{"id":13007,"date":"2015-01-23T21:01:48","date_gmt":"2015-01-24T07:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=13007"},"modified":"2015-01-24T07:35:03","modified_gmt":"2015-01-24T17:35:03","slug":"khaosod-thailand-taxi-association-condemns-no-japanese-passengers-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=13007","title":{"rendered":"Khaosod (Thailand): Taxi Association Condemns ‘No Japanese Passengers’ Sign"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi Blog. Here’s something for the Shoe on the Other Foot Dept.: A “No Japanese Passengers” taxi in Thailand, refusing to take all “Japanese” passengers. There’s even a sign (courtesy of Khaosod English):<\/p>\n

\"ThailtaxiJapaneseOnly012115\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Naturally, Debito.org condemns all exclusionism of this type, and encourages people to challenge it and have these signs and rules repealed. \u00a0We have devoted much cyberspace to recording and archiving the converse, “Japanese Only” signs that exclude all “foreigners”<\/a>\u00a0(that unfortunately have gone largely\u00a0unchallenged in Japan),\u00a0not to mention the occasional “Japanese Only” establishment run for Japanese clientele\u00a0outside of Japan<\/a> (that excludes all “foreigners” in their own country, natch).<\/p>\n

What’s important is how swift and decisive the challenge from society is, and whether it is\u00a0effective. \u00a0In the Thai taxi case below, according to media, the taxi driver (rightly) lost his license to do business at the airport, and quite a furore happened both online and in print media denouncing this act as wrong-headed, even\u00a0racist<\/a>. \u00a0Good. \u00a0A similar furore also happened when a\u00a0hotel in India had “Japanese Only” rules<\/a> (the Indian authorities did\u00a0not brook this kind of discrimination either).<\/p>\n

Now, if only the Japanese authorities would be so decisive about this kind of exclusionism in Japan (as Debito.org has demonstrated over these past twenty years, they generally aren’t<\/a>; they even deny racial discrimination ever happens in Japan<\/a>, quite counterproductively).<\/p>\n

Of course, some hay has been made about this Thai taxi\u00a0on Japanese social media<\/a>, with rightly-deserved (but unironic) condemnations of the “discrimination” against Japanese overseas.<\/p>\n

One last point:\u00a0 Koki Aki, the Japanese gentleman who set this issue in motion by complaining online after\u00a0being ripped off by a Thai cabbie (prompting the cabbie to exclude), subsequently defended himself against trolls who said he must not\u00a0like Thailand: \u00a0“I criticize Thailand, but I don’t hate Thailand.”<\/strong>\u00a0 Well put.\u00a0 Now, if only other debaters\u00a0in Japan’s debate arenas would be so cognizant<\/a>.\u00a0 Dr. ARUDOU, Debito<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

Taxi Association Condemns ‘No Japanese Passengers’ Sign<\/strong>
\n Khaosod English<\/strong>
\n 21 January 2015, Last update at 12:17:00 GMT<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.khaosodenglish.com\/detail.php?newsid=1421819098<\/a>
\nCourtesy of MS and SH<\/strong><\/p>\n

BANGKOK \u2014 A taxi association at Bangkok’s international airport has condemned a cabbie who is reportedly refusing to take Japanese passengers, one day after a Japanese man made headlines with his rant against a driver who refused to turn on his meter at the airport.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A photo widely shared on social media this morning shows a sign posted on a taxi window in English, Japanese, and Thai. The Thai text reads: “No picking up of Japanese passengers.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The notice ends with the text, “From: Association of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Taxi Drivers.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The photo surfaced a day after airport authorities fined a taxi driver 1,000 baht and banned him from picking up passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport for trying to overcharge a Japanese man. The punishment was carried out after the Japanese man’s harsh rebuke of the cab driver, who reportedly demanded a flat-rate of 700 baht for a ride to Bangkok’s Saphan Kwai district, went viral on social media.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, Sadit Jaitiang, director of Association of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Taxi Drivers, told Khaosod in a phone interview that he had nothing to do with the notice, and only found out about the sign from social media today.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“I have not seen the sign with my own eyes, but I have seen photos of it. Let me stress that the Association is not related to such notice in any way,” Sadit said. “Taxi drivers cannot be picky. We cannot choose to take or refuse passengers of certain nationalities. If we do that, we won’t have any money. We have to take care of our families.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sadit said he is looking into who is responsible for sign, and will hold that person accountable if he or she is a member of the airport taxi association.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“As the director of the Association, I condemn this action. The Association wholeheartedly disagrees with it. We are working to find out which driver put up the sign. If we discover that one of our members indeed put up the sign, that person will be held responsible,” Sadit said.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hundreds of Thai internet users have vented anger at the “No Japanese” sign, with some accusing the taxi driver of racism, discrimination, and refusing to obey the regulation. Others have jokingly commented that the driver should stop using a Japanese car.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

Online Complaint Prompts Ban of BKK Airport Cab Driver<\/strong>
\n Khaosod English<\/strong>
\n 20 January 2015, Last update at 15:48:00 GMT<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.khaosodenglish.com\/detail.php?newsid=1421744138<\/a><\/p>\n

