Public Indecency at Wat Phra Kaew Spurs National Outrage and Debate

[snoop1130]

 

News broke into the public domain yesterday, May 8, as a foreign family sparked national outrage after allowing their daughter to urinate publicly at Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Kaew is not just a major tourist attraction but also a site deeply revered by Thais.

 

Harit Thavornkij, the eyewitness who exposed the incident, shared an image on his Facebook account of the deed taking place, right outside the palace, inciting a furious response from Thai netizens. Quickly gathering steam, this post has sparked a contentious debate, lightly touching on issues of tourism, respect, public decency and xenophobia.

 

The photo shows the unidentified foreign couple carelessly observing their young daughter relieving herself, an act perceived as a direct affront to the temple's sanctity. The post has since exploded virally, amassing over 2,600 reactions, 680 comments, and 1,400 shares, with netizens largely expressing dismay and anger.

 

Many clamoured for stringent actions against such disrespectful behaviour, with calls for blacklisting the family to safeguard national and religious monuments. Others called for a clampdown on visa regulations for tourists, as one user commented, "It's time to focus on quality tourists".

 

This indignation was noted by Tourism and Sports Minister Sermsak Phongpanich, who told MGR Online that the act was objectionable due to the temple's sanctity and could somewhat tarnish the image of Thai tourism.

 

However, not all opinions leaned toward outrage. A number of Thai citizens felt the reaction was overblown, highlighting that the young girl herself might have had an urgent need and was too little to understand the gravity of the situation. They argued against locking out tourists based on isolated incidents of misjudgement.

 

Amid this defining national debate, one Thai user called for equality in the treatment of offenders, suggesting the couple should face charges or fines as a Thai offender would have. The user cited a previous case where a Thai man was punished for spraying graffiti on Wat Phra Kaew's wall, bringing to light possible double-standards in the way local law perceives foreigners vis-a-vis Thai nationals.

 

Photo courtesy of The Thaiger

 

-- 2024-05-09

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[Carlotta]

Well, and how this little girl should be punished???

Ridiculous 😵‍💫

[Dr. Zorg]

How do they know they're foreigners? They could be Thai?

 

[zhounan]

If the Mr. Harit Thavornky had indicated to tourists where the closer toilet was instead of taking the photo secretly, with the pure intention of triggering the wave of hatred, now all this would not have happened.

[Martin71]

9 minutes ago, Dr. Zorg said:

How do they know they're foreigners? They could be Thai?

 

Witness said Chinese..

[NoDisplayName]

I'm outraged!

 

That foreign man is wearing elephant pants.

 

This shocking cultural appropriation must be punished.

 

Release the BMW smart cars!!!

[NativeBob]

15 minutes ago, Dr. Zorg said:

How do they know they're foreigners? They could be Thai?

elephant pants. no thai will wear this nonsense outfit.

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Amid this defining national debate, one Thai user called for equality in the treatment of offenders, suggesting the couple should face charges or fines as a Thai offender would have. The user cited a previous case where a Thai man was punished for spraying graffiti on Wat Phra Kaew's wall, bringing to light possible double-standards in the way local law perceives foreigners vis-a-vis Thai nationals.

 

It's true.  It's totally one sided not to prosecute a child who needs to go to the toilet to the same extent as a man who spray paints a wall.  They're exactly the same and to not treat them the same is to show favouritism towards foreigners.  😑🙄

[Ben Zioner]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

They argued against locking out tourists based on isolated incidents of misjudgement.

Oops!.. should have been: "They argued against locking non western tourists based on isolated incidents of misjudgement."

Edited May 9 by Ben Zioner

[Woof999]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

as one user commented, "It's time to focus on quality tourists".

 

I just spit my tea out laughing.

[VincentRJ]

Did the Buddha always use a toilet? 

[mark131v]

Wait the AN hang 'em high brigade of purist's will be along shortly shouting about immediate removal from LoS post jail and lifetime bans!

