คณะสังคมสงเคราะห์ศาสตร์และสวัสดิการสังคม ม.หัวเฉียวเฉลิมพระเกียรติ

  Mitsuteru Nakayama

  Kyoto University Career Support Centre

  Yoshida-Honmachi,

  Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan 
 

  ABSTRACT 

    On 26^th December 2004, the area around Sumatra Island in Indonesia was suddenly struck by a huge earthquake. Because of this great earthquake, many tsunami hit Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and also the faraway continent of Africa. Tsunami killed over 230,000 local people and tourists on the coast. And over 40 Japanese fell victims to the Tsunami disaster (28 have been found dead in Thailand, 12 in Sri Lanka and 2 are still missing) (1).

    Regarding the Japanese victim, the Japanese government didn’t have a direct link with the rescue network of the Chinese charitable organizations in Thailand (2). Among all of the Chinese charitable organizations, the Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation was to act as a leader of the rescue operations during the Tsunami disaster. In Thailand there were not actually any public rescue parties until after the Tsunami disaster. During the tsunami there were excellent private rescue parties by the Chinese charitable organizations in each city, which had been established for a long time. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 rescue workers comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers, in the Bangkok metropolitan area (3). They are a mainly funded through donations from the big Thai-Chinese business groups and also the small and medium-sized local Thai-Chinese business groups, and local citizens. This means that in Thailand there is mainly private rescue system without the need for government subsidies over a long period.

    This paper tries to consider the private rescue system from the Thai point of view compares it to the current situation of Japanese local society, and to consider how we can learn from it. 

           The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation, Rescue Workers,

•  

  Private Rescue Parties 

The two biggest private rescue parties in Thailand 

    Today in Thailand there are excellent private rescue parties funded by the Thai-Chinese charitable organizations which have been established for a long time in each city and province. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 rescue workers comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers, in the Bangkok metropolitan area. They are mainly funded through donations from the Thai-Chinese big business groups and the local Thai-Chinese small and medium-sized business groups, and local citizens. The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation is the biggest charitable organization in Thailand. It has over 2,000 rescue workers comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers. And the Ruamkatanyu Foundation is also one of the biggest charitable organizations in Thailand. There are over 5,000 rescue workers (including over 1,000 in the Bangkok metropolitan area) comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers all over Thailand (4). The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation and the Ruamkatanyu Foundation are the two biggest private rescue parties in Thailand today. 

Figure1. The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation headquarters in China town, Yawarat . Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama 

    The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation has grown considerably in spite of changes of circumstances in Thailand and Southeast area. And it has also developed to establish a strong network of medical facilities and social services in Thai society. In 1991, The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation also started a Poh Teck Tung Foundation University Project with its firm policy being to expand its educational scope to educate young people at the university level. This project coincided with the foundation’s 80^th anniversary (5). On 11^th of May 1992, King Rama Ⅸ graciously granted the university the auspicious name Hua Chiew Chalermprakiet University which is highly meaningful to the overseas Chinese who sought refuge with his majesty in Thai society. Hua Chiew Chalermprakiet University opened officially the next month. On 24^th of March 1994, Founder’s day, the King graciously presided over a ceremony, bestowing a commemorative medallion to the founders and making a generous donation (6). The memorial tree planted by the King on the campus at Hua Chiew Chalermprakiet University on the same day. 

Figure2. The memorial tree planted by the King on the campus at

Hua Chiew Chalermprakiet University. Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama 

