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Urgent Action Needed: Education and Training Bill
Currently before parliament is the Education and Training Bill which completely rewrites and replaces (almost) all existing legislation around education from ECE through to tertiary. If you do nothing else, please, please read the information below about Clause 37, which replaces the 1989 Act Section 21 (ie long-term exemptions from enrolment), and consider making a submission - this is far too important to ignore! Deadline is 14th February 2020.
I will outline the general purpose and history of the Bill. In a separate post I will provide information on all the sections of it that are relevant to home educators (some of which you may wish to comment on in your submission). For this post, however, I will focus on the most vital section - Section 37 and why submissions need to be made (and how to do that).
If you're short on time, please read the sections titled "The Issues," "Another Matter.." and "How to Make a Submission," then read whatever else you need in order to take action.
Background to the Bill (a short version)
Since being elected, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has been on a mission to overhaul the entire education system. He has intiated reviews of everything from ECE to primary to secondary, including NCEA, tertiary including polytechs, ITOs, Tomorrow's Schools (which drove the 1989 legislation) and more. Pretty much nothing is untouched by the overhaul and reviews, and over the last couple of years there has been a series of summits, public meetings, consultation processes etc etc.
In the midst of all this, there was never any interest expressed in changing anything around home education - home educators are essentially such small fish in the pond of NZ education, and Minister Hipkins' sights were set on bigger things. That does not mean, though, that the process of rewriting legislation leaves us untouched!
You see, in order to carry out all the changes decided upon, a rewrite of the legislation was inevitable. At the same time, the government proposed to tidy up the legislation by putting all the important matters around education in one place, and to "modernise language, correct errors, address inconsistencies..and remove spent and redundant provisions." The Education and Training Bill, which once passed will become an Act, replaces the Education Acts 1964 and 1989, parts of the State Sector Act 1988, parts of the Education (Update) Amendment Act 2017, creates amendments to a huge number of other Acts (there's an entire attached Schedule devoted to those amendments), and replicates provisions from recent reform Bills (Education - Vocational Education and Training Reform - Bill, and Education - Pastoral Care - Amendment Bill), and is expected to also replace the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992.
The progress of the Bill can be seen here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_93294/education-and-training-bill. Currently it is before the Select Committee, and is open for submissions until Feb 14th 2020. Folks, that means we have 28 days to act from the time of writing this!
Clause 37 - replaces Sect 21 of the 1989 Act - Exemptions
Here is the full wording in the Bill of Clause 37, which will replace Section 21 in the existing Act, governing the granting of (home education) exemptions and related matters. I'm going to put Section 21 next to it so you can easily compare wording:
Clause 37 (proposed):
Long-term exemptions from enrolment
(1) The Secretary may, on application by a parent of the student, grant the parent a certificate that exempts the student from the requirements of section 34 if the Secretary is satisfied that the student--
5) If the Secretary thinks any student to whom an exemption certificate applies to would be better off if receiving special education, the Secretary may revoke the certificate and issue a direction under section 36.
The new version is obviously a lot shorter, but that is not a problem in itself. An update of wording, and removing Subsection 9 which is no longer relevant is entirely appropriate.
But there is one KEY issue here - in fact two issues, but they are related:
1) The wording of Subsection 1 says simply "the Secretary" rather than "designated officer" as per Section 21. Why does this matter? We all know the Secretary doesn't personally carry out everything assigned to him by the Act - his/her staff in the Ministry do. But it is important here because of the way in which exemptions are processed by regional offices (more on this below), but also because of the most important matter, which is:
2) They have completely omited all right of appeal if an exemption is declined!!
In regards to my first point above, if the Secretary grants an exemption, then it makes no sense to appeal to the Secretary, does it? But given that the Secretary does NOT grant exemptions personally, then it is logical to appeal to him/her in the event that staff act inappropriately in processing an application. Without this right, there is NO effective recourse against regional offices who act improperly. Let me explain further....
Section 21 (existing):
Long term exemptions from enrolment
(1) An employee of the Ministry designated by the Secretary for the purpose (in this section and section 26 referred to as a designated officer) may, by certificate given to a person's parent, exempt the person from the requirements of section 20,--
(a) on the parent's application; and
(b) if satisfied that the person--
(i) will be taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school; or
(ii) in the case of a person who would otherwise be likely to need special education, will be taught at least as regularly and well as in a special class or clinic or by a special service.
(2) A certificate under subsection (1) continues in force until it is revoked or expires under this section.
(3) If a designated officer refuses to grant a certificate under subsection (1), the applicant parent may appeal to the Secretary who, after considering a report on the matter from the Chief Review Officer, shall confirm the refusal or grant a certificate.
(5) Every certificate under subsection (1) or subsection (3) shall state why it was given.
(6) Subject to subsection (7), the Secretary may at any time revoke a certificate under subsection (1) or subsection (3).
(7) The Secretary shall not revoke a certificate under subsection (1) or subsection (3), unless, after having--
(a) made reasonable efforts to get all the relevant information; and
(b)considered a report on the matter from the Chief Review Officer,--
the Secretary is not satisfied of whichever of the grounds specified in subsection (1)(b) the certificate was originally granted on.
(8) If the Secretary thinks any person exempted under subsection (1) would be better off getting special education, the Secretary may revoke the certificate and issue a direction under section 9.
