Teenagers advised to talk about disputes, not fight
Thai youths have been urged not to get caught up in the political conflict. Grand Chamberlain Watcharakiti Watcharothai gave the warning at a gathering of youths to honour HM the King at Parliament yesterday.
Watcharakiti gave a speech about the King and Thai children and youths at an event hosted by the Senate Standing Committee on Social Development and Children, Youths, Women, the Elderly, the Disabled and the Underprivileged and related agencies.
He said His Majesty maintained the Tosapitrajatham (10 attributes of a King) and been concerned about and worked hard for the well-being of his subjects, especially educational opportunities. Besides teaching classes long-distance via satellite, the King also provided many scholarships to youths. HM was close to Thai youths, so he urged them to do good deeds to help sustain the country.
Today, amid conflicts and some opposition, people could make up false claims in regard to the King - so he urged the Thai youths to respect His Majesty and his work and not to fall victim or become tools to such situations.
"I believe that all Thais carrying Thai ID cards are loyal to the country and the monarch. I want people to think that way and don't disunite, so all sides should turn to each other and talk," he said, urging youths to think before they act in order to do right and useful things for the country.
Ratchata Sriboonrat, president of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, commented that many youth problems - such as premature pregnancy, addiction to games, street racing or dropping out of school - could be solved with the help of structural reforms.
He said the prime minister seemed sincere about solving social problems and had said this was important. Although he feared related agencies' operations might be less than smooth and may only be able to help solve 30-40 per cent of such problems.
He said he wanted the government to promote alternative and constructive activities for youths. He also urged Thai politicians to improve themselves to be respectable and reliable.
He felt the premier had good ideas and tried his best, but he needed a good team and a lot more support from his party. Disputes among political rivals were nonsense for many youths. And while some misinformed teens might fight others, he urged people of different political colours to discuss problems for the benefit of the majority.
To honour the King's seventh cycle birthday on December 5, 2011, Ratchata said Thai youths could start with something close-to-home and small, such as taking care that they did not become a burden for society, or paying attention in class, adopting a positive outlook, and thinking creatively.
He said the seminar yesterday aimed to get youth representatives to "brain-storm" about community development and activities they could undertake together to show their capabilities.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Senate standing committee warned the government and private sector not to use youths as political or commercial tools.
Yuwadee Nimsomboon commented on the case of 17-year-old Witthawat "Mark V11" Thaokhamlue, who withdrew from True Academy Fantasia Season 7 contest following news of him using rude language to criticise PM Abhisit Vejjajiva on his Facebook page.
She said Witthawat only wanted to express his opinion, which was his right. But he did it without self-restraint or thinking things through and without regard for Thai culture, that doesn't accept the use of rude remarks about elder people. Yuwadee said the social backlash may already have Witthawat reconsidering, so people should give him a second chance.
She criticised the contest producer use of such - by asking audience to vote if they agreed or disagreed with Witthawat, and said all sides should be socially responsible and encourage the affected youth to grow and learn to do the right thing. She also disagreed with the Parliament's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights over its plan to summon Witthawat for information.
She said the premier had forgiven the young man so all sides should not hammer on the issue over and over, as the youth and his family were affected enough - and youths should not be used as a political tool.