Thai pop idol group BNK48 has emerged from a weekend they’d all rather forget with a new mission: campaigning for Holocaust and anti-semitism awareness.
Their newly adopted cause, announced yesterday by the Israeli embassy, comes in the wake of 19-year-old band member Pichayapa “Namsai” Natha wearing a T-shirt featuring a World War II-era German war flag shirt — complete with swastika — to a televised concert rehearsal on Friday night.
The timing could not have been more inappropriate given that yesterday was the International Day of Remembrance for the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
In a Facebook post published yesterday, the embassy explained that the band’s COO as well as Pichayapa, herself, had met with H.E. Ambassador of Israel Dr. Meir Shlomo to express apologies in person.
They “discussed the importance of history”, according to the post, while the band member agreed to hold educational activities with the embassy in which other BNK48 members will also take part.
“I understand that it was an act arising from lack of knowledge and awareness, and I’m pleased that they have apologized and agreed to hold together educational activity in the future,” said the ambassador.
This is the singer’s second public apology after the rehearsal photos went viral on social media this weekend.
On Saturday night, Pichayapa offered a tearful apology during a concert to a crowd of cheering fans.
“I am deeply sorry and sincerely regret my actions,” the pop star managed to get out through audible sobs.
“This incident happened as a result of my own mistake and ignorance. I can’t go back to fix anything, but I promise that this will not happen again. I would like to take this as a lesson for both myself and everyone else to be more mindful and conscious toward our actions.”
“Please forgive me,” she added.
The photos, which went viral this weekend, drawn both criticism and defense from the public.
While some people pointed out that the swastika is “actually a Buddhist and Hindu symbol” that’s been around since long before the Nazis adopted it — which is entirely accurate — it’s kind of hard to make that argument when the rest of her shirt is, you know, a Nazi war flag.
“Out of the blue someone decided to wear the symbol of genocide. How would you [Pichayapa] feel if you were related to someone who was murdered?” wrote one netizen.
Meanwhile others, distressingly, don’t see it as a problem at all.
“Who cares? Thailand is Thailand, they can wear what they want,” another wrote.
The Israeli Embassy also released a statement condemning the singer, which no doubt led to yesterday’s meeting.
“The Embassy of Israel in Thailand expresses its shock and dismay over the Nazi outfit worn by the singer of BNK48 band.
“Presenting Nazi symbols by the band’s singer, hurt the feelings of millions around the world, whose relatives were murdered by the Nazis,” they wrote on their Facebook page.
Unfortunately, swastikas are an all to common sight here in Thailand, to the point where John Oliver has even devoted a segment of his show to talk about it.
“To be fair, in Thai schools, world history is not given much attention, with little to no mention of the Holocaust,” said Oliver, quoting the Guardian.
The Thai schools system indeed primarily revolves around the kingdom’s own history and its long line of kings.
Perhaps this is the time to visit the long overdue conversation about what is currently being taught in Thai schools and what else should be taught.