(8A) A certificate for the time being in force under subsection (1) or subsection (3) expires when the person to whom it applies turns 16 or enrols at a registered school, whichever happens first.
(9) Every certificate of exemption under section 111 of the Education Act 1964 that was in force on 30 September 1989 shall be deemed to have been granted--
(a)on the ground specified in subsection (1)(b)(i) if it was in fact granted--
(i)before 20 July 1987, under section 111(4)(a) of the Education Act 1964; or
(ii)after 19 July 1987, under section 111(3)(a) of that Act; and
(b)on the ground specified in subsection (1)(b)(ii) if it was in fact granted--
(i)before 20 July 1987, under section 111(4)(b) of the Education Act 1964; or
(ii)after 19 July 1987, under section 111(3)(b) of that Act;--
and may be revoked under this section accordingly.
Why this is SO important
The way in which exemption applications are processed by the Ministry has evolved over time. When my kids were small, there were 5 regional offices processing exemptions, usually by one key person in each office. Now there are 11 regional offices handling them, and in some offices that work is spread among up to 20 or so staff members. Naturally, this can lead to quite a bit of variance in how it's done. On the plus side, the writing of a Home Education Policies and Procedure's Manual for Ministry staff in 2018 has brought greater consistency, but there remains a big problem:
All regional offices act completely autonomously, under their Regional Director. The National office can advise but not direct the regional offices in any sense.
This means that if one has a problem with anything happening in a regional office, one is required to complain to that office's Director. There is no higher power to complain to or seek action from in most matters, unless legislated otherwise. If you attempt to complain to the national office about even very significant matters, you are directed back to the Regional Director. Trust me - been there, done that, plenty of times.
In general, regional offices do a good job with most applications, with some minor or not-so-minor issues, but they can usually be dealt with regionally. However, from time to time there arises a case where the regional office declines an exemption without appropriate cause, or without giving the parents appropriate opportunity to respond to whatever they see as the issue. The ONLY way to get the actions of that office in such a case reviewed and overturned is by the right of appeal to the Secretary. This process is also a very essential method of providing accountability and preventing regional offices from being a "law unto themselves" and just doing as they please.
Let me provide a couple of examples of the kinds of scenarios that have or might occur where an appeal would be appropriate:
1) A family, new to the country, submitted 3 applications without fully understanding the requirements. The Ministry met with this family several times and wanted to see evidence of previous work completed (outside the scope of an application, as an application is future-based, not past-based). The family subsquently acted on advice and withdrew the applications, then worked on new ones that did meet the requirements, which they submitted. Despite the fact that natural law requires new applications to be treated on their own merits, the office concerned immediately responded by asking for a meeting and samples of work. When the family declined to do this for very good reasons, but invited the Ministry to ask for any further information they needed by email, the response of the Ministry was to just decline the applications, even though regional staff admitted that the applications themselves met the requirements. This decision was appealed, and subsequently overturned, with the exemptions being granted.
2) Another family whose case is currently being appealed applied for an exemption and was declined despite the application meeting the requirements, due to the opinions of certain professionals who wrote to the Ministry with the agenda of preventing the exemption, but whose "concerns" and letters were never disclosed to the parents nor were they given the opportunity to respond.
The appeal process in such cases not only gives the parents the opportunity to gain the exemption which may have been unfairly denied, but it also creates a situation where particularly troublesome actions or processes of regional offices that might have occurred and be relevant can be brought to the attention of senior staff at the national office, and one can hope that further discussion and training takes place so there is no repetition. Without the right of appeal, neither of these families would likely gain their exemptions, as simply reapplying would not overcome the issues, which weren't with their applications as such.
On the other side of the coin, the appeal process also protects regional Ministry staff. If they feel, for whatever reason, that they are unable to "be satisfied a child will be taught as regularly and well" (especially for reasons that are less straightforward than usual), then they know that in declining an exemption, the potential appeal process would essentially "kick the decision up the ladder" and more senior national office staff would be responsible for making the ultimate decision.
It's important also to note that when an appeal is filed, the wording of the current law requires that a report on the matter from ERO be considered - this means that ERO reviews all the paperwork, including the application, but does not visit the family, and writes a report with their own conclusion about whether the exemption should be granted or not. ERO is independent of the MoE, so this process allows for independent review, which is also very important!
This Right of Appeal MUST be protected!
At the end of the day, it's up to all of us as home educators and those passionate about home education not to let this matter slide! My own kids are grown, but this will affect my grandkids, as well as the families I regularly advocate for. Maybe it won't directly affect you - but what about all those who come behind?
So, how do we change this? By making submissions! Please write one yourself, and get as many people as you can think of to do the same. Encourage those in your local home education circles to read this and make their own submissions too.
Note: I've been asked what the "agenda" is in them removing the right of appeal. I don't know that there is one - it could be simply an oversight - I've noted a number of errors in the Bill as I've read it's entire 660 pages - or someone thinking it wasn't "logical" to have an appeal of the Secretary's decision to the Secretary after they updated the first part of the wording. The people drafting this Bill are extremely unlikely to have any intimate knowledge of home education matters. However, we can't know for sure, so lots of submissions are important.
The wording that should be in the Bill is much as is currently in the Education Act 1989 (see above):
Subsection 1 should state "An employee of the Ministry designated by the Secretary for the purpose may..."
