Italian school forced to apologise to whole of Thailand for bad behaviour | News World

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an online
browser that
supports HTML5
video

A gaggle of Italian students were fined by police after sparking outrage with their public behaviour.

The five teenagers were accompanied by a chaperone on a visit to Thailand, which descended into anarchy with an altercation on a BTS skytrain, which has since gone viral.

Visiting as a part of an academic trip, the young tourists were asked to quieten down by a Thai woman.

As an alternative of politely complying, though, they began laughing and mocking her.

Ultimately, the Italian Embassy in Bangkok needed to issue a press release, condemning the kids’ actions and apologising profusely to the Thai public.

Shared over the weekend following the incident on July 23, the post began: ‘The Embassy of Italy in Bangkok expresses its deep regret over the incident and strongly condemns the inappropriate behaviour of a gaggle of Italian underage tourists participating in a college educational trip, as shown in a video circulated on social media.

Enroll for all of the newest stories

Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.

The group of Italian students clashed with a Thai woman over their rude behaviour (Picture: @1234aaawry)

‘The embassy extends its sincere apologies to the people of Thailand and to everyone affected by this incident.’

‘Italians deeply understand and appreciate the values that Thai society places on respect for others, courtesy and harmonious coexistence – values which are equally cherished and upheld by the Italian Republic,’ it added.

The embassy insisted that their behaviour wasn’t reflective of the Italian populace as a complete, nor should it impact on the ‘mutual respect, friendship and courtesy’ forming the premise of Italy’s relationship with Thailand.

In its own statement, the trip’s operator apologised, too, acknowledging that the group’s actions contradicted the organisation’s values.

Still, after the authorities were involved at Samre police station, it took greater than an hour for an amicable conclusion to be reached by the 2 sides

It was decided that 4 students could be charged with public insult and fined 1,000 baht (£22.34) each.

Italian school forced to apologise to whole of Thailand for bad behaviour
Five teens got fines (Picture: @1234aaawry)
Italian school forced to apologise to whole of Thailand for bad behaviour
Sugus accepted their apologies (Picture: @1234aaawry)

A fifth student, seen making an obscene hand gesture, was charged with each public insult and committing an act considered offensive in public. They were fined 2,000 baht (£44.67).

In the unique clip, the woman, often called Sugus, is heard requesting that the youths lower their voices to a ‘normal’ volume and ‘not scream, OK?’

A student then says sarcastically, ‘Sorry for bringing money to your country,’ to which Sugus says they’ve ‘no manners’.

She proceeds to pan the camera around and discover the youths, who’re standing on the train while she sits, and tells them to ‘shut the f**k up’.

When she asks where they’re from, a boy replies, ‘Thailand’, to which she says, ‘No, you’re not.’

Because the footage continues, the group laughs loudly and appears to make fun of Sugus, who asks, ‘Where do you desire to go?’, responding with, ‘Your mum’.

The Italian embassy also issued a proper apology to the people of Thailand (Picture: Embassy of Italy, Bangkok)

Sugus attempts to get them to go away the train, telling them that they’re on the incorrect line for travel, but is unsuccessful, as are her efforts to get the kids to inform her their names.

Several minutes into the video, the group begins filming Sugus herself, and he or she grows more irritated while they point and giggle.

Finally, one other passenger steps in, declaring that she goes to ‘call the police’ for Sugus, much to the group’s shock.

Upon reaching a settlement with the scholars, Sugus accepted their apologies.

‘I’m personally extremely sorry for what has happened,’ said one student representative. ‘I perfectly know that cash can’t buy respect, and I’m really sorry for all of the people offended and for having offended Thai culture.’

One other added that their behaviour was ‘incorrect’ and said they’re ‘very sorry to all Thai people’.

The scholars are set to undergo further lessons on cultural respect.

As for Sugus, she now hopes that future visitors to Thailand will adhere to its culture and social norms.

‘I filed the criticism to guard my rights and to make sure that nobody violates them,’ she said.

‘I do know the opposite side sincerely regrets what happened and accepts responsibility. They deserve a break.’

Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Related Post

Leave a Reply