A full version of the BKK Post report about Tok Khiaw
Sandy Cruden
for loans.
Source "A green harvest of a different kind" by Kamol Hengkietisak
written in Bangkok Post: March 20, 1994
The term had been used extensively for decades as a symbol of the
farmers' hardship. It was often the case that most farmers did not have
enough to sustain themselves while waiting for their paddy to mature
enough for harvest. So they pledged their green paddy in the field to
the local money men, usually rice millers, as a mortgage in return for
a sum of money at a very deep discount, often up to 50 percent of the
actual value of the harvest.
Recently the term `tok khiew' has acquired a new sinister meaning.
Instead of pledging green paddy, farmers pledge their young daughters,
often 12-13 years old, to the procurers in return for money or other
material things such as houses or pick-up trucks. The young girls may
be pledged when they are still in school or as young as Prathom 5
(grade 5). When they finish the compulsory Prathom 6, these young girls
will be sent to serve the flesh market in Bangkok or other major
provinces, including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hat Yai and Phuket.
They have to work as prostitutes in brothels, or any other disguised
brothels such as short-time hotels, restaurants, tea-houses, massage
parlours, cocktail lounges, membership clubs, and karaoke bars for a
number of years to pay off their (parents') debts.
Recognising that Thailand will never be able to rid itself of the
problem of prostitution, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai nevertheless,
insisted very early in his term that he would like to see the problem
of child prostitution licked during his administration. "I understand
that it is near-impossible to get rid of prostitution in this country
due to several reasons, but at least we can do something about child
prostitution. "My government will never tolerate child prostitution,
and those government officials who fail to carry out this policy will
be harshly dealt with," vowed Chuan. Interior Minister Gen Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh echoed Chuan's remarks and warned police officers to
urgently tackle the problems or else face disciplinary action.
Seeing their superiors were serious about the child prostitution
problem, the police began to crack down on child prostitutes. Those
prostitutes who did not have ID cards would face arrest, and if they
were aliens usually Burmese or Chinese they would face deportation. In
this country, every Thai citizen has to register for a National
Identity Card when they turn 15. So if a prostitute does not have an
ID, she is considered a child or an alien. Either way, she can no
longer work openly as a prostitute.
Chuan did specify the age of a child prostitute, but the police seem to
consider 15 as the minimum acceptable age as the National I.D. Card
bestows the title of `Nai' or "Mr" for males and `Nang Sao' or "Miss"
for female card-holders. Below the age of 15, a boy is known as `Dek
Chai' and a girl has the title of `Dek Ying'.
>From a legal standpoint, 13 is considered the minimum age that a child
can be engaged in sex with a partner if his or her parent consents.
Eighteen is the minimum age of consent without parental approval. So a
paedophile (one who is sexually attracted to children) can engage in
sex with a child prostitute with no punishment if the child is at least
13 years old. As 15 is the most convenient age for checking the age of
child prostitutes, police often raid entertainment places and check the
ID cards of those girls who work there.
Police raids were carried out quite often when Chuan first made his
policy stance and died down as time went by. The raids began to pick up
again when Pol Gen Pratin Santiprabhob was appointed acting police
director-general in November, and was again intensified when the new
police restructuring went into force in late January. When it seemed to
die down, the issue of police kickbacks in Chon Buri rekindled the
flame and the police began to conduct raids of various entertainment
places again to check for child prostitutes.
For the past month, the issue of `tok khiew' began to emerge
officially. On February 17, there was a meeting at the Ministry of
Labour and Social Welfare attended by several government agencies and
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the problems of prostitution
and the trade of human flesh. Arthorn Chanthavimol, deputy permanent
secretary of Education, revealed that after April 15, the traditional
Thai New Year, there will be a new batch of girls entering the flesh
trade as the newcomers will follow the senior prostitutes when they
visit home. Arthorn said that there are about 1,000-1,500 young girls
from Chiang Rai likely to enter the oldest profession, approximately
1,000 from Phayao and some more from other provinces. "The ministry has
figures as compiled by our teachers that tell us that already there are
over 2,000 young girls who are already pledged [tok khiew].
These young girls are only 13-14 years old. They are completing Prathom
6 and some of them were pledged when they were still in Prathom 5," he
said. Laddawan Wongsriwong, a woman MP and native of Phayao Province,
admitted the problem of `tok khiew' is very widespread in the North,
including Phayao. "When a girl was born into a family, there would be a
celebration because the girl, especially if she is good-looking, will
bring wealth and prosperity into the family," she said, acknowledging
that the problem has been going on for a long time. "The procurers are
getting sophisticated. They usually have an agent within a village who
will act as a middleman, but more likely the agent is a woman who is a
former prostitute herself. The agent will approach a family with pretty
young girls who are still in school. They may even offer to build
houses or give a pick-up truck as an advance for the very pretty ones,"
she said during a recent TV programme highlighting the issue.