(?) If a designated officer refuses to grant a certificate under subsection (1), the applicant parent may appeal to the Secretary who, after considering a report on the matter from the Chief Review Officer, shall confirm the refusal or grant a certificate.
Another matter to consider:
Clause 38 deals with Early Leaving Exemptions (aka ELX) for 15 year olds. It has long been an issue for home educated students who wish to move onto alternative training or a job at 15 that they generally cannot access ELXs, preventing them taking part in any funded training or full time employment.
I propose a way around this that makes a lot of sense (I think - I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or Contact Me):
Add a subsection to Clause 37 that reads along these lines:
(?) An exempt student who has attained the age of 15, may engage in full or part time employment or be enrolled in any alternative or tertiary education programme for which they are eligible on the same basis as a student who has been exempt under Clause 38, if--
(a) the parent is satisfied that the student has completed their home education to an appropriate level; and
(b) the student has a satisfactory offer of employment or access to training or alternative education
This would put the control back in the hands of the family, formalising their right to make appropriate decisions for their older students (which the MoE often informally tells parents they can do), and removing barriers. The wording above also prevents students of that age simply "doing nothing" as it is conditional upon the parents satisfaction and a suitable job or further training option being in place. And it would allow us to stop having to battle the ELX issue for so many students. I'll post about this in more detail separately HERE, but wanted to raise this point in this post for those who will move right on to making submissions without reading any other posts.
I need to know the thoughts of the wider community on this before I can make a submission along these lines myself, as a representative of the wider community, so please get in touch! And of course, if you are in agreement, consider including this in your own submission.
Making a Submission
A submission can be made online or by mail. Online is likely the better option. You can make a submission here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/52SCEW_SCF_BILL_93294/education-and-training-bill
Information on how to make a submission can be found here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/how-to-make-a-submission/
This document gives specific guidance and includes a "template": https://www.parliament.nz/media/2019/makingasubmission2012-2.pdf
In preparing a submission, you can type up or write your actual submission in a separate document (recommended), which you will then upload (or post with a cover letter). In your submission, you should include your name and the details of the Bill you are submitting on, but do NOT include personal info such as your address, phone number or email, as the submission will be published publically once it has been read by the Select Committee. Your personal details DO need to be included either in a cover letter, or filled in on the website when you make a submission.
If you wish to review other sections of the Bill that may be of concern before making a submission, read my summary of sections of interest here: http://www.cynthiahancox.com/information/sections-of-law-of-interest-to-home-educators-1
Your submission should:
Be focussed on the Bill - a copy of which can be found HERE
First, state your general position on the Bill, whether you support or oppose the measure being proposed, and give your reasons.
Give detailed comments on clauses that are of concern to you. If you feel certain clauses need to be changed, say so, and give your reasons. You can suggest wording for clauses you think ought to be changed. Using clauses as numbered in the Bill is a good way to organise your submission
In your covering letter or on the webform, you will include your personal information, and also state whether you wish to make an oral submission before the committee.
I have written a new post which gives simple instructions on submissions and includes examples HERE
Deadline for Submissions is 14th February 2020. Act now!
Education Bill Submissions - How To and Examples
Since I wrote about the need for submissions on the Education and Training Bill, I've been asked by a number of people to supply example submissions to help them with writing their own, and more info on how to easily make a submission. So here we go.....
The Steps to Making a Submission
1) Think about what you want to include in your submission. What points of the Bill are of concern to you, and what do you want changed? Do you have any suggested wording? I have written HERE and HERE and HERE about the various aspects of the Bill that may be of interest to you in regards to submissions. The first article covers the two most important points (I believe), but do have a read of the others and see if there is anything else that concerns you. (The first article and the parliament link below also have more info on the submissions process etc.)
2) Write up your thoughts and comments. I recommend you do this in Word or similar, and convert it to a pdf. You do have the option of typing your submission directly into the online form, but then you will not have your own copy of it, which could be useful, and it's harder to think it through and refine it first. So I believe it's better to write it up on your computer, and then upload the file when you put the submission in as below.
There is a standard format to submissions:
They should clearly identify the Bill you are submitting on - in this case "Education and Training Bill 193-1"
You should open with a statement about whether you support or oppose the Bill as a whole, and why
You can then add specific contents. It is sensible to use headings to identify the sections of the Bill you are commenting on - I use the Subsection numbers and headings from the Bill.
If you wish, you can include specific suggestions on wording, but you should definitely make clear your recommendations and reasons for them.
Remember NOT to include your personal contact info in the actual submission, as they will be published publically once they have been read by the Select Committee. The place to put your contact info is in the webform when uploading it.
3) Once you have you submission ready to go, to go the parliament website here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_93294/education-and-training-bill and click on Make a Submission. You will then be guided through entering your personal info, and uploading your submission, through to actually submitting it all. Your submission should simply have your name on it, and the organisation you represent if applicable. I have not included a name in the examples below - you can add this in if you wish below the Bill title - eg "Submission by Jane Smith"
One of the first questions you will be asked is whether you wish to make an oral submission before the Select Committee. If you do so, it does add strength to your overall submission, but even if you don't think you wish to make an oral submission, I would encourage you to tick YES, and here's why:
You will be contacted later about making an oral submission. You can always change your mind then.
