WIESENTHAL CENTER DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST THAI SCHOOL FOR NAZI CELEBRATION
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights organization, is urging Thai officials to condemn the TEFL Thewphaingarm School in Bangkok, Thailand, for a Nazicelebration involving scores of its students dressed up with swastikas, marching "storm troopers" and a concert whose leader gave the "zeig heil" salute. The photos clearlyshow that this was not a cultural celebration of an ancient Asian symbol, but a mocking of the millions of victims of Nazism.
In an October 1 protest to school director, Dr. Nahathai Thewphaingarm, Wiesenthal Center associate dean, RabbiAbraham Cooper, wrote: "I am sure you agree that such an activity has no place in any educational institute. This incident cannot be dismissed as merely the actions of a fewuninformed students. Much research and planning went into this 'concert.' Asked Rabbi Cooper: "Whose initiative was this Nazi celebration and why? We urgeyou to launch an immediate investigation to clarify what role, if any, your school had in this ugly display, and if confirmed, take the necessary steps against those who approved,planned or participated in this outrage," he continued.
In addition, the Center has contacted founder and CEO of TEFL International, Bruce Veldhuisen, to urge TEFL, amajor clearinghouse for teachers and students interested in English as a second language, to launch its own investigation of this ugly incident. "We are long past the timewhen such incidents take place in Asia that can be excused due to 'alleged' ignorance of the Nazis' atrocities during World War II," Cooper concluded.
Rabbi Cooper travels extensively in Asia, including Japan, China, India, Singapore, and Indonesia.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