 

It's a little kid ffs!!! what's the excuses of the multitude of local adults pissing at the side of the road or basically ignoring any rule or law they want even the ones that cause innocents to die on a daily basis? <deleted>!!!!

 

Thai hypocrisy and overt xenophobia strikes again, it's not very well hidden behind that false smile...

[BangkokHank]

I'm sure the foreign couple would have preferred to have their daughter use a toilet - had one been available nearby. In any case, do Thais really expect all foreigners to know what will offend them? A foreigner kicking a doctor in the back will get him deported, but a Thai killing a foreign woman with a speeding vehicle while running a red light doesn't elicit any outrage from Thais.

[stubuzz]

It could be a computer crime publishing pictures of little girls doing that!

[Nick Carter icp]

4 hours ago, NativeBob said:

elephant pants. no thai will wear this nonsense outfit.

 

   Elephant pants are in fashion for Thais these days 

[newbee2022]

And...how you want to punish this little girl?

Ridiculous!!!😵‍💫

[chiman]

Farm to Temple

[NemoH]

The usual suspects … 🤣🤣 

[NemoH]

7 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

I'm sure the foreign couple would have preferred to have their daughter use a toilet - had one been available nearby. In any case, do Thais really expect all foreigners to know what will offend them? A foreigner kicking a doctor in the back will get him deported, but a Thai killing a foreign woman with a speeding vehicle while running a red light doesn't elicit any outrage from Thais.

Like the old English saying - A man is a king in his castle. 
So the Thais can be king in Thailand and we are all guests. 
Next time we do anything, just remember whether a guest should behave like that..😊

[Robbie2618]

11 hours ago, NativeBob said:

elephant pants. no thai will wear this nonsense outfit.

I've heard that said many times that its only a tourist thing, but I don't know where that idea comes from. I've been in Nakhon Phanom for 8 years and as far back as I can remember the locals especially the teen ladies wear them here. Just seen a young lady last week in our village wearing them. 

[DjSilver]

Holy pee, they should be happy it's foreign. It has higher value than being Thai 🤣

[robertyongym]

11 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

It's true.  It's totally one sided not to prosecute a child who needs to go to the toilet to the same extent as a man who spray paints a wall.  They're exactly the same and to not treat them the same is to show favouritism towards foreigners.  😑🙄

Have more signboards set up at prominent places, where local and foreign visitors can see them. Plus, in at least 3 languages - Thai, English, Chinese, and some other. 

[cowellandrew]

Quickly gathering steaming p@ss

 

😂😂😂😂

[Skipalongcassidy]

11 hours ago, NativeBob said:

elephant pants. no thai will wear this nonsense outfit.

ONLY a Thai would wear this "nonsense outfit"

[1happykamper]

So some kid perv filmed this? Gtfo! Thai are angry?

 

555...but a hit and run driver on Phuket, killing a 65 year old farang. No problem.

 

This place can be so ridiculous. 

[soalbundy]

10 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Like the old English saying - A man is a king in his castle. 
So the Thais can be king in Thailand and we are all guests. 
Next time we do anything, just remember whether a guest should behave like that..😊

get a life

[soalbundy]

How disgusting.....the pervo taking the photo I mean.

[neeray]

When the little girl has to go, she has to go. What's the big deal? Where do the street dogs go? Answer: same place.

[kevozman1]

Until crime is reduced to a level of Japan or Switzerland I can't take reports like this serious. Clamp down on murder, road carnage, domestic violence, promotion of international sex tourism and degenerate full-moon parties then maybe a young girl urinating in an appropriate place deserves some spotlight.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The photo shows the unidentified foreign couple carelessly observing their young daughter relieving herself, an act perceived as a direct affront to the temple's sanctity. The post has since exploded virally, amassing over 2,600 reactions, 680 comments, and 1,400 shares, with netizens largely expressing dismay and anger.

Get a life Thai people, outraged at a young girl needing to urinate... what would you rather, she pee herself.

When kids have to go.... they have to go.

Get a life.