There is another option which may be possible - to nominate someone to represent you in the oral submissions. This would give people the option of nominating a representative of homeschooling such as myself, Todd Roughton, regional group leaders or other persons who may be able to do a good job of presenting on behalf of the wider home educating community. If they are nominated by many people, then they will ususally be given additional time to speak and present their case. There is no guarantee this will happen, but it's valuable if it does.
You can, if you prefer, send a submission via mail - info at the link above. In that case, you will need to use a covering letter to provide your personal info, separate to the submission itself.
Example Submissions
Ideally, your submission should be in your own words and reflect your personal views. However, it is ok to borrow someone else's words if they say what you want to. To make it easier on those who need it, I have put together two example submissions (with somewhat different wording to my own actual submission). The first covers only the issue of the right of appeal, and the second covers that and the ELX issue. If you have any other issues you wish to discuss, then just follow the same format and add the other parts. And of course, feel free to change the wording of either of these to suit you, or just use them as a guide/base on which to write your own. Click on the titles/links below to download these examples. They are in Word for ease of amending/typing into. If you have difficulty with these, please contact me for an alternative version.
Sample Submission 1 - appeals only
Sample Submission 2 - appeals and ELX
Early Leaving Exemptions (ELX) - Issues and Solution (?)
Under Section 22 of the current Education Act 1989, and under Section 38 of the proposed Education and Training Bill currently before parliment, which will replace the 1989 Act, parents may apply for a student aged 15 to be exempt from the requirements to attend school. The wording of the Bill is:
38 Exemption from enrolment of student who has turned 15
(1) The Secretary may, on application by a parent of a student who has turned 15, grant the parent a certificate that exempts the student from the requirements of section 34 if the Secretary is satisfied that it is sensible to do so, having regard to--
(a) any educational problem the student may have; and
(c)the benefit (if any) the student is likely to get from attending another available school.
(2) However, the Secretary may not exempt any student who--
(b) has not enrolled for a year level above year 8.
(3)The Secretary must tell the chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 the name and address and any other available contact details of every student exempted under subsection (1).
A Section 38 (or currently Section 22) exemption allows 15 year old students to do any of the following:
Quit school
Enter employment during school hours
Enter an apprenticeship or other training or tertiary study for which they are eligible
Take part in Youth Guarantees courses, which are funded for 16-19 yos, or 15yos with an ELX
However, a 15yo student with a home education exemption cannot do any of these things in the fullest sense. If a student wishes to do so, they are usually told they need an Early Leaving Exemption, but if a family approach the Ministry to apply for one, they are most often told they cannot get an ELX for a home educated student. This is because the criteria as laid out by the law will usually not be met by a home educated student - ie having educational problems, conduct issues, and being unlikely to gain benefit from available schools. Not that these are "AND" scenarios, not "OR" - ie all three must be in place.
Now, this has been an issue of discussion on and off over the years with the Ministry. There is quite some history to the issue, which I won't expound on here for the sake of brevity. The main thing to know is that currently the Ministry are sticking to this position:
"It is highly unlikely that an ELX can be granted to home educated students because they would not meet the statutory criteria set out in the relevant legislation. Although it is unlikely for a home educated student to be granted an ELX, there have been cases in the past where they have been granted, however these decisions are made at the Ministry's Regional offices and at their own discretion."
Why should home educated students be able to get ELX or equivalent?
I frequently am contacted by families with 15 yo students, some who are home educated, and some who are not yet exempt, but who have one thing in common: they are simply ready to move on from "school work" and pursue the next steps in their chosen pathway - usually training courses or an apprenticeship or full time work. Some of these students are highly motivated and frustrated at being held back doing "busy work" and others have faced significant struggles, and in those cases often NEED to be given the opportunity to move on to the thing that interests them, before they lose all motivation and simply fall by the wayside.
Bear in mind that until 1993, the school leaving age was 15. Some young people of that age who were not university-bound often did leave school and enter into various jobs and professions, generally with ultimate success. The change to a school leaving age of 16 was driven by a governmental and Ministry belief that kids who remain in school longer achieve better outcomes (a belief that persists today, despite a lack of evidence to support it). This thinking came about somewhere between 1989's Tomorrow's Schools under Labour which recommended the school leaving age remain at 15, and the 1991 Education Amendment Bill under National which changed it to 16 from 1993.
Now, imagine you are the parent of a 15 yo male student who, for example, wants to become a builder. He has completed all the academic work he could possibly need to prepare him for that trade. He has a high standard of literacy and numeracy. Any further schoolwork he does will simply be filling in time. An opportunity arises for him to do some work experience with a local builder. He does so successfully. The builder would now like to employ him full time, and enrol him in an apprenticeship scheme as soon as possible. But the inability to get an ELX is a barrier to this, as he doesn't fit the criteria. If the parents choose to allow him to engage in this work anyway, then both they and the boss will be in breach of the law, and potentially subject to prosecution and penalties. How ridiculous!
Or, a 15 yo girl who has been through a lot recently, and has been struggling with depression. She's now heard from a friend about a training program that strongly interests her and is restoring her enthusiasm and motivation for the first time in a while. She is permitted to visit that program as a "guest student" for a time, and both she and the tutors are enthusastic about how well it fits her, and about her continuing on. But she can't get an ELX, so she isn't allowed to do the program, both for lack of funding, and because it would constitute no longer being home educated, which is not allowed to cease until 16 unless enrolled in a "registered school"- and only primary and secondary schools are "registered schools."
