Why not? Are they above the law? So if I am a VIP aka "somebody in Thailand" that would be a nobody in a REAL country, then I do not have to be screened?Quote:
Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
Everyone should have been reprimanded for not tackling the "slapper" and taking him into custody.Quote:
Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
In the video clip, did anyone notice Sombat's pall walking through, without being scanned, while Sombat was whacking the security about?
The pal I 'm talking about is the guy in the dark suit who picked up his travel case from the baggage conveyor then walked up to Sombat, interrupted him by touching him, said a few words then walked off with Sombat then walking away after him.
That man had some influence over Sombat at that time, apparently, as you can see, as Sombat paused in his attack, momentarily, to communicate with the man, then after a short time, Sombat walked off to accompany the said dude in dark suit out of the check point.
Who was he, and why was he able to interrupt Sombat's actions at that point?
nHe obviously influenced Sombat, it's clearly seen in the cctv clip.
What did he carry on his person that passed through the security check unscanned?
The diversion Sombat created allowed the dude unchecked and unsecured access to departure.
That was an extreme security risk according to international airport protocols.
Who was that man, what metal object was he possibly carrying?i
Think about it.
Yes, and this too from the apparently polite young man:Quote:
Originally Posted by chitownWhy not? Are they above the law? So if AI am a VIP aka "somebody in Thailand" that would be a nobody in a REAL country, then I do not have to be screened?Quote:
Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
"I feel uncomfortable this has turned into such a big incident. I don't know what to do, and am not sure whether I can continue to work at the airport," he said.
---
You were assaulted while trying to perform an important public service. It is a big incident, and it ain't your fault, except for my part I wish you'd slyly given the old kankok a short sharp tap to the solar plexus.
I think Hazz is right, the "slapper" (is the Nation really using that word? :mid:) was trying to act above his paygrade. I would guess the rule is you either have the cred to circumvent security altogether or you submit to at least a cursory check. Methinks the "slapper" had something to hide. Maybe a heater.
or a penis extender.
Same-same, in a way.Quote:
Originally Posted by watdog
It was a DIVERSION to let his mate through.
A common trick.
Look again, it's obvious.
The "elephant in the room" is right in front of your eyes (front of the screen).
Just look as he dodges the check.
Thai-ASEAN News Network - With Social Media, Public Glare Now Harder to Avoid
With Social Media, Public Glare Now Harder to Avoid
UPDATE : 13 January 2012
Today, many things that grab the public’s attention may be widely talked about in the online community before they become the talk of the town. Stories and clips may be shared and re-shared via Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube by Internet users before they appear on televisions, radios and newspapers for the general population. Topics that attract the public’s scrutiny are often the ones that prove to be disturbing and have a great impact on the society. Apparently, technology has become increasingly useful in providing evidence for crimes and malicious activities and giving no room for any excuses.
One of the hottest topics in the past week was an incident at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in which a C7-level Customs official boxed a security officer in the ears after having been asked to undergo a security pat-down. Most of the public condemned the official’s abusive behavior and his refusal to obey security measures that are universally adopted, under which everyone is subject to.
Articles and pictures related to the scandal have been circulated worldwide. Undeniably, the issue has tarnished Thailand’s image and people will question the application of security measures when it comes to powerful people. Looking from a different angle, the security officer did carry out his duty strictly, not being discriminant when conducting a security check, even though it resulted in him being slapped and his eardrum rupturing. At least, this will make foreigners confident about the airport’s security.
Apart from the scandal at Suvarnabhumi Airport, there was a video clip of a Buddhist monk dancing like a coyote dancer. The clip has spread on the Internet and promptly attracted the public’s condemnation. People criticized and exchanged opinions about both issues with various emotions. Mostly, they disapproved of the misconduct. This could be a good lesson that anyone in any profession or social status has to be careful about what they do because it is almost impossible for them to escape the eyes and ears of the public who have been empowered by technology and social media.
Editorial, Daily News, Page 3, January 13th, 2012
Translated and rewritten by Wacharapol Isaranont
A monk has to be an idiot to do as the above did.
There is no room in Buddhism for such demonstrative behaviour.
He must be kicked out instantly for setting such a shit example of Buddhism.
The same applies to monks who accumulate personal wealth and are fat and overweight and who break the five cardinal rules of Buddhism.
Bangkok Post : Uproar over slap... then nothing
Uproar over slap... then nothing
- Published: 17/01/2012 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
That Sirichai Maichum, the security officer at Suvarnabhumi Airport who got his ears smacked by a high-ranking customs official till an ear drum ruptured, is distraught and worried about his career and his own safety after the assault, should have been a big slap in the face of Thai society. It should have hurt badly. And something should have broken. Something should have changed.
