Thai tourist police targeting 'coloreds'

[kendo]

I don't really like the old fashioned term of colored. I also think genralizing on opposites is not really the issue. The authority's have targeted an ethnic group let's say Nigirans, that are well known the world over for bring scammers, fraudsters, drug dealers and traffickers. So you are now thinking Kendo's racist but in my opinion the authority's have the right to target any ethnic group or individual they may suspect of criminal activity, at the end of the day if you are a legitimate tourist you have nothing to worry about. Is it really any different to stop and search powers back here.
In that picture the guy with the canabis t-shirt on is asking to be searched.

[caller]

Then why publicise their plans?

[dtaai-maai]

I don't really like the old fashioned term of colored. I also think genralizing on opposites is not really the issue. The authority's have targeted an ethnic group let's say Nigirans, that are well known the world over for bring scammers, fraudsters, drug dealers and traffickers. So you are now thinking Kendo's racist but in my opinion the authority's have the right to target any ethnic group or individual they may suspect of criminal activity, at the end of the day if you are a legitimate tourist you have nothing to worry about. Is it really any different to stop and search powers back here.
In that picture the guy with the canabis t-shirt on is asking to be searched.

I've read some nonsense in my time, but this just about takes the biscuit.

1. "I don't really like the old fashioned term of colored"
It's already been explained that the term does not have the same implications in Thai as it does in English, and besides, unless you're being described by the term, your opinion doesn't really count.

2. "I also think genralizing on opposites is not really the issue."
No idea what you mean.

3. The authority's have targeted an ethnic group let's say Nigirans
Nigerians are not an ethnic group, they share the same nationality. There are 100s of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

4. "the authority's have the right to target any ethnic group or individual they may suspect of criminal activity"
Of course they have the right to target an individual, or even an organised group of individuals, but how can you possibly suspect an entire ethnic group of criminal activity?

5. "If you're not a [insert category here -criminal/terrorist/illegal immigrant,etc.], you have nothing to worry about."
Oh please...

6. "Is it really any different to stop and search powers back here?"
And that hasn't led to a shedload of controversy and problems, has it? It's actually quite a bit different, as stop & search in the UK is subject to all sorts of rules and rights that I doubt the Thai police are constrained by.

7. "So you are now thinking Kendo's racist"
Nope, merely that he doesn't know what he's talking about.


I'm sorry to be quite so blunt, kendo, but pretty much every word you wrote is the sort of crap I used to hear at work and in the pub for 20 years in the UK. I normally let it wash over me these days, but at 4.30 after not enough sleep that simply can't be done.

Racial profiling is necessary sometimes in law enforcement, and often inevitable, but it mustn't develop into stereotyping. When you work in a field like that, many (most) of the people you encounter are from the seedier levels of society. The danger lies in forgetting that you are dealing with an unrepresentative minority and extending your experience to an entire nationality (or ethnic or religious group). It is quite simply WRONG!

But let's look at the specific issue at hand - Thai police dealing with Africans in Bangkok. Let's say there are several hundred Africans in Bangkok (a city of several million); let's go on to assume that a majority of these Africans are involved to some degree in criminal activity of some kind. So far, so good, but don't forget that this leaves a substantial minority who are living normal, law-abiding, productive lives. How do you (as a police force) deal with it? There are a number of alternatives: the easiest and most obvious is to start from an immigration standpoint - check their status, and if they're in breach of the rules somehow, which most of the criminal fraternity will be, kick 'em out. What you can't do is simply round up every black face you see and start treating them all as criminals.

Enough... <wipes brow>

[Takiap]

In that picture the guy with the canabis t-shirt on is asking to be searched.

Unless the police have "real" reason to believe you are or have been involved in a crime, they should actually have no right to stop and search you. Sorry, but this whole stop and search thing stinks of apartheid-era South Africa.

Can you just imagine how people would react if the Thai police suddenly decide to stop and search all foreigners? Maybe the MIB should stop worrying about trying to bust those people who have used drugs, and instead go after those who are making and selling. Thailand's biggest drug problem is Yaba, and I seriously doubt that the Nigerians have a big slice of that market. I could be wrong of course.

[Big Boy]

Can you just imagine how people would react if the Thai police suddenly decide to stop and search all foreigners?

Is that not precisely what they had been doing in Bangkok until just recently?

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, and what a hullabaloo there was!

[richard]

[quote="Takiap" Maybe the MIB should stop worrying about trying to bust those people who have used drugs, and instead go after those who are making and selling. [/quote]

Sorry, had to laugh at that statement Takiap

They would end up chasing their tails. I know for a fact that many Yaba and Meth users in Isaan villages buy their hit from local policemen. Local police occasionally bust a real dealer so after a bit of a spanking his wares are confiscated and redistributed by MIB (for tea money of course)

[kendo]

I don't really like the old fashioned term of colored. I also think generalizing on opposites is not really the issue. The authority's have targeted an ethnic group let's say Nigerians, that are well known the world over for bring scammers, fraudsters, drug dealers and traffickers. So you are now thinking Kendo's racist but in my opinion the authority's have the right to target any ethnic group or individual they may suspect of criminal activity, at the end of the day if you are a legitimate tourist you have nothing to worry about. Is it really any different to stop and search powers back here.
In that picture the guy with the cannabis t-shirt on is asking to be searched.