Or, a 15 yo student who wants to do a distance learning program through a tertiary provider in order to gain the high school qualifications he or she needs to open the future doors they need. But the rules of the tertiary provider are that students must be over 16, or 15 with an ELX.
I could go on. But hopefully you see the point. If we want our capable, motivated young people to capitilize on their drive and opportunities that are potentially available to them, we should be removing barriers, not erecting them!
How do we fix this?
There is an Education and Training Bill before parliment currently, which will re-write the entire education law of our country. The section about ELXs is essentially unchanged, with one noteable exception which also deserves submission comment (see below*). However, for the purposes of students who already have a Section 21/Section 37 home education exemption, it remains as inaccessible as ever. At the end of the day, though, the wording of this section which applies to all 15 yos is never going to be a good fit for home educators, for a number of reasons.
That is why, rather than change this section, I propose an addition the Section 37, which applies only to home educators, as follows:
(?) An exempt student who has attained the age of 15, may engage in full or part time employment or be enrolled in any alternative or tertiary education programme for which they are eligible on the same basis as a student who has been exempt under Section 38, if--
The effect of this, if incorporated into the Act, would be to appropriately permit parents and young people to make decisions about the best options for them as 15 yos, and engage in suitable training or work, without needing to jump through the ELX hoops. This would also reduce workload on Ministry staff.
Making this change would remove barriers and allow such students to move forward.
I urge you to consider including this recommendation in your own submission - (click on the link to find out why your submission as a home educator is so important, and how to make a submission)
Submissions close on 14th February 2020.
* The other issue I mentioned about the wording of the new Section 38 - the wording that says "(c)the benefit (if any) the student is likely to get from attending another available school."
Under the current Act, this simply reads "available schools". The change implies that the student is already enrolled in a school, and other available schools must be considered. This is a different focus from the simple idea that school in general is unlikely to benefit the student further. This would make it even more difficult for home educated students to fit the criteria, even those who would under the current wording.
One might consider including this in any submission.


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Sex-ed needs revision
verdemagazine July 21, 2017
In a petition that has gathered more than a thousand signatures, an anonymous parent describes in forceful language the boundaries that many believe are being crossed by the Palo Alto Unified School District's new curriculum on sexual education for 7th graders.
Parents rail against situations offered in the Health Connected curriculum that discuss underage drinking, explicit sexual acts, masturbation, non-heterosexual sex and adult situations concerning initiation of sex. The condemnations that have rung out from parents have coalesced into a movement to create a curriculum that is more age-appropriate.
According to Trinity Klein, Paly English teacher and parent of a PAUSD middle schooler and elementary schooler, "One of the scenarios that was excerpted for the petition was two girls having sex, and some families who might be less comfortable or accepting might find it uncomfortable, but I just see it as keeping it real."
Our publication supports the idea of revising Health Connected's curriculum to include fewer, less graphic scenes concerning underage sexual intercourse. Instead, more scenarios involving discussions of consent should be implemented. That being said, we support the same diversity in scenarios that is currently included in the curriculum, and would like to see more hypotheticals that show what a respectful relationship looks like, with more open discussions around how to deal with difficult issues. Furthermore, we ardently oppose any efforts to stifle proper sex education.
Verde respects the importance of having a thorough sex education curriculum that adequately prepares middle schoolers for the intricacies of the high school experience. We want more open, frank and direct discussions around what it means to be a healthy and flourishing teenager.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Strike Would Cut Norway's Output 11%/Day
Norway's oil and gas output could be cut by about 440,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day, or about 11% of total production, if workers go on strike from June 4, industry association Norwegian Oil and Gas (NOG) said on Monday.
(Photo: Harald Pettersen / Equinor)
A government-appointed mediator is leading negotiations between oil companies and employees represented by the Lederne union in a bid to avert a strike.
Altogether nine fields would have to shut in the event of industrial action, NOG said in statement.
Lederne members are planning to strike at Neptune Energy's Gjoea field, Okea's Draugen, Aker BP's Ivar Aasen and Equinor's Kristin, Oseberg East and Gudrun fields.
In addition production would have to shut at Equinor's Tyrihans, as well as at the Maria and Vega fields, both operated by Wintershall DEA, NOG said.
Workers are also planning to strike at some of the offshore installations at ConocoPhillips-operated Ekofisk, although that field has already shut on Monday for maintenance, the industry group said.
Lederne is the smallest of the three Norwegian oil workers unions with about 1,000 members. It has not published its pay demands.
Two larger labour unions, Industri Energi and Safe, representing a combined 6,000 offshore workers, do not have the right to go on strike this year under collective bargaining rules.
Norway is Western Europe's largest producer of crude oil, condensate and natural gas with an overall daily output last month of 3.9 million barrels of oil equivalents.
Other companies producing oil and gas offshore Norway include Eni, Lundin Petroleum, DNO, Shell and Exxon Mobil.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Louise Heavens)


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Leave a Comment on Enjoy the holiday season by reading a good art book
The holiday season is the best time for family reunions, for giving gifts, and for showing attachment and love for our loved ones. Offering an art book that recalls the history of Christianity and reading it on a cold snowy night is the ideal gift and the height of pleasure. Here are some ideas:
Christ in Art
The cover of the book Christ in Art
Since the dawn of Christianity, artists have been fascinated and stirred by the figure of Christ. His likeness appears in frescoes on the walls of catacombs that date from Roman times; he is featured in the stained glass windows of Gothic churches, and he can be found in various forms in today's pop culture. The Biblical Saviour is not a static, immaterial deity: Christ's mortal birth, unusual life and dramatic death make him an accessible subject for religious and secular artists alike. Whether they show the spirituality of God Incarnate or the earthly characteristics of a flesh-and-blood man, artistic depictions of Christ are the most controversial, moving or inspirational examples of religious art.