BANGKOK \u2014 A taxi driver has been suspended from picking up passengers at Bangkok\u2019s international airport after a Japanese tourist\u2019s complaint about the driver’s refusal to use a meter went viral on social media.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Koki Aki posted on Facebook, in Japanese and Thai, on Sunday that the cab driver assigned to him at Suvarnabhumi Airport refused to use a meter and demanded a flat-rate of 700 baht for a ride to Saphan Kwai district in Bangkok.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Aware that a usual fare for the trip would not cost more than 350 baht, Koki reportedly asked the driver to use the meter, but the driver refused. Koki said he complained to the staff managing the airport\u2019s taxi kiosk system, but was told that it was normal for passengers to negotiate fares with drivers for a long distance trip.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Airport staff say they instructed Aki to file a formal complaint, but that he declined to do so. However, Aki wrote in his Facebook post that it was he who requested to file a complaint, only to be ignored by the staff who “acted like they don’t care about my concern and don’t want to do their job.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“This is the international airport of Thailand, and this is the place to take cabs from the airport, but there are even scams here,” Aki wrote. “They don’t care about the passengers at all. What can we foreigners do?”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Aki’s complaint came at a time when many Bangkokians have been airing grievances about taxi drivers who refuse to pick up them up in downtown Bangkok, preferring to take tourists who can be duped into paying extortionate fares. Tapping into this grief, Aki\u2019s Facebook status soon went viral on Thai social media accounts, garnering more than 15,500 “shares.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Prapon Pattamakijsakul, the director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said he has already launched an investigation into the incident and punished the taxi driver who tried to overcharge the Japanese tourist.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Prapon, the driver, Chaiyan Charoensopha, has been stripped of his license to pick up passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s taxi queue, in accordance with the airport’s regulation and penalty codes.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Taxi drivers must always use their meters in their service,” Prapon said, adding that passengers who encounter any problems should keep the tickets issued by the taxi kiosks as evidence for filing complaints to officials. Complaints can be filed by calling 02-132-9199 at any time of day, he said.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Prapon also told reporters that there are 35 complaints about taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport on average per month, which amounts to 0.01 per cent of all rides.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Nevertheless, if the airport authorities investigate these complaints and discover that the drivers are guilty, we punish every one of them strictly without any exception,” Prapon said. “Therefore, the airport would like to ask everyone to file a complaint if they ever see a taxi driver behaving inappropriately, such as refusing to use meters, being rude, or refusing to take passengers.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Teerapong Rodprasert, director of the Department of Land Transport, said Chaiyan, the taxi driver, confessed to the allegation and was fined 1,000 baht for violating the department’s taxi regulation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“We didn’t suspend his driving license because he committed the offence for the first time,” Teerapong said. “So we recorded his wrongdoing into the database and sent him to participate in a lecture about service mentality for four hours.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

After his complaint was publicized by a number of Thai media outlets, Aki wrote yesterday that he was “very surprised” to see such a reaction. He explained in another Facebook post that he has been regularly visiting Thailand for the last 10 years and even knows how to write in Thai.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Many Thais sent messages to my inbox … Most of the comments say “I apologize on behalf of my fellow Thai,” or “Please don’t forget that not all Thais are bad,”” Aki wrote. “These comments, I feel that they are comments from the Thai people with sincere hearts. I am very glad to hear them. I don’t want you to misunderstand me. I criticize Thailand, but I don’t hate Thailand.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

ENDS
\n\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

BTW, more on the case and who Koki Aki is (somebody with quite a lot of experience in Thailand) courtesy of the Bangkok Post at\u00a0http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/learning\/learning-from-news\/458379\/airport-complaint-gets-results<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s something for the Shoe on the Other Foot Dept.: A “No Japanese Passengers” taxi in Thailand, refusing to take all “Japanese” passengers (sign courtesy of Khaosod English). Naturally, Debito.org condemns all exclusionism of this type, and encourages people to challenge it and have these signs and rules repealed. We have devoted much cyberspace to recording and archiving the converse, “Japanese Only” signs that exclude all “foreigners” (that unfortunately have gone largely unchallenged in Japan). not to mention the occasional “Japanese Only” establishment run for Japanese clientele outside of Japan (that excludes all “foreigners” in their own country, natch).<\/p>\n

What’s important is how swift and decisive the challenge from society is, and whether it is effective. In the Thai taxi case below, according to media, the taxi driver (rightly) lost his license to do business at the airport, and quite a furore happened both online and in print media denouncing this act as wrong-headed, even racist. Good. A similar furore also happened when a hotel in India had “Japanese Only” rules (the Indian authorities did not brook this kind of discrimination either).<\/p>\n

Now, if only the Japanese authorities would be so decisive about this kind of exclusionism in Japan (as Debito.org has demonstrated over these past twenty years, they generally aren’t; they even deny racial discrimination ever happens in Japan, quite counterproductively). Of course, some hay has been made about this Thai taxi on Japanese social media, with rightly-deserved (but unironic) condemnations of the “discrimination” against Japanese overseas.<\/p>\n

One last point: Koki Aki, the Japanese gentleman who set this issue in motion by complaining online after being ripped off by a Thai cabbie (prompting the cabbie to exclude), subsequently defended himself against trolls who said he must not like Thailand: “I criticize Thailand, but I don’t hate Thailand.” Well put. Now, if only other debaters in Japan’s debate arenas would be so cognizant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,28,34,35,5,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pinprick-protests","category-anti-discrimination-templates","category-exclusionism","category-good-news","category-human-rights","category-shoe-on-the-other-foot-dept"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13007\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}