Thailand’s Problem with Prostitution
The 2nd of seven episodes
Some Moments I Can Remember, showing how J.O. was a mafia man.
Johnny and I being taken to a local rugby game by his grand-dad. While J.O. parked his Armstrong Siddeley car, we dutifully queued up for tickets to the field. He called us over and bypassed the queue. Johnny’s granddad just said “J.O.Williams, J.O.Williams” as we all walked through the turnstiles unchallenged.
After watching the game, we all went into the directors’ box for lunch.
“I’ve got a banger. I’ve got a banger.”
At a bonfire night party, Uncle John running through the crowd with a lighted firework in his hand, throwing it only seconds before it went off. Johnny and I were scared stiff. The J.O. family often invited friends and locals to festivities such as this. Although the family did not make close friends outside their circle, they were happy to put on events to which villagers were warmly welcomed and made to feel at ease.
“I don’t want the fish. We only need chips” Johnny’s parents took Johnny and I for a weekend break in their campervan. “Lofty” Illsley, Johnny’s Dad, went to the local fish and chip shop to get some chips to accompany the fish that Doreen Illsley had prepared. They wouldn’t serve him chips on their own. So, he paid for the fish and chips and threw the fish away!
Does this tell us anything about mafia families? I think it does.
The rugby game incident showed J.O.’s supreme confidence and realisation of his powerful godfather position. He commanded and received respect.
Uncle John, and the rest of the family, showed how a mafia family creates a presence within a community without getting overly involved. Still, they come across in a friendly and positive way. The family gains respect because people know would be helped if they asked.
“Lofty”, by just throwing the fish away showed, in a curious way, a steadfastness and unwavering of purpose. Totally confident in himself. All are mafia traits.
This is how mafias are run in the everyday world. They are businesses like any other. As we see in Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather”, the methods used were sometimes justified in order to keep the family’s reputation and respect intact against what they saw as an unfair society run by a rich establishment that only looked after their own interests.
Conclusion.
In the context of the J.O.Williams family and my personal observations and experiences, I see a mafia as a benevolent dictatorship run essentially as a “family” concern. The violence has been overplayed. The only deaths in this true story were that of three family members of J.O.’s family in the 1940 fire, and they were probably committed by the loggers who had grievances over working conditions. They took the law into their own hands. That in itself is a typical mafia strategy.
J.O. wanted to create a wealthy and powerful family. There is no evidence that he ever used violence. He was, as far as I am aware, not involved in drug smuggling, protection rackets, human trafficking, illegal gambling, bootlegging, or the other oft-quoted activities of mafias. It’s not illegal to outwit international governments and make a great deal of money doing so.
Provided that you showed him respect, J.O. would be benevolent towards you and you would be regarded as a member of his extended family. Although he was open to discussion and would listen, his decisions were final. J.O. Williams saw the crookedness and unfairness of much in society. He knew and experienced at first hand the corruption, bias, and self-serving of the political and judicial establishment.
He had a sharp business-like and analytical mind and a gift for clear thinking. He did things his way. J.O. did not suffer fools gladly. He outclassed most people with whom he came into contact.
We think of mafia as a corrupt organised crime family, not following the law as we know it. In that sense, mafias are examples of a dysfunctional and broken system. The mafia businesses themselves, of course, have a different view. To them, it is the establishment, the government, which is corrupt and dysfunctional.
As portrayed in film, we are told that they are violent crocked criminals with no redeeming features. We need to view them in a different perspective when reading the narrative of the J.O.Williams family.
Some perspectives of what a mafia is like in other countries, including Thailand.
Thais are fully aware that there are mafias in their country but do not openly call them by that name. They talk of them as organisations that are corrupt and cheat other people.
There is no stigma in being called a mafia man. In fact, the Thai for a mafia godfather is poo mee ithipon, a man of respect. Having respect for those better than oneself in the hierarchy are cultural traits of the Thai.
Bribes in Thailand
Thailand has a more layback attitude. (Mai pen rai and avoiding open conflict are cultural traits).
If a small bribe or gift can make the machinery of bureaucracy move more quickly Thais will do it. Bribes are regarded as part of one’s salary or a job perk. Big international corporations and politicians in Thailand are accused of giving large sums to secure lucrative contracts. Although not a purely Thai phenomenon, it has been present throughout Thai history and is culturally accepted in the Far East.
There are mafias in Singapore despite the country having a reputation for zero tolerance towards corruption. You cannot bribe your way out of a traffic offence. Even with the lowest rate of corruption in South East Asia, organised crime is accepted as an inevitable way of life that cannot be changed.
The Western Mindset.
In the West, corruption is seen as wrong and unacceptable. That does not stop some politicians and business owners in the West indulging in the practice. Lobbyists giving “cash for questions” in parliament to sway the opinions of governments elected by the voters who put them into power? Expensive all-in holidays for the business leaders whose favours are being sought?
The question is not whether corruption exists or should exist. The question is whether it should be seen as acceptable in a nation’s culture. And if it is accepted, to what extent? Should only “minor” corruptions be allowed? And who makes that decision?
Fear or Respect?
I do not think Thais live in fear, as has been suggested by some foreign observers. But they do not oppose the elite establishment, the hierarchy.
They are brought up with a high regard for the respect of elders and “betters”. That’s not a word I like using but it accurately reflects that Thais do not believe all people are equal.
If you listen to a subordinate speaking to a superior in the work environment, you will immediately observe the difference in rank that is being shown. Both the gesture of the wai and the actual words used in speaking will clearly show who is who in the pecking order and the respect given to the elder or superior is very visible.
An employee will be careful in making a suggestion if he or she disagrees with the boss. There will be no direct refusal of his instructions. As one of my Thai friends said, the employee may use a different approach later and will no doubt gossip about the incident but there will be no disobedience. That may be misguided respect, but it is not fear.
