Long live Khao tom!

[pattaya127]

words of wisdom from The Nation editorial page:

HARD TALK : Today 'khaotom', tomorrow the world

Published on Sep 4, 2001

 

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun has taken a lot of heat for his high-profile crusade to clamp down on entertainment places flouting the law on closing times. Even the rank-and-file within his Thai Rak Thai Party are crying foul over what they see as his draconian approach.

But Purachai apparently didn't expect his own boss, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to join the dissenting chorus.

There have been mixed reactions to Purachai's so-called "new social order" - an attempt at cleaning up an array of social vices ranging from drug trafficking and prostitution to night-life excesses.

In all fairness, the academic-turned-politician deserves kudos for having the courage to do what his predecessors had failed to do.

Unfortunately, what should have a noble cause has been sidetracked by his unbending zeal to deal with the least troublesome aspect of his "social order".

Instead of putting his energy into the more serious problems facing society - like drugs and other types of crime - the interior minister is directing his campaign at entertainment places.

Purachai's concern over juvenile delinquency is, of course, appreciated.

Nobody faults him for wanting entertainment places to strictly deny admission to the under-aged. Parents give him their whole-hearted support.

But it is entirely a different matter once Purachai starts telling people how to live their night life. His "new social order" suddenly has the familiar ring of an authoritarian society.

His order for all roadside khaotom shops to stop serving liquor after midnight was the last straw.

We have yet to hear an explanation from Purachai how khaotom shops - the only places where people can get a decent meal after night-shift work - fit into his "new social order".

First of all, khaotom shops have never had problems with drugs. And they definitely are not places where teenagers would want to hang out.

Purachai and his advisers may not have to go to khaotom shops for late-night meals because they probably have better places to go.

But don't forget that khaotom shops are the only places where people with average income can unwind. Why take away people's hard-earned fun?

Then his war with entertainment places over their closing time is also misplaced and out of tune with economic reality.

It should have dawned on Purachai by now that strict enforcement of closing time is not just a matter of rules and regulations. It is now more about people's livelihood.

Tens of thousands of people who are directly employed by these entertainment places are among the first casualties. Tens of thousands of others benefiting from the sidelines are also being affected.

The interior minister is not only taking fun out of people's lives, but more importantly he is denying a large number of people their only decent jobs.

Just imagine the impact on them and their families under the present economic conditions.

Purachai can enforce his "new social order" without having to worry about whether khaotom shops stop serving alcohol after midnight or entertainment places close the door at 2am.

He only needs to put pressure on police to conduct constant checks to make sure that entertainment places are free of drugs and that no under-aged are admitted.

He knows too well that police have in the past turned a blind to these problems.

It's unfortunate that Purachai's intentions have gone too far and inevitably become politicised when politicians in the Thai Rak Thai Party find ammunition from the outcry over his campaign to get back at him.

Party adviser Snoh Thienthong took Purachai to task and pressured Prime Minister Thaksin to rein in the interior minister.

Purachai may be frustrated that people who should be supporting him are taking the opposite stand.

But listening to other people's opinions is what democracy is all about.

Purachai started off on the right track with his campaign to weed out some of the root causes of social ills this society is facing. But he must know his priorities.

Combating crime to ensure public safety should be the top priority in bringing out a social order.

And this is where Purachai must demonstrate his decisiveness without compromise.

He should leave all the khaotom shops and entertainment venues alone for the time being and concentrate on where his energy is needed. He doesn't need Thaksin or Snoh to tell him what his priorities should be.

[Sukhumvit]

If the heavy handed stance towards night time venues continues then it will drive things underground and potentially make things worse. Speakeasys will sprout up all over with little or no policing. This will result in increased gangsterism with all the problems that entails. Just look at the example of alcohol prohibition in the States. If anything, prohibition made the American mafia the force it became.