This richly illustrated book explores the various ways that Christ is rendered in art, from Cimabue's Nativity scenes and Fra Angelico's paintings of the Crucifixion to the provocative portraits of Salvador Dalí and Andres Serrano. Author Joseph Lewis French guides the reader through the most iconic representations of Christ in art – tender or graphic, classical or bizarre, these images of the Messiah reveal the diverse roles of the Son of God in the social milieus and personal lives of the artists.
The Virgin in Art
The cover of the book The Virgin in Art
The artworld is filled with the presence of the Virgin Mary – a fundamental symbol of motherhood, who has been radiating youthfulness, tenderness, and compassion for two thousand years. Finding in her an inexhaustible source of inspiration, artists have consistently used the image of the Virgin Mary to reflect our own sufferings and joys. The author Kyra Belán leads us on a comprehensive tour analysing the profound meaning to be found in the images of the Virgin – from personal interpretations to spiritual reflections on a universal level. These works of art present a fascinating visual commentary on the evolution of Western art as well as a striking record of the rise in status of women in society. With more than 200 illustrations, two thousand years of human history are expressed in a single image; that of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Christ.
The cover of the book Icons
Icon painting has reached its zenith in Ukraine between the 11th and 18th centuries. This art is appealing because of its great openness to other influences – the obedience to the rules of Orthodox Christianity in its early stages, the borrowing from Roman heritage or later to the Western breakthroughs – combined with a never compromised assertion of a distinctly Slavic soul and identity.
This book presents a handpicked and representative selection of works from the 11th century to the late Baroque period.
The cover of the books Illuminated Manu Scripts
Those who have had the chance to hold a medieval manuscript in their hands cannot fail to have been impressed by the feeling of being in touch with a long-passed epoch. Back when a book was a true handicraft and every copy the result of a laborious process, the object was more a work of art than a volatile commercial product. The Mega Square Illuminated Manuscripts puts the reader in touch with amazing medieval illustrations and unique adornments, which document the imaginative power of their creators.
Art of the Eternal
The cover of the book Art of Eternal
Since the first funerary statues were placed in the first sepulchres, the ideas of death and the afterlife have always held a prominent place at the heart of the art world.
An unlimited source of inspiration where artists can search for the expression of the infinite, death remains the object of numerous rich illustrations, as various as they are mysterious. The ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, the forever sleeping statues on medieval tombs, and the Romantic and Symbolist movements of the 19th century are all evidence of the incessant interest that fuels the creation of artworks featuring themes of death and what lies beyond it.
In this work, Victoria Charles analyses how, through the centuries, art has become the reflection of these interrogations linked to mankind's fate and the hereafter.
More interesting titles can be found on our Amazon Store.
Tags: art book artofinternal christianartgift christianbooks christinart christmasbook christmasgift kindlebook parkstoneinternational postaday postaweek printedbook virgininart winterholiday
Published by Parkstone International
Parkstone International is an international publishing house specializing in art books. Our books are published in 23 languages and distributed worldwide. In addition to printed material, Parkstone has started distributing its titles in digital format through e-book platforms all over the world as well as through applications for iOS and Android. Our titles include a large range of subjects such as: Religion in Art, Architecture, Asian Art, Fine Arts, Erotic Art, Famous Artists, Fashion, Photography, Art Movements, Art for Children.	View all posts by Parkstone International
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Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She Was 'Sucked Into' QAnon Conspiracy Theories (Video)
Rosemary Rossi
Marjorie Taylor Greene's promotion of QAnon conspiracy theories was called into question Sunday on Fox News' "MediaBuzz," when host Howard Kurtz asked if she still supported it.
The controversial representative from Georgia joined Kurtz to talk about Kevin McCarthy's win for the House speakership that finally came to pass on Friday after 15 rounds of voting, for which she took partial credit. But he also confronted her about her past affiliation with QAnon and the spreading of crazy conspiracy theories they are best known for, like that there is a global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles led by Democrats.
"That was raw politics," Kurtz said, referring to Greene being stripped of her committee assignments because of those views and the violent rhetoric that ensued. "But in fairness, didn't you also say around that period that you had been a follower of QAnon conspiracy theories, and you had rethought this and you were no longer influenced by the group?"
Jake Tapper Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Play Acting' Takedown of Fuentes: 'Might Make More Sense' if They Didn't Share a Stage (Video)
Greene placed the blame on the internet. "Well, like a lot of people today, I had easily gotten sucked into some things I had seen on the internet. But that was dealt with quickly early on. I never campaigned on those things. That was not something I believed in. That's not what I ran for Congress on. So, those are so far in the past."
You can check out her response above.
Since assuming office in January 2021, video surfaced of Greene expressing racist, antisemitic and Islamophobic views, for which she was condemned. But the controversy around her has continued to bubble, with her promotion of many baseless conspiracy theories, including that the Clintons were responsible for murders, that the Democratic Party was responsible for a satanic child sex trafficking ring and that the California wildfires were caused by space lasers owned by a Jewish family.
