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Thai Monk Slaps Expat on Train: Video Records 'Misunderstanding' Classic
Sunday, December 14, 2014
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L0tkx25tsec
PHUKET: A monk who slapped a tourist across the face on a train ride is likely to face a serious investigation over a verbal ''misunderstanding.''
The monk and the expat - possibly British or Australian - shuffled seating arrangements to make room for two women on the Bangkok to Phitsanulok train on December 7.
The tourist said that he responded at one stage ''ok fine, fine'' but the monk heard the words ''kwai, kwai (buffalo, buffalo, a severe insult in Thai) and slapped the man across the face.
A rail security guard intervened to settle everything down. The foreigner said he couldn't speak Thai and did not know the word for ''buffalo.''
Video of the incident surfaced online over the weekend and attracted a lot of attention. Later, the expat went on video without being identified to say that he loved Thailand and would never insult a monk.
The monk's superiors, meanwhile, said there would be an investigation. The incident is likely to be added to the large and constantly growing chapter headed ''Misunderstandings in Thailand.''
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L0tkx25tsec
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Yep, the good old 'mis-understanding'- use by everyone from the PM down. I believe it covers ten pages of words in the latest Thai-English Thesaurus.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
December 14, 2014 09:25
what happened to the non violence preached by Buddhist (I am Buddhist) he should be disrobed.
Posted by
Michael
on
December 14, 2014 10:16
Editor Comment:
Up to the abbots to decide, Michael.
Seems to me the foreigner has committed the worst crime in flashing a 3 finger salute! Quick, take him down to headquarters and adjust his attitude !
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
December 14, 2014 10:25
Good the tourist did not give his name, as he is called Tom Dundee.
The monk did not only hit him in a clearly non violent manner, but also postured in his face like a real friend of humans. Next life a worm. Sorry.
Posted by
Lena
on
December 14, 2014 11:08
This guy was just on the news on TV saying all was ok and he loved Thailand etc. All is clearly not ok with this monk, resorting to violence for no reason other than he has completely misread what was going on.
This could have easily turned into a serious incident if this man had chosen to fight back. Others may have thought he was attacking a monk and dished out some serious retribution. This attacker is not fit to be a monk, he clearly has issues.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
December 14, 2014 12:12
Editor Comment:
Not a judgement for anyone to make except the abbots. Best leave it to them. Certainly wise not to retaliate, which is true of all violent confrontations.
Mhh, I did try this out with a thai friend, I said 3 times: ok-ok-ok.
I asked the thai friend or that sounded like kwai-kwai-kwai. My thai friend said: certainly not! So, this monk was in everything out of line.
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 14, 2014 13:10
Yes, it is up to this "monk's" abbot to review the behaviour. However, the physical assault remains a criminal matter. It is supposedly a criminal offense to slap people with force and to attempt to provoke a confrontation. Appreciably, the Thai SOP, of one rule for farangs and another for Thais, will ultimately govern the outcome. The event was shameful, and at the very least, the monk should apologize.
Posted by
Ryan
on
December 14, 2014 15:11
Editor Comment:
My understanding is that an assault of this type warrants a 500 baht maximum fine.
"Not a judgement for anyone to make except the abbots"
Nonsense.. Everyone that watches the video can make that make their own mind up on the issue of what 'should' or 'shouldnt' happen. If it will or not is only down to the abbot.
Posted by
LivinLOS
on
December 14, 2014 15:17
Editor Comment:
There are plenty who will offer valueless opinions, LOS. The judgements of the abbots are all that matters.
"Mhh, I did try this out with a thai friend, I said 3 times: ok-ok-ok.
I asked the thai friend or that sounded like kwai-kwai-kwai. My thai friend said: certainly not! So, this monk was in everything out of line."
I believe what happened was he said OK OK I am fine.. The monk misheard that to be Ai Fai another term for buffalo as apposed to the more usual ai kwai.
Posted by
LivinLOS
on
December 14, 2014 15:19
Editor Comment:
Definitely a judgement for the abbots.
Nobody will never know if the monk genuinely believed he had heard " kwai " or if he slapped on a pretext of hearing this word. But the foreigner reacted with wisdom, not anybody would have done the same.
Posted by
Mr Paulus
on
December 14, 2014 16:18
This Monk did go completely out of his religious line. In the framework of AEC 2015 ( next month) his Abbot should not allow a aggresive monk to travel alone. This aggressive thai monk was lucky he bumped into a gentle foreigner. Same way it could have been other less considered foreigners who immediately defrocked him at the spot! Follow up would be unpredictable, of course..But people witnessed. I sometimes talk with thai monks, years(!) Saying ..ok... is never a problem.
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 14, 2014 19:43
Assault definitely is not "up to the abbot" to decide. Common laws apply to monks too, Ed. Are you seriously defending this violent monk?
Posted by
christian
on
December 14, 2014 20:38
Editor Comment:
Are you seriously becoming his judge, christian? If so, you are exceeding your authrity as an anonymous commenter.
Sorry, but had it been me that was slapped and with my PTSD from the war, I would have ripped his robe off and wrapped it around his neck.
Posted by
Randy
on
December 15, 2014 07:15
Editor Comment:
The young man deserves to be commended for his restraint.
The foreigner deserves to be commended for his restraint also because if he had reacted in proportion he might be in jail by now pending the payment of some money, whose amount could be high for him.
Posted by
Mr Paulus
on
December 15, 2014 14:14
I thought Buddhists were not violent people?? I would have punched the monk back so he could meditate until he woke up!
Posted by
Mr Wolf
on
December 20, 2014 13:33
Editor Comment:
Buddhists are not violent people, just as Christians all follow the 10 commandments.
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Yep, the good old 'mis-understanding'- use by everyone from the PM down. I believe it covers ten pages of words in the latest Thai-English Thesaurus.
Posted by Mister Ree on December 14, 2014 09:25