'Thais-only' policy is racism, pure and simple

[Nereus]

'Thais-only' policy is racism, pure and simple

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... and-simple

'This cannot be serious" was my initial reaction to news reports saying the Transport Company is imposing a ban on foreign travellers as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Or it might be fake news? In fact, such news reports are strange enough to belong in a "believe it or not" column.

So yesterday I telephoned the company's call centre and the female operator just confirmed with a simple "yes". She also said the weird rule applied to all expats who have been living here for decades.

"If they are foreigners, they cannot board the bus," she said, adding the rule requires all passengers to show an identification card to prove they are Thai.

The information officer said it is the company's policy and she had no idea when the ban would be lifted.

Absurd, isn't it? Don't they know the country has been locked down for months, with the closure of airports, piers and border checkpoints since April? With such closures, no foreign visitors or tourists are allowed in, so where would a travel-related virus come from?

If that were not absurd enough, there are reports that at least one temple in Bangkok -- Wat Pho -- which is very famous among tourists, has also adopted a "Thai-only" policy, which is blatant discrimination and has been met with widespread criticism.

A temple caretaker at Wat Pho told Khaosod English the temple is "not ready for foreign visitors yet".

But we cannot blame the temple and the Transport Company -- not entirely. For nearly three months, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has injected a strong idea that foreigners or Thais abroad are a health threat, in other words: potential virus carriers.

The notion of "if they are allowed in, the country would be at risk of more infections" led to a ban on foreign visitors and stringent measures against Thais wishing to return home. The state came up with ways to make it tough to return, which means stranded Thais are unfairly exposed to Covid-19.

Infections can now be controlled. Low numbers of new cases at state quarantine centres and favourable situations have led to the easing of the lockdown. Yet, too many people, like those at the Transport Company and the temple in question, still have this stigma and have got hold of an irrelevant -- and weird -- policy.

Worse, state agencies endorsed such discrimination.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Tourism Ministry insist each temple can adopt its own rules, to close or open to whomever it wishes. I am at my wit's end why they don't see how useless the Thais-only policy and practice are with regard to Covid-19 prevention.

Air travel and borders are expected to remain closed until at least July. In fact, the "Thais only" gate was there at the temple long before Covid-19 hit the country. When Thais visit a temple, they don't have to pay or buy tickets. This is because it is presumed Thais are there to make merit.

I don't agree with this policy, but I recognise the idea behind it: Thais pay taxes. No, they don't need to get a ticket. Such a rule is applied in neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. A Thai tourist who holds Buddhist beliefs gets no waiver there.

Such an explanation is not rational. There are many expats who also pay taxes, some at a very high rate, not to mention that some are Buddhists. I'd bet even if they are able to chant the Five Precepts at the gate, temple caretakers would still insist on them buying tickets. It is too complicated.

But we cannot expect such a rule to be lifted any time soon. Discrimination will persist as long as the state does not learn about the problem. Several state-run recreational sites, national parks, museums and others condone discrimination by adopting two-tier tickets or prices.

Some universal rules like the reduction of fares for retirees using the public transport sector are applied to Thais only. If this isn't a form of discrimination, what is?

Just as countries around the world rise up against racism, referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, the people of Thailand and the Thai state are defiantly keeping such an ugly practice.

Thailand always claims it is one of the best countries for tourism. This is self-deceiving, if not a lie. The government and tourism authorities, in particular, must wake up and correct where they are wrong.

No, I do not mean the country should entirely reopen without any anti-virus rules. Precaution like mask-wearing and social distancing must be maintained. The virus is dreadful, but no one should allow it to rob us of common sense.

Ploenpote Atthakor is editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.

[PeteC]

Keep an eye on this one to see if they implement a "No Foreigner" policy as well.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... isit-offer

[Dannie Boy]

Next they’ll be restricting us to staying home 24/7.

