If you have come to us, it is likely that you agree with our cause: We provide educational materials free or at low-cost that teach about History, tolerance and against hate speech. We also work to make this information well-suited to Thailand and translate materials pertaining to History, and specifically the Holocaust and genocides, past and present.
We believe in respecting the laws and culture, so before discussing the issues that we have dealt with in Bangkok we looked into the laws pertaining to religion in Thailand. Section 206 is especially relevant as many do find Nazi swastikas offensive on religious and cultural grounds.
Here are Thailand's laws as they pertain to religious tolerance:
THAILAND CRIMINAL CODE B.E. 2499 (1956) As Amended by the Criminal Code (No. 17), B.E. 2547 (2003)
BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.
Given on the 13th November, B.E. 2499;
Being the 11th year of the Present Reign
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been graciously pleased to proclaim that:
Whereas it is expedient to revise the Criminal Law anew, because, since the promulgation of the Criminal Law in B.E. 2451, the circumstances of the Country have considerably changed;
Be it, therefore, enacted an Act by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, as follows:
TITLE IV OFFENCE RELATING TO RELIGION
Section 206 Whoever, to do, by any means whatever, to the object or place of religious worship of any group of persons in the manner likely to insult such religion, shall be imprisoned as from two years to seven years or fined as from two thousand Baht to fourteen thousand Baht, or both.
Section 207 Whoever to cause a disturbance at an assembly of religious persons lawfully engaged at the time of meeting in religious worship or performing religious ceremonies shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding two thousand Baht, or both.
Section 208 Whoever, wrongfully dressing or using the symbol manifesting that oneself to be Buddhist monk or novice, holy man or clergyman of any religion so as to make the other person to believe that oneself to be such person, shall be imprisoned not out of one year or fined not out of two thousand Baht.
We're constantly explaining the origins of Nazi chic fashion in Thailand and there are many factors that contribute to it. There is not a one size fits all explanation, but whenever possible we do ask people that sell or wear things containing Nazi imagery why they do it. Here is a roundup of the local reactions and what has been said:
First we have Seven Star's designer Ekachai Usapanitch. These are the most commonly found Hitler shirt designs in Thailand.
Here are Thailand's laws as they pertain to religious tolerance:
THAILAND CRIMINAL CODE B.E. 2499 (1956) As Amended by the Criminal Code (No. 17), B.E. 2547 (2003)
BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.
Given on the 13th November, B.E. 2499;
Being the 11th year of the Present Reign
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been graciously pleased to proclaim that:
Whereas it is expedient to revise the Criminal Law anew, because, since the promulgation of the Criminal Law in B.E. 2451, the circumstances of the Country have considerably changed;
Be it, therefore, enacted an Act by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, as follows:
TITLE IV OFFENCE RELATING TO RELIGION
Section 206 Whoever, to do, by any means whatever, to the object or place of religious worship of any group of persons in the manner likely to insult such religion, shall be imprisoned as from two years to seven years or fined as from two thousand Baht to fourteen thousand Baht, or both.
Section 207 Whoever to cause a disturbance at an assembly of religious persons lawfully engaged at the time of meeting in religious worship or performing religious ceremonies shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding two thousand Baht, or both.
Section 208 Whoever, wrongfully dressing or using the symbol manifesting that oneself to be Buddhist monk or novice, holy man or clergyman of any religion so as to make the other person to believe that oneself to be such person, shall be imprisoned not out of one year or fined not out of two thousand Baht.
We're constantly explaining the origins of Nazi chic fashion in Thailand and there are many factors that contribute to it. There is not a one size fits all explanation, but whenever possible we do ask people that sell or wear things containing Nazi imagery why they do it. Here is a roundup of the local reactions and what has been said:
First we have Seven Star's designer Ekachai Usapanitch. These are the most commonly found Hitler shirt designs in Thailand.
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When the controversy first came out from its Terminal 21 store in 2011, Usapanitch was interviewed. He responds to the criticism in a way that does not address the issues with the imagery. Here's what he has to say in under a minute:
On the left, is one of the images that spread the controversy about Seven Star's Terminal 21 shop in Bangkok. On the right is a close-up of the image on the wall of the shop.
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What has happened since then? The items are sometimes openly displayed, sometimes for sale when requested. Seven Star was featured in a local magazine about its designs and posted the article on their facebook page.
In the positive 'trend' type piece, the Hitler shirt designs are mentioned without comment on the controversy but no images of the design are pictured. The red arrow points to the wall design where the cartoon Hitler is saying, "Hello everybody," but something has been leaned up against the wall in front of the cartoon. Perhaps Seven Star knows we check their facebook page?
From Saphan Phut Night Market
In our last blog post, we showed this picture from the market in October.
In our last blog post, we showed this picture from the market in October.