But of course, the reality is that the Thai moral fabric of resilience and tolerance is too tough. What should have sparked a prolonged uproar, a watershed moment that led to some real changes for equity on the scale of the Rosa Parks incident, ended up being merely the "talk of the town," an entertainment which keeps people amused for a few days but ends up in a whimper leading to no tangible improvement.
In reality, it's only natural that a low-ranking someone would feel worried for his personal well-being and professional future if he or she rubs a high-ranking someone the wrong way, even in the course of performing his rightful duty. It's fact of life. It's scandalous, but eventually it is tolerated.
Mr Sirichai should count himself lucky that the attack on him was caught on video and released for the public to see. Had this not been so, chances are high that his ear drum would have been ruptured for free.
It's true that in this case people got excited and agitated about the video clip of the ear-splitting incident at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The incident was talked about so much that the highest-ranking officer at the Customs Department immediately transferred the officer in question and set up a committee to investigate the incident.
But what about other similar abuses of power that are not caught on tape?
The truth is, incidents like this one _ a high-ranking official flouting the rule, abusing his power and mistreating people of a lower status _ happen all the time in this country.
Of course, if even a scandalous case caught on tape has failed to make a dent in the culture of abusing one's authority, and succeeded only in making the victim feel scared and insecure, then what hope do we have?
Based on my own experience, hardly a day passes by in which I do not witness or experience the flouting of rules by my fellow citizens. Just last Friday, for example. I went to have lunch at a popular noodle shop. I parked my car by the sidewalk away from the shop, only to see two big Mercedes taking a convenient spot right opposite the shop but which is actually a bus stop. It did not bother the well-dressed drivers that the incoming bus would have to stop in the middle of the road to pick up passengers.
On the same day, I went on to redo my passport. The rule there is that we take a ticket and the officer will call in 30 people at a time according to the ticket number.
In reality, people can expect that their number will be up in the next 30-number lot. So instead of waiting until their number is called, which is the according to the first-come, first-served rule, some people would run to the station as soon as the first number of the 30-lot is called. I know because I saw quite a few people who arrived at the office later than me and whose ticket numbers were after mine, but who got served before me.
It's no big deal but I do wonder why would the passport office take the trouble of having the numbering ticket system without enforcing it effectively, and why would people jump the queue for the sake of speeding up their business by only a few minutes?
While we are at it, I have another story which may rekindle our hope for the future. My sister-in-law was helping with a garbage recycling activity on Children's Day this past Saturday. A secondary school boy told her: "Big Sister, I am in a hurry. Can you give me a stamp without my having to play the game?"
Sensing a trick, my sister-in-law said: "But I am in no hurry. Let's play the game first. It is good knowledge."
"Phi jai rai, cruel Big Sister," the boy cried.
"Go ahead and get in line. Your friends who are also in line won't like it if I give you a free stamp," my sister-in-law said.
Responding to her remark was a chorus from all the children in the queue: "We will agree to it. You give us free stamps too, so that we won't have to play the game!" Naturally, my sister-in-law said no, and she received a louder chorus of "Phi jai rai" in return.
Again, the incident itself is no big deal but it may give us an explanation as to how the ear-smashing incident at Suvarnabhumi could happen and how, no matter how scandalous it was, it is likely to change nothing.
Atiya Achakulwisut
Bangkok Post : Wake-up smack for a changing society
COMMENTARY
Wake-up smack for a changing society
- Published: 15/01/2012 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The slapping was a symptom of an outdated mentality that still permeates society.
A society that functions harmoniously is one in which individual members understand and respect their roles. Obey the rules _ those written down as law and those simply understood as a matter of tradition _ and the balance of the forces is maintained, making Master Yoda one happy little green goblin.
When chief of passenger inspection at Suvarnabhumi airport Sombat Chartchaiwaiyawit smacked 32-year-old airport security officer Sirichai Maichum upside the head, causing his eardrum to rupture, he was simply reminding the young man of his proper place in society.
The class system exists at all societies, but it may be more apparent in a developing democracy with a strong feudalistic tradition such as Thailand.
For the past many years, the righteous, harmonious balance of Thai society has been a bit out of whack. We are not only talking about uppity provincial/colonial peasants marching on the Bangkok Empire, demanding to make things square and what not. There are other symptoms that have been upsetting the divine tranquility in this tropical Southeast Asian Eden.