[Robinhood]

Yes it is racist. But, can there be such a thing as good racism*. Scientifically, if one country has an extremely low virus rate, such as Thailand, then it is very wise to control incoming people from countries with higher virus rates. In an ideal world transport companies would implement this by checking piles of paperwork and checking if someone has been in Thailand long enough to qualify as resident (regardless of ethnicity). Practically, bus companies have to make snap shot decisions and so if fighting the virus is the number one Government policy, Thai only might be the only way to implement the policy.

*For the record, I wholeheartedly support the black lives matter campaign and think the phrase good racism is pretty dangerous as it could easily be misinterpreted by people. Maybe practical racism is a better term.

[nil]

They can do this because there are no racial discrimination laws in Thailand. I’m not sure any country in SE Asia has any.

[Big Boy]

In the case of the bus company, it must be their policy not the Government's policy, else foreigners would not be permitted to use any bus company. Therefore, I can only see it as a racist policy by one set of bus owners, whilst hiding behind the Covid-19 banner.

If there's a virus threat on their buses, why doesn't that same threat exist on all buses?

[HHTel]

it is very wise to control incoming people from countries with higher virus rates.

The only incoming people for other countries are Thais returning home. They are quarantined for 14 days in state quarantine. The borders have been closed for some time now. There are NO foreigners visiting/arriving from other countries!

The rule is complete nonsense. No surprise that the IQ in Thailand is getting worse year on year.

37.61% with an IQ below 90 and 5.8% below 70 (which makes them officially disabled). This goes back to Thai education discussed on another thread.

[stretch]

Would this include state to state .then how do you get to the airport to leave another brainless idea
.ONLY here.

[stretch]

The ones with the lowest I q are in goverment.

[Big Boy]

I've just seen something, but no reliable source, stating the Farangs riding on buses ruling may have been reversed. Has anybody got any more info?

[Nereus]

In the case of the bus company, it must be their policy not the Government's policy, else foreigners would not be permitted to use any bus company. Therefore, I can only see it as a racist policy by one set of bus owners, whilst hiding behind the Covid-19 banner.

If there's a virus threat on their buses, why doesn't that same threat exist on all buses?

In the case of the Transport Company it IS the Government:

http://www.mot.go.th/about.html?dsfm_lang=EN&id=20

http://home.transport.co.th/index.php/t ... glish.html

[Big Boy]

OK, a branch of the Government. That does not make it Government policy. A decision by Civil Servants then. As a Civil Servant, I made decisions, but my decisions were not Government Policy.

[HHTel]

Is a 'Civil Servant' a servant who is polite?

Sorry, BB. Only joking.

[Big Boy]

Always polite, unless shopping

[buksida]

NATIONAL PARK WATERFALLS CLOSES DOORS TO FOREIGNERS
A national park in the western province of Kanchanaburi became the latest attraction to shut its doors to foreigners.

The Huay Mae Khamin and Pha Tad waterfalls announced on its Facebook page that the waterfalls would “open for Thais only.” Both waterfalls, located in Srinakarin Dam National Park, will be open on July 1 but visitors will not be allowed to go into the waters or stay overnight.

“Yes, foreigners are not allowed,” a park official said over the phone Wednesday. “I think it’s better to speak directly to the park’s chief.”

Thiti Sompee, the park’s chief, could not be reached for comments as of press time. He was said to be out of office for an official business.

However, the chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said it’s not an official policy to refuse foreigner’s entry to the parks.

“We allow both Thais and foreigners to visit the parks,” Thanya Netithamkul said. “They must ensure that social-distancing measures are taken, wear face masks, and register online prior their visits. We did not specify that foreigners are to be banned from visiting.”

Over the past weeks, some establishments that reopened under the coronavirus lockdown easing preferred to ban foreigners, including expats who live and work in Thailand, from visiting.

Wat Pho, a popular temple in Bangkok, posted a sign barring foreigners, which they said was “the temple’s regulation.”

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/202 ... oreigners/

This rather fascist trend is increasing ... and they want to revive international tourism?