Thailand toilet revolution

The Bangkok Post, 21st July 2006 - Cleanliness campaign focuses on public toilets

The toilet bowl was huge. The cleaning brush looked almost like a toothpick by comparison. There is no end in sight to the political mess, but today has been officially declared the Big Cleaning Day. The campaign is a brainchild of the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Sangha Supreme Council and the ministries of Interior and Education. At a recent press conference, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat was seen scrubbing a model toilet with utmost diligence. His example was emulated by other cabinet ministers and, in particular, by the Toilet Queen. Coming soon will be a mega-international conference on the theme ''Happy Toilet.'' Sanitaryware of all types and sizes will be put on display. And lo and behold, the government is orchestrating an unprecedented nationwide contest to make every single public lavatory spotlessly clean.

Suam na chai logo stickers are sprouting up _ just drop in and you will fall in love with our loos!

Globally and historically, this attention to hygienic issues is nothing new nor without good reason. Last month, Singapore launched a pilot course for toilet cleaners. The so-called World Toilet College based in the city-state flew in three top Japanese experts, with an aim to create an army of restroom specialists from their existing 5,000-plus staff. China, meanwhile, has put modernisation of public toilets on the national agenda. They will play host to the upcoming Olympics and World Expo, and spic-and-span toilets would be one of the very first signs that the dragon country is ready to enter the ranks of the, er, sanitationally civilised 21st July 2006
nations.

Indeed, the changes in how people deal with this natural process of excretion tell a lot about what's going on in a country. A master's thesis by Monruetai Chaivisate in 1999 traced a whole century of sewage systems in the kingdom _ from the late feudal period to the breakneck capitalist era.

While both the rich and the poor may share the same common urge, there have been huge, conspicuous differences in the ways they choose, or can choose, to relieve themselves, said Monruetai. Awarded the best thesis of the year, her meticulous research also noted a few instances when toilets have been turned into a political tool. During the Cold War, the Thai government heavily promoted construction of toilets in individual houses _ so that villagers wouldn't have the excuse to leave the house at night to meet or support communists.

Yes, politically, the loo business is no crappy matter at all. For every demonstration, public toilets are always one of the strategic landmarks to procure, or to negotiate over. The state authorities would try every possible way to dissuade, or even ban, the protesters from using their facilities. A clever pressure tactic.

On the other side of the fence, the protesting folk would try every means to ensure they have some place to resort to when such an emergency arises. The better the toilets at their disposal, the more likely the sit-in, literally, will last. Or even become successful down the road.

Of course, Minister Phinij and Co probably did not have this generous thought when they first pushed forward the Happy Toilet bandwagon. But the potential, though unintended, consequence is not such a bad one. After all, the project in itself is a pretty good visionary scheme. A number of public lavatories _ in temples, schools, even shopping malls, have been maintained in a deplorable state. There have been reports of school children refusing to eat during daytime. The reason? They don't want to have to go to the horrid loos.

And think of the shoppers _ the availability of good toilets is intangibly but closely intertwined with the consumer index.

And what about our monks? How could they serve as our moral leaders if they cannot find proper sanctuary for themselves?

Thai citizens as a whole are also in need of a Big Cleaning _ in politics, business and at home. The problem is: do we have cleaning brushes big enough?

Vasana Chinvarakorn is a senior writer for Outlook, Bangkok Post.