タイの現実（Reality of Thailand - Klong Toey, Bangkok）
クロントイには、貨物列車の線路が作られているのですが、その近辺の港湾用地を利用して出来たスラムで近年は話題となってしまったようです。５０年ほど前から、タイ東北部の農村から流入した方々で構成されているのだそうです。
この地域で有名なのは、ドゥアン・プラティープ財団。実は、日本人とこの場所の関係も、財団のプラティープさんのご結婚と深くかかわっています。日・タイ修好百周年に当たる、１９８７年（タイ仏暦：２５３０年）この地のスラム出身のプラティープさん、福岡県浮羽町出身の日本人ボランティアとご結婚されているんですね。この結婚の際には、日本からの来賓はもとより、クリアンサック元首相、アーチット将軍、そして欧米の各団体やタイ政府・各国政府関係者などが、スラムに集ってその日のお祝いをされているんですね。
私は、銀さんと一年前にこの地で出会ってから、何度も足を運んでいます。２月１４日のバレンタインデーには、子供たちに特別にぬいぐるみや花束をプレゼントしています。
つい先日も訪問したのですが、皆があつまる場所は荒れ果て、乾季にも拘わらずずっと水が残っていました。これからまた雨季になると、子供たちが緑色の水たまりの上で遊ぶことになるのかと思うと、心苦しいものが有ります。
然し、子供たちは着実に大きくなり、徐々にではあるものの、教育水準も上がってきているのかなと思っています。まだまだ足りませんけどね。きらびやかなバンコク大学からも歩けるような距離ですが、タイ社会の「格差社会」を見せつけられてしまう場所でもあります。
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[Video] Reality of Thailand
Klong Toey, the whole area of the canal facing on the Bangkok Port. Bangkok Port was completed in 1948 and well known as the first modern port in Bangkok, Thailand. It expanded its scale as the economic growth of Thailand. However, gradually size of ships coming to the port became bigger so that it became not to accommodate because it is river port. In 1991, Bangkok Port slipped down from the top so as to turn its status over Laem Chabang Port.
Klong Toey seems to be infamous area these days because of the slum formed at the port land, and it seems to have been composed of people who had been flowed in from the rural areas of northeastern Thailand from 50 years ago or around.
There is a Foundation, named Duang Prateep Foundation in this area. Relationship of this area and Japan has started from the marriage of Ms. Prateep and her wedding. Year of 1987 was the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Japan, and in this year, she married with a Japanese volunteer born in Ukiha-Cho, Fukuoka, Prefecture, Japan. I have heard that there was a big wedding ceremony in this area, over 3000 people gather to celebrate them. Not only from Japan, but also former prime minister of Thailand, and national government officials from the United States and Europe, gathered to Klong Toey for celebration.
I met a Japanese volunteer on March last year at this Klong Toey, and I continued to visit there to check status quo of children and to hand over photos of them. I also visited at St. Valentine's Day, February 14th, to give special presents and red flowers to girls living there.
I feel sad thinking about the fact that playground for kids is filled with pollution of waters even though it is dry season now in Bangkok. How will it be when rainy season will soon come?
I am sure that education level of this area gradually has been improved, however, it is not sufficient, sadly speaking. We can get there by walk from glittering Bangkok University, and confront the reality of "Gap Society" in Thailand.
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