Thailand
Bad Student protesters highlight patriarchal society where victims are blamed

After Saturday’s rally featuring the Bad Student group, some members have also began highlighting the patriarchal society of Thailand where obedience and submission runs rampant in educational institutions.
20 year old Nalinrat Tuthubthim bravely demonstrated the need for an open dialogue as she adorned an old school uniform while taping her mouth and holding a sign.
“A teacher sexually assaulted me. The school is not a safe space.”
Sexual harassment figures from the Office of Basic Education Commission are circulating online, showing hundreds of sexual harassment incidents recorded between 2013 – 2017. Thee Phawangkhanan from OBEC says that in January 2020 alone, there were over 700 cases of sexual harassment, adding that many other victims remain too scared to come forward.
Conservative Thais, such as Palang Pracharat MP Pareena Kraikupt, threatened to sue her for dishonouring the school and its uniform because she is no longer a student. And even further pointed out the embarrassment the student was allegedly causing to the country.
Such a deflection of the issue also comes with pointing fingers towards the victim as some Thais question why she didnt report the alleged incident when it happened, and instead, waited 5 years to display a banner at a rally? The shift in blame is all too common as the “patriarchy” would say it’s her fault by pointing out her clothing or by simply saying she deserves it.
The social hierarchy has long been accused of being corrupt, exploitative and abusive, in which the “poo-yai” superior has complete power over the “poo-noi” inferior. Even questioning a superior is against societal norms. There are no checks and balances on those in power. Nalinrat says it is this type of culture that created fear over reporting sexual abuse, along with her lack of understanding it due to her young age.
In an article for Thisrupt.co, she discussed her psychological trauma and disorder that resulted from the incident, as she has taken to campaigning about sexual abuse in the past 2 years. She says that men make the rules in Thai society and that there is a cultural mindset in which society blames the victim.
Nalinrat says she was met with a wall of denial when she did speak up and was demanded to be silent, finding herself joining the countless other women and children whose stories were ignored. When her story became public, she was met with victim-blaming, just as so many other women and children have suffered, while the abuser is not apprehended.
But thanks to others boldly bringing the issue to light, other groups such as Bad Medical Student are gaining momentum as they bring such allegations ranging from sexual harrassment, abusive workloads, verbal and emotional abuse, gender discrimination and many more, to light. The group, who took their name after the Bad Student group, is now taking to Twitter to voice what they say is a medical institution environment that is abusive. One Twitter user posted a message that says she was discriminated against because she was a woman.
SOURCE: Thisrupt
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Thailand
Thailand’s PM asks people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health

Thailand’s PM is asking people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health due to the recent cooler weather. As the country is still not out of the woods with the recent Covid-19 breakout, the cold weather, in the northern half of the country, is adding to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s health concerns for Thai people.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says the situation still warrants the government’s role to exercise its power under the emergency decree and Communicable Disease Act to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
He says all gatherings should be avoided, but is emphasising political ones and is thanking the “majority who have cooperated.” Now, he says the government is set to introduce more measures to help those affected by the new round of Covid and are preparing new economic stimulus programs.
Anucha says another high pressure system from China will cover northern Thailand starting from today and lasting through January 19. The system would see temperatures drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the northern and central areas of Thailand with the northeastern area seeing a drop of 4 to 6 degrees. PM Prayut has also asked people to be careful when setting up bonfires to keep warm during the cold spell.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Protests
Student arrested in dormitory at night, charged with lèse majesté offences

A student at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus has been arrested and charged with violating Thailand’s strict lèse majesté law. Ironically, it was his calls for the law to be abolished that led to Sirichai Natueng, aka, “New”, being charged. The group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has confirmed the student’s arrest on its Twitter page.
After being taken into custody, the pro-democracy activist was driven to Khlong Luang police station, in the central province of Pathum Thani, just outside Bangkok. Other anti-government activists, including Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (“Rung”) followed, accompanied by representatives from TLHR.
Since the arrest, the hashtags #saveนิวมธ (Save New) and #ยกเลิกม112 (Cancel Section 112) have been trending on Twitter. Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code is the law governing lèse majesté, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Sirichai, a member of the pro-democracy group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, has been charged with 2 lèse majesté offences. He is accused of defacing an image of the Monarchy, as well as the Rangsit campus sign, with graffiti calling for the abolition of the lèse majesté law.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Protests
Leaders of German Embassy rally meet with police, prosecutors

13 political activists who led thousands of protesters to the German Embassy in Bangkok last October have met with police and prosecutors in the capital. They face charges of violating section 112 of the Criminal Code for the October 26 rally at the embassy. The aim of the gathering was to submit a petition calling on the German government to ascertain if His Majesty the King was conducting state business from Germany. Section 112 of the Criminal Code is also known as the lèse majesté law, which prohibits criticism or defamation of the Monarchy. Violators could face up to 15 years in prison.
During yesterday’s meeting at Thung Maha Mek police station, officers were on duty in front of the station, to bolster security, while others in plain clothes photographed those who’d turned up in a show of solidarity with the 13 activists. The rally at the German Embassy was organised by the pro-democracy group, Khana Ratsadorn. The group’s leaders face multiple other charges in addition to lèse majesté.
One protest leaders, named as Atthapol Buaphat, aka, “”Khru Yai”, says the group is waiting to see if prosecutors press ahead with charges. He says they have provided additional handwritten evidence to police and asked officers to question more witnesses. Another leader, Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, says she just received a summons issued 2 months after an October 14 rally. She adds that the resurgence in Covid-19 means pro-democracy activists are pausing their political action but vows that it will resume again at some point.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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B.T.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Palang Pracharat MP Pareena Kraikupt still free to walk? What a shame ……One of corrupted MP and still dare to talk about morales.
Fabian
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 2:49 pm
These youngsters should really make The Wall by Pink Floyd as their anthem. It’s so appropriate and symbolic.
Issan John
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 4:27 pm
I’m not sure if “obedience and submission” is part of a “patriarchal society”, or if it’s far more a required part of a society based around the ‘haves and have nots’ and “poo-yais and poo-nois”, such as Thailand’s.
I’m also far from sure if Thailand really is a “patriarchal society” at all outside of the self-sucking lollipop establishment of politicians, military and police. Go beyond those and there’s probably as much parity as anywhere, and I think looking back to the last ‘elections’ it’s pretty clear that a woman would have walked away with the popular vote and unified the country as no man could have, then or now, had she been eligible to do so.
James Pate
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 9:32 pm
John: I think you destroyed your own argument that Thailand is not patriarchal in your last sentence.
Jesus Monroe
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Unfortunately the west is not so far down this rabbit hole either. Yes we had the me too movement but only a select few went down for their behaviour. If porn is any indication of attitudes towards women there’s a hell of a long way to go before every human is deserving of equal respect.
Issan John
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Umm … why do think “porn is any indication of attitudes towards women”?
Isn’t it equally an indication of attitudes towards men, gays, LGBT+++, SM, katoeys, donkeys, or whatever takes your fancy?