Siriphorn Panyasen, a noted social worker from Lampang, said that the
problem of `tok khiew' was not easy to solve as senior prostitutes were
often recruiters and that parents of the young girls enjoy the
luxurious lives brought on by their children's sex labour. "Instead of
thinking that it is morally wrong, they [young girls] think only of
gaining material comforts that their bodies can bring for them and
their family," she said, adding that girls are taught to obey their
parents and would be considered a good child if she can repay her
upbringing. Samphan Thongsamak, minister of Education, said that apart
from poverty, `tok khiew' could be attributed to copycat fashion as
young girls saw some successful prostitutes coming home with riches.
"Those who are not successful and/or catch dreaded diseases such as
Aids would keep quiet," he said while presiding over the ceremony to
expand educational opportunities in Chiang Rai on Thursday.
Pol Lt Gen Prasarn Wongyai, commissioner of Police Region 5, revealed
that the agent would `tok khiew' in the form of personal loan contract
while girls are still in school. The police could not do anything as
the loan contract is not illegal.
Another method is to marry the young girls and then sell them as
prostitutes in Bangkok, but this method works only once as most rural
folks are now aware of such a trick, he said. However, Pol Lt Gen
Prasarn discounted press report that some policemen are `tok khiew'
agents themselves. "Tell me who and I will punish them harshly," he
said.
Asst Prof Napaporn Thavanond from Chulalongkorn University, during the
TV programme "To the Point" last Monday, said that people should not
judge those parents who sell their daughters from a high moral ground
as they did not have much opportunity in their lives. "In my research,
rural folks now don't love rural ways of life as agriculture only
brings on mounting debt. For this reason, `tok khiew' is understandable
if a family wants to have a better material life," she said. Boonserm
Thavornkul, Chart Thai MP from Phichit, blamed the system which allowed
local moneymen to charge astronomical interest rates which forced most
farmers into heavy debt, the only way they could get rid of these debts
was to sell their daughters for prostitution.
On the same TV panel, Saphasit Khumpraphan of the Children Foundation,
said that the problem of `tok khiew' cannot be attributed to the supply
problem alone. Demand should also be considered as the main cause. "If
there is no demand for child prostitutes, do you think these young
girls can sell their bodies?" he asked. Arthorn Chanthavimol, who was
the first to raise the `tok khiew' issue officially, said that the NGOs
and Chiang Mai University are trying to solve the `tok khiew' problem
by giving scholarships to young girls to continue their secondary
education for three more years. The amount is 3,000 baht per head. The
target is 1,000 potential young prostitutes. Yet he conceded this
amount was not enough. "10,000 baht is more realistic. I think the
government should invest by helping these 2,000 young girls at the tune
of only 20 million baht a year, which will be cheaper than paying for
Aids treatment in the future." MP Laddawan agreed that more
scholarships are needed for young girls' families. But they should be
supplemented by occupational training. "I have helped set up women's
sewing cooperatives in Phayao. Young girls will be trained to make
clothes, and we try to find orders for regular employment," she said.
However, she conceded that her job was not easy. "When I went door to
door to explain the evils of `tok khiew' I was often met with a hostile
reception from certain families who are getting rich from selling their
daughters. "I was even threatened by these families that they would not
vote for me during the next election as they thought that I caused them
to lose face," said the MP who garnered the largest vote in the
province. "But I am ready to lose a few thousand votes as I don't want
my province to be known as the supplier of young girls for child
prostitution," she said, adding that more and more families are
beginning to understand her sincerity in trying to help them.
MP Boonserm said the Government should help get rid of farmers' debts
and provide them with low-interest loans. He also urged the government
set up more training centres and industrial estates in the provinces.
Saphasit said the solution must begin with the patrons. He advocated
allowing guest workers from Burma to bring their wives along so that
they do not have to rely on prostitutes.
For foreign tourists, the TAT should make sure that no travel agents
supply any details on prostitution to their customers. Saphasit
reserved the harshest criticism for the lifestyles of Thai men who
frequent brothels either directly or disguised as entertainment places
such as cafes, membership clubs, or karaoke bars. "We should inculcate
the young men with an attitude of 'the New Generation Won't Patronise
Prostitutes'. Support groups should be created in universities to
change the attitude of having sex with prostitutes as part of an
initiation rite. "For the attitude change to be successful, `Phu Yai'
[elders] must set an example, especially senior government officials,"
he said.
Asst Prof Naphaphorn said `tok khiew' exists because of the network.