Rescue Services Greatly Influenced by Daihonggong’s Philosophy

    On 31^st of December 2006, there were serial bomb explosions in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. These Bombs killed 3 Thais and explosions injured 32 people (including 6 foreign travelers) (7). Even though the Taksin cabinet was overthrown by a military coup and there were explosions in Bangkok, independent travelers are still continuing to visit Thailand from all parts of the world. Thais never lose their self-possession during emergencies. Because in Thailand there are excellent private rescue parties funded by the Thai-Chinese charitable organizations which have been established for a long time in each city. Recently many voluntary independent rescue teams have been set up by local people. This means that in Thailand there is a mainly private rescue system without the need for government subsidies over a long period. The realization of rescue services without the need for government subsidies was greatly influenced by Daihonggong’s philosophy. Daihonggong was a high-ranking priest in the Song Dynasty (to be precise, Northern Song: 960-1127 AD) in China and practiced asceticism for a long period in what is now the Chaoyang district of Guangdong province. The Daihonggong ethic of mercy (one of Daihonggong’s eight virtues) filtered deeply into the heart of Thais and also into the business ethics of the Chaozhou-Chinese managers in Thailand. An overseas Chinese first introduced these ethics to Chinatown in Bangkok by bringing a golden clay figure of Daihonggong from the Chaoyang area in 1896 (8).

    Daihongghong philosophy is one of the regional beliefs from a district in the Chinese countryside. In the past some regional beliefs became widespread beliefs in China. However, Daihongghong philosophy came to Thailand over the Chinese mainland to especially the Bangkok metropolitan area. This was an extremely case. 

Figure3. An original golden clay figure of Daihonggong in the Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation headquarters. Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama

Necessity of Rescue Platform in Thailand 

    On 26^th December 2004, the area around Sumatra Island in Indonesia was suddenly struck by a huge earthquake. Because of this great earthquake, many tsunami hit Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and also the faraway continent of Africa. Tsunami killed over 230,000 local people and tourists on the coast. And over 40 Japanese fell victims to the Tsunami disaster (28 have been found dead in Thailand, 12 in Sri Lanka and 2 are still missing). Regarding the Japanese victims, the Japanese government didn’t have a direct link with the rescue network of the Chinese charitable organizations in Thailand. Among all of the Chinese charitable organizations, the Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation was to act as a leader of the rescue operations during the Tsunami disaster. In Thailand there were not actually any public rescue parties until after the Tsunami disaster. 

Figure4. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 rescue workers comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama 

    Currently, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Academy (DPMA) is training public rescue workers in cooperation with the Japanese government step by step (9). However, there are still a very small number of public rescue workers in Thailand. Private rescue parties dominate rescue activities, especially in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Therefore public rescue workers are restricted in their rescue activities and are in competition with private rescue parties. The mainly private rescue system in Thailand is excellent from an international point of view. Because only private rescue parties normally can’t unify rescue activities all over the country. However, in Thailand there weren’t actually any public rescue parties until after the Tsunami disaster, during the tsunami there were excellent private rescue parties by the Chinese charitable organizations in each city which had been established for a long time. If the Thai people achieve an establishment of a Rescue Platform between private rescue parties and public rescue workers, we will be able to witness the best Rescue Platform from an international point of view. 
 

Insufficient Earthquake-Resistant Construction in the

Traditional Style of an Old Commercial Neighborhood in Tokyo 

    In recent years, the Japanese are in constant fear of big earthquakes at all times. However they don’t have enough rescue volunteers all over Japan. But the government and the private sector are currently working together to promote the “Visit Japan Campaign”, which publicizes Japan’s tourism. This appeals abroad and helps to develop and support tours to Japan, its goal is to bring over 10 million international visitors to Japan by 2010 (10). If over 10 million international visitors to Japan is achieved, the Japanese need to consider how to help them against big earthquakes, especially in urban areas. A lot of young international visitors stay in the Kiyokawa area of Taito-ward and Minami-Senju area of Arakawa-ward (11).  

Figure5. This is the traditional style of an old commercial neighborhood in Tokyo and Osaka. Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama

    Around Kiyokawa and Minami-Senju, the traditional style of an old commercial neighborhood in Tokyo still exists today. Especially Kiyokawa was a hub of day -labourers in the past. Therefore in Kiyokawa many day-labourers’ lodgings remain standing today. Now day-labourers’ lodgings are being used as new lodgings for a lot of young international visitors. Because the number of day-labourers decreased sharply as a result of high economic growth after the Second World War. However, the lodgings’ earthquake-resistance is open to question. Therefore ward officers, owners of day-labourers’ lodgings, and local people should confirm immediately whether new lodgings are safe in the case of earthquakes. 