During the previous Songkran festival, three young girls jumped on the back of a truck in the middle of Silom Road, gyrating topless in front of hordes of cheering, salivating, video-camera-holding spectators. This prompted the Cultural Ministry and patriarchs and matriarchs of society to get all their panties in a collective, tightly-knotted bunch.
There was also a popular soap opera character named Reya who showed young Thai girls that a woman can do as she pleases, seduce as she pleases and go after what she wants in life (basically, acting like a man). This was to the consternation of the censorship board and flew in the face of all that is good and holy about traditional values.
Then there are all those reality-TV shows that allow just about anybody from just about any walk of life to behave shamelessly to snag their 15 minutes of fame. They don't even have to be pale, thin Chinese/Korean-looking. Heavens to Betsy!
It's a mad, mad, mad world. Thailand is turning upside down.
In the good old days, there were the people upstairs and everybody else was prai fah, kah pan din, which literally means ''servant to the sky, bound to the land''. Somewhere in the middle were the lords and ladies, the bureaucrats and the warlords. Yes, life was pretty grim for everyone else back in the days.
After some 80 years of democratic development _ slow, painful and exasperating though it has been _ everybody else has gained a bit more room to breathe. However, the patriarchs and matriarchs might say they've gained too much room to breathe.
Tradition still permeates strongly, especially in the relationship between the superior (phuyai) and the inferior (phunoi).
There are certain tell-tale signs that can help you differentiate between phuyai and phunoi.
Picture two men talking. The one that haunches his back and shoulders, hands folded meekly across his pelvis (in a metaphorical effort to protect his last manly possession, his jewel box, as social norms have already given his dignity to the phuyai) and head nodding rhythmically once every three to five seconds, with lips muttering dutifully, ''khrap, khrap, khrap, khrap''.
Yes, you have either witnessed this scene or been a part of it before.
On the streets, when stopped by a traffic cop, simply flash a card or drop a name. The lowly man in khaki will then recognise that you know somebody, who knows somebody, who's a friend of somebody, who might actually be somebody. He will understand that his role in society is to wave you past with humble apologies.
When introduced to someone who is referred to as ''khun'', you might breathe a sigh of relief because this means you do not have to grab your jewel box. But if that someone is referred to as a ''tan'', you know the dude is a high-and-mighty superior and that you should wipe your sweaty palms. (To be fair there are many nice ''tan'' who insist on not being treated as such.)
It is easy to express outrage at the high-and-mighty Mr Sombat, who was caught on tape smacking his inferior upside the head for showing impertinence. The YouTube clip has well over one million views and the comments are damning against the C-7 official.
But it would be intellectually wasteful to simply express disgust and neglect in probing the social and psychological aspects of the incident.
The slapping was a symptom of an outdated mentality that still permeates a society caught between tradition and modernism. Mind you, smacking someone upside the head is not a tradition, but it is a tradition that a phunoi should know his proper place and never question a phuyai.
In an interview, Mr Sirichai recounted his reaction after Mr Sombat shouted at him.
''I felt scared. I said I was sorry and moved backwards, but he walked towards me and thumped my ears until a woman in the VIP group told him to stop.''
At many airports in the world, Mr Sombat would have been wrestled to ground by security and dragged into a dimly-lit room for a full body cavity search. But Suvarnabhumi is not many airports and Thailand isn't the world.
Reflecting on what had happened, Mr Sirichai said, ''I feel uncomfortable this has turned into such a big incident. I don't know what to do, and am not sure whether I can continue to work at the airport.''
In some countries, it would be Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas rolled into one, as there would be lawsuits galore. But Thailand isn't some countries and Mr Sirichai knows that there are consequences, sooner or later, to come from questioning the authority of the phuyai.
What has followed is the standard procedure. Mr Sirichai lodged complaints with the police. Mr Sombat has been transferred and there will be a 30 day investigation. Customs Department director-general Somchai Poolsavasdi promises fairness and transparency.
The point is not that tradition is all bad. For younger people to honour their elders is a good thing. For the subordinate to pay respect to the superior is fine. But the social relationship takes a feudalistic turn when the phuyai actually believes he is the social better and demands to be treated with privilege; when his narrow view of the world demands that the phunoi kowtow to his high and mightiness.
This is a corrupt relationship. This is an abusive relationship.
Money and power define every social structure; there will always be phuyai and phunoi. This is fine, as long as the relationship is complemented by mutual respect, rather than blind submission to authority.
