The Nation

 

 

There’s a lot of concern lately about the return of thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Thais from South Korea, where they’ve been working illegally, earning from their countrymen the disparaging epithet phi noi (“little ghosts”).

 

More than 5,000 have already returned home from a country far more deeply gripped by the Covid-19 virus than Thailand, and one estimate has the number eventually reaching 100,000 as the job market collapses in South Korea.

 

What their compatriots fear most is that some among them might be “super spreaders” of the virus, free of symptoms and yet inadvertently infecting dozens of others.

 

It was an elderly Korean traveller who was identified as the super spreader extending the contagion in the city of Daegu and North Gyeongsang province, which are now battling epidemics.

 

Thais online are debating whether the returned little ghosts will willingly stay in their homes in self-quarantine for 14 days as required, or should instead be forced into guarded quarantine facilities like the Thais flown home in a group last month from Wuhan, China.

 

The term phi noi has a disparaging connotation because it refers to the Thai migrant labourers being smuggled into South Korea, living underground and doing any kind of menial jobs under the authorities’ radar.

 

Even before Covid-19 emerged, the Thai government – prodded by a South Korean counterpart weary of their untraceable presence – held out an olive branch to the little ghosts, welcoming back many since October 1 with the promise that they would not be punished or blacklisted for their illegal work overseas.

 

But the virus shut down multiple factories and construction sites in South Korea and unemployed has soared for everyone, so the number of Thais wishing to return has spiked.

 

Because of the virus and the high risk in South Korea, the Thai government is ready with strict controls.

 

But it’s now being claimed that some of those deemed clear of infection are refusing to take the precaution of voluntary self-quarantine and are roaming freely in public, possibly putting healthy people in grave danger.

 

The question being asked in online forums is “Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383512

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-06

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16 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

Please, you are hurting me!

Edited March 6, 20206 yr by PatOngo

Chickens coming home to roost springs to mind.

 

Thais in Prachuap are not too happy at the supposed quarantine plans which of course leaked.

 

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The question being asked in online forums is “Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?

Judging by the road death toll a lot of which can be attributed to alcohol , excessive-speed and plain stupidity amongst others all of which could be deemed irresponsiblity through lack of discipline I'd say not .. So carry on holding yer' breath behind the clinical mask that some won't continue to behave in an irresponsible manner and spread the disease by their actions .. 

Farangs should worried because “little ghosts” returning to Thailand to be phi noi

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The term phi noi has a disparaging connotation because it refers to the Thai migrant labourers being smuggled into South Korea, living underground and doing any kind of menial jobs under the authorities’ radar.

But the Thai economy is doing so well.   They just must really really love kimchi.  According to one famous poster, who has fetish for well dressed generals, things are fine in Thailand.   Seems like things are not good for quite a few Thais.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

will willingly stay in their homes in self-quarantine for 14 days as required,

14 days might not be enough ... in case of a woman infected by COVID 19 , it took her 27 days to develop symptoms ...

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

But it’s now being claimed that some of those deemed clear of infection are refusing to take the precaution of voluntary self-quarantine and are roaming freely in public, possibly putting healthy people in grave danger.

 

There is no way to control the spread of the virus anymore as long as there is no vaccine available

Wonder if I will die of old age before the PM confirms Thais are doing something illegal

Thais in general don't feel responsible for anything!!! Why should they do suddenly be held responsible not to spead around something as a virus can't be seen or felt!

Keep on going thai government.  You are the most stupid heroes in the world!

and thailand does not see a problem when 100.000 work illegal (hope they get banned) but are proud to announce when an old farang is on overstay and deport him

 

sick people

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The question being asked in online forums is “Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

The answer to that is visible on a daily basis.. roads being one of them!

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

Yes   Possibly   Perhaps   Conceivably  Maybe   NO  

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Wonder if I will die of old age before the PM confirms Thais are doing something illegal

RIP!

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

Does one have to ask?  No  

“Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

 

Hmm... If my wife had to stay in a room and she saw a nice big Papaya hanging outside, I am not sure I would be placing any bets on that.

 

 

On 3/6/2020 at 6:17 PM, snoop1130 said:

The question being asked in online forums is “Do Thais have enough self-discipline to behave responsibly?”

The answer appears to be no.

 

Apparently about 80 of these people returning from South Korea did a runner when they arrived at the airport Saturday night according to the Thai TV news.

 

The whole thing's a bit of a joke really, check out this image from one of the tv news shows, note the ghost symbol hiding the face of someone who's returned from Korea :

 

12 hours ago, tomauasia said:

This government doesn't care evident by the useless Chinese still entering freely. Just boot this leader. New leader wanted. No experience required. Prefer a love for overseas property boats cars watches and bikes. Must be good liar and have  no English skills.

They're not entering freely though are they? Their own government has quite severe restrictions.

It seems the UK government was also advised there was little point in blocking all Chinese. If you are highly-versed in these matters let us know. If you're just another knob sounding off ...

8 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

If you are highly-versed in these matters let us know. If you're just another knob sounding off ...

So, you are belatedly jumping into the thread on page 2 and hijacking it with an arbitrary demand that posters must meet some vague level of quality that you will define as "highly-versed". This is not a word. I presume you are simply not well-versed in the English language.


 

Edited March 8, 20206 yr by donnacha

But a few hundred thousand Chinese from the middle if an ongoing epidemic are always welcome.