Regional News

The Lack of Road Safety in Thailand is Criminal

On average, 167 accidents occurred each day and, on average, 17 people died every day

You may shake your head in disbelief when you learn that reckless drivers who cause fatal accidents in Thailand can walk away without a jail sentence.

On Jan 31 this year, Chinese tourist Tan Cunni died after being hit by a pickup truck while trying to take the best photo possible in front of Pong Nam Ron Market in Chiang Rai. The driver was Pol Sgt Chakrapol Phromthaweeporn, who was stationed in Chiang Mai. He’s now on bail.

On Feb 21, Tiwarat Chaiphidet, driving his pickup truck, hit and killed the Chilean inter-continental cyclist Juan Francisco Guillermo Villa, and injured his wife who was riding another bike with their two-year old son. The court handed Tiwarat a 7,500 baht fine and suspended two-year sentence.

On April 15, two Chinese tourists were killed after being hit by a car while crossing the Phetchakasem Road to Prachuap Samm Ao Hotel in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The driver was Thanuwit Khamnij, who said he couldn’t hit his breaks in time. He got bail.

None of the drivers spent a single night in prison. Police officers reasoned that they couldn’t be detained as they had turned themselves in. The cases, except Tiwarat’s, haven’t yet reached the criminal courts. However, I think I know what the verdicts will turn out to be.

Based on a number of court verdicts, most drivers charged with careless driving resulting in death, do not face a jail term as long as they do not flee the scene, show humanity by trying to help the victims, and offer compensation. They must also report the incident to police officers immediately. In addition, if they have no previous criminal record, courts tend to be lenient and hand down a suspended jail term.

Where is the sense of justice? No matter how many road safety campaigns are launched, lives are still lost daily on the roads. Statistics from the Royal Thai Police show that there were 61,140 road accidents last year, resulting in 6,215 deaths and 20,457 injuries.

On average, 167 accidents occurred each day and, on average, 17 people died every day. The top cause of death was found to be vehicle failure, followed by going over the speed limit, changing lane abruptly, driving too close to a vehicle in front, and drunk driving.

Latest research from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, comparing 193 countries, ranks Thailand second in the world behind Namibia in terms of traffic fatalities, with 44 deaths per 100,000 people, rising from 38 deaths in 2013.

When compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand ranks number one, followed by Malaysia (with 30 deaths per 100,000 people), Vietnam (24), Indonesia (21), Laos (17), Cambodia (15), Brunei (14), Myanmar (10), the Philippines (9) and Singapore (6).

I think we seriously need to change things, starting with the process of obtaining a driving licence, through to law enforcement and the law itself. In Thailand, we can get our driving licence in one day. However, in developed countries, the process takes more time and effort.

In Germany, for example, those who want to apply for a driving licence must attend first aid training and a life support course. They must then pass a visual examination before attending a professional driving school and later undergoing a theory test. Finally, learners must pass a practical road test.

An officer from the transport department will sit in the car to keep an eye on how an applicant drives on the roads. If the learner makes a turn only by signalling and looking at the side mirror, but not checking the ‘blind spot’, he/she will fail the test. In Thailand, we also need traffic policemen to simply do their jobs — enforce the law. We all know that enforcement here is very weak. We can negotiate with policemen even if one is caught drunk driving.

Unfortunately, traffic policemen encourage us to violate traffic rules. We see it every day on an expressway, especially during rush hour. Policemen always gesture for us to drive in the emergency lane. This has become the norm and we do it any time of the day and on any road. No punishment is given to those who go beyond the speed limit. No one is caught for illegally overtaking another vehicle in the left lane.

Laws relating to road accidents, including the 1979 Land Traffic Act, should be revised. Reckless drivers who cause fatalities must not be charged only for “careless driving” resulting in death, but for “dangerous driving”, as people are killed because of their recklessness.

I sigh when realising that our government has not yet come up with any concrete action to reduce fatal accidents. Those who have lost their lives deserve justice. The government must make a move before Thailand becomes the number one country in the world for deaths from road crashes.

By Karnjana Karnjanatawe

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post