'The View': Whoopi Says Marjorie Taylor Greene Should Be 'Behind Bars' After Bragging She 'Would've Won' Jan. 6 (Video)
Newly empowered House Republicans are preparing to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born Muslim lawmaker, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her past comments critical of Israel — and as payback after Democrats booted far-right GOP lawmakers from committees for their incendiary, violent remarks. A procedural vote Wednesday showed unified Republican support for moving against Omar, who has apologized for comments that she has said she came to understand were viewed as antisemitic. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been eager to flex Republican power to remove the Minnesota Democrat after he blocked Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell, both California Democrats, from rejoining the House Intelligence Committee once the GOP took control of the chamber in January.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has angry unions to the left of him, anxious Conservative Party lawmakers to the right and, in the middle, millions of voters he must win over to avert electoral defeat. Installed as Conservative leader after Truss' plan for huge tax cuts sparked panic, the 42-year-old Sunak calmed financial markets and averted economic meltdown after he assumed the post of prime minister on Oct. 25. Next, Britain's youngest leader for two centuries — and its first prime minister of South Asian heritage — has promised to tame soaring inflation, get the sluggish economy growing, ease pressure on the overburdened health care system and "restore the integrity back into politics" after years of scandals under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.


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Excerpt - Electioneering
"The best place to begin," an old geezer who knew a thing or two about horses once told me, "is at the beginning. Then, one should go on to the middle, and if the end is in sight, make a dash for it."
He was referring, I believe, to the Grand National in the year that Kais-Kous won it by a nose from Muslintang, but I've generally found the approach to work just as well in telling stories. But…I don't know, one gets restless – it seems to make sense to try something different, even if for no particular reason, and of this urge, I suppose, the following story is born.
It all begins (though this is really the middle, if anything) at the Socialist Club of Upper Mumbai, that hoary bastion of the anti-Capitalist movement, ensconced comfortably between the woods of the National Park and the club's own golf course. A picturesque post-colonial structure houses the club, which is the meeting ground of the leading members of the Socialist Party and functions, for all intents and purposes, as the Party HQ. It was the last day of the monsoon session of the State Legislature and we had won a significant victory over the ruling capitalist coalition, blocking a new Bill that proposed preventing employees of private flour mills from forming a Union.
The sounds of revelry ringing through the halls of the S.C.U.M were unmistakable. Glasses clinked, uproarious laughter broke out in places, and every five minutes or so came the sound of someone slapping someone else's back. Wine flowed like water, and I had the distinct feeling that getting the stains of red wine off the carpet might turn out to be rather an ordeal the next day. But that was for the next day; for now we were celebrating a significant political victory, and it was a time to clink glasses, laugh uproariously and slap each other's backs.
at July 31, 2015 No comments:
Labels: Elections, Politics
Percy - Ana Chronicles - VIII: Rocky Mountain Hop
"Look at the sky, Ana. Isn't it beautiful!"
"Yes, absolutely gorgeous! I think it's never been so blue."
"And there's still snow on the far mountain tops."
"Not to mention grass in the valleys."
"I love summer!"
"And...listen - is that the sound of a caribou rubbing against a tree?"
"Umm...Percy, that is the sound of the couple in that tent over there going at it."
"You mean having sex?"
"I think that was clear."
"NOW? At ten in the morning?"
"There's no such thing as a wrong time to make love, Percy, when it's with the right person."
~silence~
"Uhh...moving on, wasn't it nice of the lady at the visitor center to give you a Spanish-language audio guided tour?"
"Hmph. I thought it was condescending of her to presume I wouldn't know English well enough. I speak excellent English. I'm listening to that Spanish audio right now and it's not that good."
"Yes, but you curse in Español and you were cursing when you entered the center. She probably thought your first language is Spanish - which it is."
"I hurt my knee against the door. Of course I was cursing. You curse in Hindi yourself."
"Only occassionally, actually. But how is it now? Better?"
"Still hurts bad! See!"
"Umm which knee did you hurt?"
"The right one."
"Ana, there isn't even a bruise."
"You're so insensitive! You should be kissing it to make it better."
"Aww. Come here, you."
"It also hurts here. The door handle struck me too. Here. See. Kiss me here too."
"Ana, I can't kiss you there!"
"Well, ahem, children hanging around the campsite and all that. It would be so inappropriate."
"Lets go inside the tent then."
"That...yes, that's a good idea."
~later~
"Ana."
"Yes, Percy?"
"Was this a ploy by you to prove yourself right?"
"About what?"
"There never being a wrong time to make love?"
"Look at the sky, Percy. Isn't it beautiful?"
Labels: Conversations, Inappropriate touching, Percy-Ana Chronicles, Rocky Mountains
Percy - Ana Chronicles - VII: Watching Movies
"Hey there, come in, I was just starting a movie."
"Which one?"
"I found this Bollywood movie - Preeti from Apartment 1022 gave it to me."
"Oh. I hope it's a good one...ugh, no!"
"Ana, Please tell me it's not 'Happy New Year'!"
"It is Happy New Year, actually. Why what's wrong with it?"
"You'll see."
~Soon after~
"Good Lord! What is that?"
"Uh..that's Shah Rukh Khan, he's kinda a big deal back in India."
"He looks familiar."
"Yeah? Maybe you've seen his poster around, like I said, he's popular. Especially with the non-resident crowd."