Ok DM from the Open post from Terry

Saying they were acting on complaints of black people abusing drugs and “deceiving Thai women,” over 80 police officers were sent to hunt down and round up the darker-skinned people found around Sukhumvit sois 3 to 13, Petchaburi and Ratchaprarop roads.

I've read some nonsense in my time, but this just about takes the biscuit.

Can't quite see why are you drinking a cupa tea.

1. "I don't really like the old fashioned term of colored"
It's already been explained that the term does not have the same implications in Thai as it does in English, and besides, unless you're being described by the term, your opinion doesn't really count.

Err, yes my opinion does count just as much as yours or anyone else's for that matter, also old fashioned stereotyping i don't really like have many ethnically diverse friends and work colleagues not to mention the fact i have a black Thai wife from issan that has lived in the UK with me for nine years. I hope you like my terminology and thats not all WRONG. i am also fully aware of the difference in the meaning of colored between Thai and English


2. "I also think generalizing on opposites is not really the issue."
No idea what you mean.

Well DM, if you had read up posts i.e Rich vs Poor or Beautiful ignore Ugly or City Dwellers don't like Peasants.

3. The authority's have targeted an ethnic group let's say Nigerians
Nigerians are not an ethnic group, they share the same nationality. There are 100s of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Ok point taken on that but i was making an example of a nationality from Africa that also has a worldwide reputation for scamming ( i am not being racist or judgemental on the whole population or there expat community in Thailand or Asia on the whole) That would be so WRONG DM.

4. "the authority's have the right to target any ethnic group or individual they may suspect of criminal activity"
Of course they have the right to target an individual, or even an organised group of individuals, but how can you possibly suspect an entire ethnic group of criminal activity?

Err nit picking DM read the paste up page from the open poster.

5. "If you're not a [insert category here -criminal/terrorist/illegal immigrant,etc.], you have nothing to worry about."
Oh please...

Thats a vary valid comment.

6. "Is it really any different to stop and search powers back here?"
And that hasn't led to a shedload of controversy and problems, has it? It's actually quite a bit different, as stop & search in the UK is subject to all sorts of rules and rights that I doubt the Thai police are constrained by.

Correct DM you are right but its Thailand so you should respect there laws customs and culture even if its very different or right or wrong from ours.

7. "So you are now thinking Kendo's racist"
Nope, merely that he doesn't know what he's talking about.

If thats your opinion fine by me DM.


I'm sorry to be quite so blunt, kendo, but pretty much every word you wrote is the sort of crap I used to hear at work and in the pub for 20 years in the UK. I normally let it wash over me these days, but at 4.30 after not enough sleep that simply can't be done.

Racial profiling is necessary sometimes in law enforcement, and often inevitable, but it mustn't develop into stereotyping. When you work in a field like that, many (most) of the people you encounter are from the seedier levels of society. The danger lies in forgetting that you are dealing with an unrepresentative minority and extending your experience to an entire nationality (or ethnic or religious group). It is quite simply WRONG!

But let's look at the specific issue at hand - Thai police dealing with Africans in Bangkok. Let's say there are several hundred Africans in Bangkok (a city of several million); let's go on to assume that a majority of these Africans are involved to some degree in criminal activity of some kind. So far, so good, but don't forget that this leaves a substantial minority who are living normal, law-abiding, productive lives. How do you (as a police force) deal with it? There are a number of alternatives: the easiest and most obvious is to start from an immigration standpoint - check their status, and if they're in breach of the rules somehow, which most of the criminal fraternity will be, kick 'em out. What you can't do is simply round up every black face you see and start treating them all as criminals.

Enough... <wipes brow>

Ok DM so the POLICE get complaints about a particular ethnic or ethnics groups from Africa in a specific area of Bangkok i.e soi's 3-13 and the complaints are of the nature of drug misuse, dealing and scamming the local lady's. So the the Police get off their backsides and actually (gasp) do some policing that they are employed to do shock horror.
Any ethnic groups in most cities around the world will socialize within their groups and stand out in places like Bangkok also the locals will notice any criminal MO with them not realizing it's about accept and benefit from it in one way or another. I can spot, and i hope the Thai police can spot anyone under the influence from meters away. Foreigners in places like Bangkok stand out so much more without them realizing it because they are overwhelmed by the sense of there very different surrounding.

The original journalistic article maybe just bluster or poor journalistic skills with culture difference.

Enough... wipe brow twice after driving a crane all night 6.06am