Thai society is changing, perhaps faster than many can handle. The phenomenon of social media has helped to expose and bring issues out for discussion. Society's backlash against Mr Sombat is a sign of progress.
But like tradition, progress has both positive and negative sides. Come this Songkran festival, there will likely again be girls dancing topless somewhere. (Well, in fact there are girls dancing topless somewhere every night.) Whether that's positive or negative progress is something people can determine for themselves. Meanwhile, if Mr Sombat offers a public apology that would be progress. If he offers a public apology and resigns that would be substantial progress. If he is forced to resign that would still mark progress.
Or will the bad side of tradition take over? Mai pen rai. Sabai sabai. Nothing to see here.
Voranai Vanijaka
Sure would. No more padded bras - and I'll bet the boob doctors would get more biz too.Quote:
Originally Posted by chitownSo what if they did? It might be better here!Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
The person you refer to as Sombat's “pall” was scanned, He walked through the metal detector without tripping it before going to the conveyor to pick his luggage and pocket items up that had been x-rayed.Quote:
Originally Posted by ENT
If you don’t trip the metal detector they don’t hand frisk you. Notice that many people (but not all) going though as the incident happened did not get hand scanned.
Most people by now know if the metal detector beeps as you go through, you get a “hand job” and you just walk over and raise your arms, if it doesn’t beep, you go pick up your stuff.
The “pal” did not avoid any security check.
TH
The West is really not that much better, this smack would have an immediate effect on Thai society if other countries especially the EU banned any flight originating in Thailand from their airspace, and in fact doing so would be a prudent move on their part until Thailand shows it's airports are secure.
The failure to act by the EU and the USA is bowing to the Thai elite every bit as much as AOT and the Thai Government.
^
Happy to agree with you on this one BobR
Yes, Ent, I saw that too. I hope 'the right people' are made aware of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ENT
^^^^ Thaihome.
If that's the case, then Sombat must have tripped the detector prior to walking up to the scanner guy, who instantly waved his magic wand at Sombat, who freaked.
Because HE was carrying?
Sombat then rejoins his pals.
He could have THEN handed over to his VIP mates whatever it was that initialy tripped the scanner, which had caused the young guy to act.
This conjecture is based on your account of the process.
I have walked through check areas where the frame scanner was not working, and only the baggage scanner was, and of course the magic wands.
Damn Farangs always trying to figure out things!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ENT
You could be right, but it seems much more likely to me that Sombat was just accompany a friend or colleague to the gate for his flight (note the “Pal” had a suitcase, but Sombat did not have anything).
The mobile or keys in Sombat's pocket would trip the metal detector. Wouldn't have be anything sinister.
As a “director” at the airport, it is doubtful he would need to engage any of the subterfuge you seem to think he did to get “something” past security.
TH
Most people don't think he was sumggling. They just think he was born out of an ass and has lived his life as a shithead ever since.
This thread is deviating away from the fact that a fat obnoxious "VIP" abused and physically assaulted an airport employee simply doing his job, and has not been properly punished for it.
As said earlier, I'd love the coont to try it in a proper grown up country.
^^nicely put.
I would agree with on this too. But given how the 1 2 die crash in puket showed just how ineffectual and comprised the thai CAA is, that the UE and US didn't put a ban on all thai regulated airlines as they did with indoneasia; why would any of us expect them to be bother with anything that happens here.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobR
They are classic passive aggressive bullies, once they are out of the protective womb of thailands feudal system; they become all meak and well behaved.... they just haven't got the balls to behave like this overseas, with a few exceptions we cannot talk about.Quote:
Originally Posted by harrybarracuda
I called it the day it happened - nothing will be done. Am I a fortune teller or some sort of soothsayer? Or have I been here long enough to know this FAKE country for what it really is?
I have never met a Thai in the US that misbehaved, acted above the law or had a hint of arrogance about them. They were all hardworking, diligent waiters, waitresses, and dish washers. A few of them reached the pinnacle of their restaurant career as a cook!Quote:
Originally Posted by hazz
I know one HI-SO Thai guy that owns a couple successful companies in Thailand that went to the US. A few years back, he was quite the successful pizza delivery guy. I do not think he bragged about his masters from Chula over there. But over here it is all he talks about. That and having one of 300 white Isuzu trucks made one year in Thailand. He thinks he is the cat's meow over here. I often bring up his pizza delivery days as a reminder of his humble beginnings. It does not go over well if some of his slaves are within earshot!
He's probably one of 'the right people' himself. That's now it works.Quote:
Originally Posted by Notnow