marcosolo, 8. Mai 2003 um 20:11:48 MESZ

Envoys to be briefed again

Achara Ashayagachat and AFP

Foreign diplomats will be briefed again this month about the government's anti-drugs crusade after the US joined other countries in expressing concern about the high death toll.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said US ambassador Darryl Johnson expressed Washington's disquiet to Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai at a meeting on April 30.

``It was not a demarche as such, as it was not a protest note to the government but a list of talking points the Americans gave to the ministry,'' Mr Sihasak said.

The US action followed previous expression of concern from European countries, Australia and South Africa about the three-month war against drugs in which more than 2,300 people have died. The government's first briefing was in March.

The government insists drug dealers have been killing each other off to avoid prosecution, but critics charge most deaths were summary executions of drug suspects by the authorities.

The Bush administration was asked by congressmen about the campaign. The embassy sought clarifications in response, Mr Sihasak said.

The spokesman denied that the US linked the matter to state aid or Mr Thaksin's visit to the US on June 9-11 at the invitation of the US-Thai Business Council, when he is due to meet President George W Bush.

Mr Thaksin defended his war on drugs yesterday, saying the crackdown had benefited Western countries.

``Everything that has been done is according to the constitution of Thailand, and also under the law,'' Mr Thaksin said.

Police have admitted to shooting dead 51 people, but Mr Thaksin said there were only ``about 35 cases of extraordinary killings'', all involving officers shooting in self-defence.

Mr Thaksin suggested that foreign countries should be grateful for Thailand's efforts to curb the drug trade.

The success of the drugs campaign here in Thailand has helped the whole world, especially Western countries,'' he said. I'm not claiming support from the whole world, but at least understand that what we have done here is [our duty as] part of the world community.''

 

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marcosolo, 6. Mai 2003 um 18:27:41 MESZ

A major setback for Thai media

The accumulated pressure by the government on all Thai media and the Thailand-based foreign press has not gone unnoticed. The most distinguished annual report on press freedom has downgraded Thailand for 2003. From free'' in 2002, the Freedom House report on the state of media around the world has downgraded Thailand to partly free''. The report is realistic, the new rating for Thailand richly deserved.

The present government is popular. It has some major achievements, not least the overall recovery of the economy. But it has a dark side as well. There is a constant and underlying edge of implied threats to this administration. None are so dangerous, constant and occasionally menacing as attacks on the freedom of speech and a free media.

The attacks on the press began even before the election of Thaksin Shinawatra and Thai Rak Thai, and have never ceased. The Freedom House report on Thailand noted that the attacks on media outlets increased last year. That is, a year after his election sweep and institution of an effective one-party lower house, Mr Thaksin's government actually stepped up attempts to cow, intimidate or simply silence Thai and foreign media.

Such attacks are illegal under the constitution, a document the government seems to hold in a cavalier manner. More importantly, assaults on free expression are a blot on the government's reputation and on Thailand. Mr Thaksin, notoriously sensitive to criticism, has gone after short-term satisfaction in his assault on press freedom. He should consider the long-term effect and indelible stain he has put on the country.

The Freedom House report on Thailand is just one of nearly 200, of course. Other countries have an entirely cowed, brutalised media not even fighting for freedom _ Burma, Laos and Vietnam among them. According to Freedom House, the media ratings of three important countries are Singapore: Not free. India: Partly free. Philippines: Free.

While our press freedom may find some good company, there is nothing to brag about in ``winning'' a downgrade from free to partly free. The blame for this state of affairs rests directly with the government and Thai Rak Thai. They have bought off the only independent TV news station, silenced state media and threatened print media with a host of punishments for fair reporting, logical analysis and legal comment. Two editors were forced to resign last year and radio stations had to take legal programmes off the air because they offended someone in the administration.

The threats range from withdrawing advertising from government and private corporations to legal action. The foreign media have been threatened with loss of residence visas in one high-profile case and a string of others that have been less widely reported. It must be noted that these threats and intimidation are all because of factual reports. Neither Freedom House nor Thai press associations back nonsensical or farcical ``reporting'' like the false reports by Cambodian newspapers that led to the deadly attacks on Thais last January.

Mr Thaksin's attacks on the press have hurt the country's reputation around the world. The sad part is that the attacks are unnecessary. The Thai press was coming out of decades of government intimidation as Mr Thaksin took power. The new constitution balances the rights of free speech with the responsibility for truth in reporting and comment. The Thai media needs only one thing from the government: legal conduct. The interference in state media and the attempts to intimidate private broadcasters and publishers are illegal under the Thai supreme law, the constitution. There is no reason for the government to continue its attacks and further hurt the nation's reputation.

 

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marcosolo, 5. Mai 2003 um 19:33:39 MESZ

HIDDEN TUITION COSTS

Schools levy new charges

Free-education policy being undermined

Sirikul Bunnag

The free education promised by government policy is proving far from free, with schools hitting parents with a whole range of new charges.

The Ministry of Education plans a series of orders banning the charges, but the action is likely to come too late for the new term, which starts this week.

A 37-year-old mother who identified herself as Malee said she was in trouble as expenses for her child's junior secondary education has risen from 3,000 baht to 5,000 baht for the coming term.

``For admission day tomorrow, the school told parents to prepare about 5,000 baht for education expenses. I don't know why it is so expensive despite the government's subsidy for student education,'' Mrs Malee said, whose child is enrolled at Phrakhanong Pitayalai school.

Since the policy took effect in October, many state schools have come up with new charges.

They fall into two categories: one covers textbooks, educational instruments and uniforms costing students about 3,000 baht. The other, about 2,000 baht, is for education improvement including computer classes (1,000 baht), foreign language classes with native speakers (400 baht), music classes (50 baht), accident insurance (150 baht) and outdoor education (120 baht).

``How much does a mother of three children like me have to earn to pay for the education of her children? I understood that the free education policy would have parents pay only for educational instruments, uniforms, meals and textbooks,'' Mrs Malee said.

Mrs Lek, whose child studies at Wat Rangbua school, said the school imposed many ``strange'' charges amounting to 1,800-2,300 baht on secondary school students. They include 200 baht a year for sports groups, 300 baht for tuition improvement, 200 baht for public utilities, 300 baht a term for computer classes and 300 baht a year for accident insurance.

``The government has lied to parents. We understand the school has financial problems but we don't want it to force all parents to pay. The school should explain its financial status and raise funds from donations,'' Mrs Lek said.

Meanwhile, George Samurmit, director of the Phrakhanong Pitayalai school, denied the surcharges came to any more than parents had paid in the past.

His school made no profit from the surcharges, and parents who could not afford to pay were exempt, he said.

The fee for computer classes was high because the school must replace 30 computers a year to keep up with technological change. Accident insurance was also necessary and benefited students.

The government subsidises his school with 1,800 baht for each junior secondary school student and 2,400 baht for each senior student.

The school's public utility costs of about three million baht a year nearly wiped out the subsidy and the leftover amount was not enough to pay for technological and academic development, Mr George said.

Somkiart Chobpol, assistant permanent secretary of education, said the surcharges should be voluntary, or schools would have to pay refunds.

Many parents had complained about surcharges in different forms. For instance, students are required to pay for bags that bear school logos, to change their sports outfits to different colours every year, and to pay for school cleaning costs. Mr Somkiart said the ministry would announce an order in two weeks banning schools from charging accident insurance. Students were already covered by the 30-baht medical care scheme. Other bans will follow to combat surcharges on cleaning services and special outfits apart from student uniforms.

 

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