Thankfully, as of last week the flag is gone. Let's just hope it wasn't purchased and the vendor thought better of his display.
DISPATCHES FROM CHATUJAK MARKET
Chatujak Market, sometimes also called JJ is popular with locals and tourists alike. It is one of SE Asia's largest and the place to pick up a lamp, lemonade and a lemur or dubious origin all in one place. The vendors there are used to tourists and seem to have heard angry people ask about these items.
This shirt design has been sold there in various shops in Chatujak Market since 2010
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What is especially disturbing about this design is that it seems to show awareness of an ideology, even though the wearers may not be aware. [Editor's note: I hope to never encounter a person in one of these shirts, that conversation will ruin my day.]
Also spotted in JJ last week was this display:
Also spotted in JJ last week was this display:
In Chatujak market Soi 22, is this shirt stall, with three different designs above a "Fight Racism" shirt. Both ideology and irony seemed lost on this vendor. When the seller was asked about why it was for sale and informed that it is very offensive, the reply was, "It sells, so we have to sell it."
THIS IS THAILAND, REDUX
(We're getting tired of this)
The woman below was spotted near the Farmer's Market at K Village in Bangkok. The Farmer's Market is fairly new in Bangkok and it has all of the organic, fair trade expensive crunchiness one would expect. This is not what we expect.
 | When informed and asked about the shirt (while having her photo taken) this woman seemed rather bored by the facts about the image on her shirt. Her facts-are-annoying-and-so-are-you reply was, "Well, this is Thailand and that has nothing to do with me." We also want to mention a few things about the photos we take. We will conceal the identity of children or anyone that could be under the age of eighteen, these photos all meet our guidelines for publication as-is. We also greatly appreciate if you send us your images and see if you can start a conversation with people wearing or selling these items. While images and conversations are helpful to us, we also do not want anyone to put themselves in danger, so use your best judgement! Okay, disclaimer over. |
SPEAKING OF EXCUSES...
We're against hate speech, bullying and ignorance of all kinds. Globalization and the internet now make facts and ignorance easier to spread than ever. Another kind of ignorance that is here is the idea that being pro-compassion, pro-reason, pro-diversity and pro-education is just party-pooping. We disagree and we are currently not accepting invitations to any anti-compassion, anti-reason, anti-diversity, anti-education themed parties.
Halloween is always an opportunity for some people to make a bad costume choice showing extreme lack of judgement and taste to embarrass themselves and others. Generally the idea is that if a costume would not allow you to join everyone's costume party, rethink it. If people on the internet tell you you may/should/will be assaulted in that costume, pick something else!
We're against hate speech, bullying and ignorance of all kinds. Globalization and the internet now make facts and ignorance easier to spread than ever. Another kind of ignorance that is here is the idea that being pro-compassion, pro-reason, pro-diversity and pro-education is just party-pooping. We disagree and we are currently not accepting invitations to any anti-compassion, anti-reason, anti-diversity, anti-education themed parties.
Halloween is always an opportunity for some people to make a bad costume choice showing extreme lack of judgement and taste to embarrass themselves and others. Generally the idea is that if a costume would not allow you to join everyone's costume party, rethink it. If people on the internet tell you you may/should/will be assaulted in that costume, pick something else!
If you really want to read the whole thing, click. We advise against it.
If you spend any time on websites with expatriates in Thailand, you can probably guess where this goes. If not, here's a script of the general idea:
COMPUTER SCREEN FADES IN
POST APPEARS ON FACEBOOK
In the Heart of Bangkok, someone needs assistance. That someone needs to do something inadvisable, or just plain dumb really.
MAN IN NEED OF HELP: Here is my question, bluntly stated. I have no awareness of its idiocy.
POSTER 1: Yaeh, man. Thats hellarious,
POSTER 2: I can be evan dumber and make a joek.
POSTER 3: Deadpan reply answering question.
POSTER 4: Woot, let's encourage the guy, it's amusing.
POSTER 5: Let's make this even dumber now...
VOICE OF REASON: Sigh, let me politely and simply point out this is a bad idea
POSTER 4: Nah, stupid is never dumb, this is fun.
POSTER 1: Wheres you're sense of humer, Voice of Reason
POSTER 4: PC Police, they're everywhere. Can't have any fun without them being butt-hurt, I am really butt-hurt about this.
and so on...
The conversation did have a few people in various states of annoyed point out that this was not a good idea for various reasons, but it seems that pointing out that something is PC, "Politically Correct," is supposed to end an argument. It does not.
LAST DISPATCH OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ON THE SUBJECT
The conversation did have a few people in various states of annoyed point out that this was not a good idea for various reasons, but it seems that pointing out that something is PC, "Politically Correct," is supposed to end an argument. It does not.
LAST DISPATCH OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ON THE SUBJECT
From COCONUTS Bangkok. Click on the picture for the full story.
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