The only way to break up the network is to get rid of the agent. "Even
in schools, some students themselves act as agents, supplying young
girls to clients who are waiting in hotels. The young girls are not
professional but want pocket money to have fun in pubs and dance halls.
"If there are no agents, they could not become prostitutes as they
don't know the route, however much they are willing," she said.
Naphaphorn agreed with social pressure measures. "We should start
condemning those who frequent child prostitutes, starting with friends
or close associates," she said. Naphaphorn also advocated creating jobs
in rural areas and expanding educational opportunities three more
years. Minister Samphan believes in extending education as one of the
preventive measures. While in Chiang Rai on Thursday, he requested the
cooperation of respected monks in urging parents to continue their
children's' education three more years. He also urged the police to
take strong measures against `tok khiew' agents who are well-known
locally. Samphan also urged monks to stop praising young prostitutes
when they return home temporarily to make `khatin' (annual) merits, as
this continuing praise sets a bad example. The minister even proposed
bringing parents of potential `tok khiew' to come to Bangkok to witness
with their own eyes the real conditions in brothels, tea houses and
bars. Saphasit of the Children Foundation said that the problem of `tok
khiew' was not easy to solve as long as the tradition of selling
daughters continues. "It's no use rescuing the girls and bailing them
out if their mothers continue to sell them back to the procurers," he
said sadly.
Source "A green harvest of a different kind" by Kamol Hengkietisak
written in Bangkok Post: March 20, 1994
*************************************************
This is an old Bkk Post report but it explains very clearly how Tok
Khiaw works.
As I have already posted it's still going on, but the Authorities,
under extreme pressure from Bangkok are stamping it out. IIRC one
father and mother who sold their daughter to a brothel were jailed for
a long stretch.
Sandy
Huay Khwaang
Somchai
Somchai
Carlos
news:1126794870.7...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
<a very sad stry snipped>
Dear Sandy,
I never heard of this before.
Thank you very much for posting this.
After reading the posted articles about babies being sold or kidnapped,
killed and their bodies been filled with drugs for a few Baht,
After reading the recent stories about mothers and aunts sellng 8 years old
children for sex,
After reading this story about parents who sell their "Tok Khiaw" for a
pick-up,
I'm the one who is "sick and disgusted".
What is khun Noi's opinion on this "other" side of Thailand?
Regards,
Carlos
Regards,
Carlos
Takin Gthepiss
"Carlos" <what's_in_...@hotmail.com> confessed to the group
> I'm the one who is "sick
**Yes Karlos, I know!!! :-)
> and disgusted".
**But not as disgusted as I was when I read that disgusting revolting post
of yours telling us about how your wife Kanoknuan was going to cut your
toenails.
--
"Yep, I use to fuck some of them [ladyboys] in their arse from time to
time." - Karlos (Yamamoto).
Noi
Carlos wrote:
> "Sandy Cruden" <scr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1126794870.7...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> <a very sad stry snipped>
>
> Dear Sandy,
>
> I never heard of this before.
> Thank you very much for posting this.
>
> After reading the posted articles about babies being sold or kidnapped,
> killed and their bodies been filled with drugs for a few Baht,
>
> After reading the recent stories about mothers and aunts sellng 8 years old
> children for sex,
>
> After reading this story about parents who sell their "Tok Khiaw" for a
> pick-up,
>
> I'm the one who is "sick and disgusted".
>
> What is khun Noi's opinion on this "other" side of Thailand?
Khun Carlos:
My view regarding this issue has never changed. As I wrote previously,
when the immoral act is never an option then the only option you have
is honest hard work, to persevere and to and live within your means.
What is so interesting about this article is how the so called
"experts" come up with all sorts of ideas to remedy this ugly side of
Thai society. All of them were only dealing with how to "treat" the
symptom, instead of dealing with the root cause of it.
The root cause of it is the lack of moral values. Moral values are our
beliefs in what is important in our lives. Moreover, because we cannot
have it "all" therefore, we must set our priorities which involve
making choices. This leads to value conflicts, in the case of this ugly
side of Thai society; these parents choose and value materials success
instead of integrity, respect, caring, and justice values.
Regards,
Noi
Carlos
news:1126827518.6...@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
No reply.
(subject is to subtle to make a comment)
Regards,
Carlos
Takin Gthepiss
stumbled in message news:4311face...@news.free.fr... (where the fuck is
free france)...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Boring.................
Too bookish, you old senile goat from France.
Get lost and go play with your "boules" somewhere in the streets of France.
Or give us news about what you know the best, "the Thai numbers".
55555555555555555555555555555555
Or maybe your Chinese whore?
Now, that's something interesting for a change.
How is her AIDS going on?
Does she have already huge ugly spots on her ugly face?
Come on, dont be shy.
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