Possibility a Community Rescue System without the need for Government Subsidies in Japan 

    Because the situation of insufficient earthquake-resistant construction in Kiyokawa, local people need to have safe new earthquake-resistant earthquakes lodgings immediately. And local people also should prepare for establishment of a mainly community rescue system without the need for government subsidies, against big earthquakes in the near future (12).

Figure6.  The Japanese need to prepare for disaster. Photo taken by Mitsuteru Nakayama 

    Especially local small and medium-sized enterprises can contribute their share to the promotion of community rescue activities in their local society. For example, local companies can provide their resources and experience (e.g. provide free transport, offices, and dispatch staff as volunteers) for community rescue activities when a region suffers great damage from a disaster. Each local government is now in a serious financial crisis. Therefore local government doesn’t have the budget to support neighborhood self-governing bodies. The Japanese need to prepare for an emergency in each local community.  

  Conclusions  

    Before and during the Tsunami disaster in Thailand there were excellent private rescue parties by the Chinese charitable organizations in each city, which had been established for a long time. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 rescue workers comprised of mostly volunteers and paid workers in the Bangkok metropolitan area. They are mainly funded through donations from the big Thai-Chinese business groups and also the small and medium-sized local Thai-Chinese business groups, and local citizens. This means that in Thailand there is a mainly private rescue system without the need for government subsidies over a long period. The mainly private rescue system in Thailand is excellent from an international point of view. Because only private rescue parties normally can’t unify rescue activities all over the country. Currently, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Academy (DPMA) trains public rescue workers in cooperation with the Japanese government. However, there are still a very small number of public rescue workers in Thailand. Private rescue parties dominate rescue activities especially in the Bangkok metropolitan area. The Hua Klaw Poh Teck Tung Foundation and the Ruamkatanyu Foundation have been the biggest two private rescue parties in Thailand for a long time.

    If the Thai people achieve the establishment of a Rescue Platform between private rescue parties and public rescue workers, we will be able to witness the best Rescue Platform from an international point of view. Currently, the local government of each country faces a serious financial crisis. Therefore each country should perhaps examine the supporting role of the private sector (e.g. NGO/NPO, a neighborhood self-governing body, and local company) measure for dealing with regional disasters. The Japanese also are in constant fear of big earthquakes at all times. However they don’t do enough preparation for rescue volunteers all over Japan. But the government and the private sector currently are working together to promote the “Visit Japan Campaign”, which publicizes Japan’s tourism. This appeals abroad and helps to develop and support tours to Japan, its goals is to bring over 10 million international visitors to Japan by 2010. If over 10 million international visitors to Japan is achieved, the Japanese need to consider how to help them against big earthquakes, especially in urban areas (e.g. Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka). It is therefore important that the private Thai rescue system is comparable to the current situation in Japanese local society, and important to consider how we can learn from it. To consider the private rescue system from the Thai point of view, local people need to prepare for the establishment of mainly community rescue systems, without the need for government subsidies against big earthquakes. Especially local small and medium-sized enterprises can contribute their share to the promotion of community rescue activities in their local society. Each local government already can’t provide nearly enough budget to ensure neighborhood self-governing autonomy. It is therefore important that the Japanese must stand up in each local community and also provide for an emergency immediately. 
 

Footnote 

1) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), p.70.

2) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), pp.70-71.

3) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), p.16.

4) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), p.18.

5) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2005), p.167.

6) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), pp.31-32.

7) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), p.12.

8) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008c), p.237.

9) Toshiaki Nagashima (2006), pp.78-79.

10) Masahiko Hosokawa (2008), p.189.

11) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), p.110.

12) Mitsuteru Nakayama (2008a), pp.110-111. 
 
 

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