Are Older Men in Thailand Trading Love for Financial Ruin

[webfact]

Unicef expresses concern over violence in Deep South

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Unicef representative for Thailand on Tuesday expressed deep concern over continuing violence in restive southernmost provinces of Thailand, particularly the motorcycle bomb blast this morning in Narathiwat which killed a 4-year old girl and her father and injured ten other people.

 

In a statement issued today, Mr Thomas Davin, Unicef representative for Thailand said the organization was shocked and saddened by the incident, noting that schools must be places for learning, discovery and recreation for children.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/unicef-expresses-concern-violence-deep-south/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-09-07

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

restive southernmost provinces of Thailand

Such an understatement for a decades old insurgency.

[debate101]

Welcome to Thailand, Unicef! Maybe you would enjoy some "pad thai," a special street dish that foreigners rave about. Enjoy the beautiful local culture, or take a moment to relax at the beach. Just remember, Thailand has no conflict with any group or religion. Hope you enjoy your stay!

[joeyg]

38 minutes ago, debate101 said:

Welcome to Thailand, Unicef! Maybe you would enjoy some "pad thai," a special street dish that foreigners rave about. Enjoy the beautiful local culture, or take a moment to relax at the beach. Just remember, Thailand has no conflict with any group or religion. Hope you enjoy your stay!

Pretty sad to make light of senseless killings. Really...

[debate101]

Except I'm making light of the problem being swept under the carpet, not the tragic violence.

 

The Thai state apparatus acts, and has always acted, with total impunity. People who see that it is working to protect their interests and enforce their cultural hegemony have no qualms about this. However, people on the fringes of the body politic who see it standing directly in the way of their capacity to live a meaningful life are not so impressed.

 

Therevada Buddhism is treated as a de-facto state religion in public schools. Calls for decentralization of state power as a peaceful solution to help diffuse tensions in the southern provinces are routinely ignored. 

 

Obviously, killing and maiming innocents is not going to gain anyone any sympathy, is barbaric, and deserves to be denounced without qualifications. However, we might be wise to ask if the pig-headedness of national authorities has also, perhaps, contributed to the escalation of the problem, and if so, what can be done about it.

[Eric Loh]

There are still claims by some quarters that the coup brought back safety and security to Thailand.