Regional News

Nada Chaiyajit Breaks Education Barriers for Transgender Students in Thailand

Nada Chaiyajit, Thai transgender activist, 37, poses during an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation at a hotel in Bangkok – Photo Reuters

PHAYAO – Thai transgender activist Nada Chaiyajit completed her undergraduate studies in August, and two months later, school officials told her 12 classmates – all men – that their graduation certificates were ready.

But her college, the University of Phayao in northern Thailand, would not issue her documents because she submitted a photo in which she looks like a woman, even though her identity card says she is male.

“They asked me, ‘Can you take a new photo – can you tie up your hair and wear a tie to make yourself look like a man?’ I said no,” said the 37-year-old, wearing rimless spectacles and simple stretch cotton sweater and trousers.

“If I tie my hair back and wear a tie, then it doesn’t belong to me. This belongs to me,” she said, gesturing at her body and holding up the contentious portrait of herself in a black and lavender graduation gown.

Nada Chaiyajit holds the photo she submitted to her university for her official documents at a cafe in Bangkok on Dec. 23, 2017

Nada refused to dress as a man or to petition to dress as a woman on grounds of gender identity disorder, as many Thai transgender students have done.

Instead, in a landmark case, she petitioned her school to issue her documents according to the gender identity she has chosen, on the basis of her rights rather than mental illness.

In December, her university approved her request, laying the groundwork for Thai transgender students to get official documents according to the gender they have chosen.

“When you want to fight, you have to know what documents or evidence you need to put together. I used all the lessons my law school taught me,” she said.

Edmund Settle, who oversees the U.N. Development Program’s Being LGBT in Asia initiative, said most people take the easiest route and use gender identity disorder – or gender dysphoria – to change documents.

“From a rights perspective, this is the first time I’ve heard a case like this. It’s definitely precedent setting,” Settle said.

Thailand is widely seen as a paradise for gay and transgender people, with transgender women commonly seen on TV, in beauty pageants and cabarets, and at hair salons and cosmetics counters.

Yet the country’s rigid bureaucratic rules are still adjusting to include transgender rights.

This is the case across Asia, where getting documents such as ID cards changed is extremely difficult for trans people, said Cianan Russell of the Bangkok-based Asia Pacific Transgender Network.

“The vast majority of trans people in this region are unable to change their documents at all, and those who are able are held to pretty severe standards,” said Russell, a transgender man from the United States.

The requirements can include being sterilized, having familial consent, not being married or divorced, not having children, or even a mental health diagnosis, he said.

“When trans people are unable to change documents, they’re unable to access education, housing, employment, healthcare – anything people need to live their daily lives is impeded by these documents,” Russell said.

Since Nada’s case was approved last month, about 10 more transgender students at her university have come forward with their own petitions.

RIGID RULES IN PARADISE

In 2015, Thailand’s Gender Equality Act came into effect, outlawing gender-based discrimination and inclusive of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). Yet the country has some way to go in recognizing transgender rights, activists say.

For example, transgender women had been exempted from the military draft with “permanent mental disorder” noted in their records until 2012, when the wording was softened to “gender identity disorder” – but still implying psychological abnormality.

Thai universities have allowed transgender students to dress as women for official documents and graduation ceremonies on grounds of having gender identity disorder.

Nada refused this route on principle but needed her papers because she had started applications for the prestigious Chevening scholarship in Britain. Deadlines passed.

She considered caving to the university rules. Then one of her mentors – a prominent Thai human rights lawyer – persuaded her to carry on to set a precedent.

“You help trans people access justice,” Nada recalled her mentor telling her. “You are the person who helps them write complaints for the committee that considers gender-based discrimination. Will you give up on your own case?”

Wuttichai Chairinkam, University of Phayao vice president for student affairs and chairman of the committee that considered Nada’s petition, said her case was not about discrimination, but merely updating bureaucratic procedures.

“We do not discriminate against these students, and in fact, we praise them, but it just takes time to adjust and solve these issues,” Wuttichai said.

Nada’s case goes beyond the university, he said, and it is an issue that needs to be addressed across Thai society – from elementary schools to professional associations.

Many transgender people say they know before kindergarten that they identify as another gender. Some start taking hormones at the first signs of puberty to suppress male or female traits.

“If we allow this in high school, university – what about at elementary level?” Wuttichai said. “We might have to prepare all of society to solve this problem … so it’s an enduring solution.”

GENDER, NOT GENITALS

When Nada was three, she asked her mother if she could wear a tutu. She kept her hair cropped short and dressed as a boy most of her childhood, then grew her hair out and began dressing as a woman after high school. She underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2008, when she was 28.

Her transition was not without struggle. She described being abandoned by her family, attempting suicide four times, and dropping out of a university in Bangkok in 2003.

At each exam at that university, monitors grilled her – in a room full of hundreds of students – because she looked like a woman but dressed in trousers as required because her identity card says she is male. The humiliating scrutiny proved too much.

But in 2013, she enrolled in an undergraduate law course at University of Phayao and completed her studies in August.

When she told school officials about her sexual reassignment surgery, they said her case would be straightforward. But Nada said she didn’t want surgery to be a precondition for students to dress according to their chosen gender for university photos and graduation.

“I said no, you can’t say that. Gender expression isn’t about genitals. Gender expression is about self-determination,” she said, adding that some transgender students cannot afford expensive surgical procedures.

In late December, her petition was granted. She received her documents in person from school officials last Friday.

“The day I got the documents in my hands, my hands were shaking,” she said. “You finally feel like you have justice in your hands. The documents look simple, but for me… it’s a victory, a victory for my life.”

By Alisa Tang | Reuters

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