"No, I meant he looks like that mummy I once saw in the museum of Natural History in Washington DC."
"Well, don't go saying that too loud, he's got rabid fans."
"I'll be careful."
"He was rather charming and snazzy in his younger days."
"Which would've been when I was in pre-school."
~A little later~
"Ha ha ha, what a joker! This part is pure fiction, right? There isn't actually a place called Parsee Colony in Bombay, right?"
"Err...actually...there is."
"And is it full of desperate housewives?"
"Err...hot in here, let me put on the AC."
"And do the actually talk like that and have overbearing mothers?"
"Dinner? Let's order dinner?"
"Percy...is this character representative of the community?"
"He's an...ahem...exaggeration, of course."
"Gross exaggeration?"
"Cough...marginal...cough."
"Muy comico!"**
"Farah Khan, you have much to answer for!"
~slightly later~
"Uf! Que es este feo?"***
"That's Abhishek Bachhan, my dear. He's the second lead in this movie."
"Seriously? He looks like the homeless fellows who hang around Boulder creek at night."
"His father is kind of a Very Big Cheese. Think Marlon Brando - meets - Dwayne - Johnson."
~Much later~
"DIos mio! Belleza!"
"Uh yes, that's Deepika Padukone."
"Wow!"
"Yes, I know."
"Indian women are so beautiful!"
"Ana, looking at Deepika and saying 'Indian women are so beautiful' is a rather incorrect generalisation. It would be like concluding Colombian women are beautiful basis you and Sofia Vergara."
"But we are."
"Uh anyway, let's just get through this, shall we?"
~Much, much later~
"It was hilarious. Terrible, but hilarious."
"Mostly just terrible."
"And that woman - wow! Do women in India walk around dressed like that?"
"Nope, not really."
"And she can move! But those dresses! You should get me one. Or two. What's it called, a saree?"
"Not every Indian dress is a saree, Ana. Most of the time what you saw her wearing in this was a lehenga - choli."
"I'd look good in one."
"The dress hasn't been invented you wouldn't look good in."
"Aww, Percy. You say the nicest things. Is this a good Bollywood pose for my Instagram followers? Do I manage the Deepika whatshername look?"
"It's provocative, shows cleavage and if you were any less beautiful, would look crass."
"So you mean yes?"
"Sigh...yes, I mean yes."
"Now get here, I want to make you say YESSSSS!"
X-X-X-X
*Oh my God!
** Very funny
*** Ugh, what is this ugliness?
at July 30, 2015 1 comment:
Labels: Conversations, Deepika Padukone, Happy New Year, Percy-Ana Chronicles, Watching movies
Percy - Ana Chronicles - VI: What makes Indian food hot.
This be mackerel
"What is this!"
"Bluefish curry. I was hoping to find mackerel, but there weren't any. This looked somewhat similar. Hasn't turned out too bad, has it?"
"It's astounding! Fabulous! Amazing!"
"Thanks, I wasn't sure how it would turn out!"
"Is all Indian food this spicy?"
"I'd say not all of it. This is a coastal dish, Malwani, it's called. But there are other sorts that are less brutal on the palate."
"Yes, variety is key. My mother she told me the same thing about Colombian cooking."
"Was she a good cook?"
"Terrible."
"Really?"
"My father did the cooking at home. When mom cooked we suddenly remembered we were on a diet. My father always told me, 'Ana, your mother is a wonderful woman but you're lucky your father knows how to cook'."
"My mother is a brilliant cook. She makes Parsee stuff, Maharashtrian food, Goan, Italian...why are you taking off your t-shirt?"
"Because I'm sweating! This is HOT FOOD."
"Actually, if this curry makes you take off your t-shirt, I think I just discovered an entirely new level of meaning for the word HOT FOOD."
"I should instagram a photo of me right now with the caption 'Bluefish curry and me' "
"Right, of course...you know, a friend just suggested I compile my Facebook posts with our conversations into a book."
"I love the idea! Wait a minute. Check this out - there you go; use this photo!"
"I can't use THIS photo. Mine is a family-friendly feed!"
"Is that why you don't give me your Facebook password? Worried I'll post inappropriate photos?"
"Not so much worried as pretty certain."
"Maybe you would prefer it if I shut down my Instagram too then?"
"Miss S, I would never dream of censoring YOU. But it's MY Facebook feed. You see, where you come from, and the people you know, are very different from the where I come from, and the people I know. I don't even use your full name on here, because, after all, as Shakespeare said...."
"Agua!"
"Agua! Water!"
"Yes, I know, but where does water come into it? Shakespeare wrote in English, not Spanish. Maybe you're thinking of Marquez."
"I swallowed a hot pepper, you priceless ass! Give me water!"
"Oh. There you go."
"Am I a hot pepper too?"
"A Red Savina Habanero."
"New caption for new photo!!"
"Sigh! I'm getting back to lunch."
"You never pay me any attention."
"That's so unfair!"
"Here I am, in a state of partial undress, and you're still eating! Fish, I mean."
"Here you are, in a state of partial undress, and you're still eating, too."
"This is so good, though."
"So good."
"We will need ice-cream after."
"We don't have ice-cream, Ana."
"Crap. Yogurt?"
"Nope."
"So what DO we have?"
"Water."
"Blegh. So we will have to go out then?"
"Seems inevitable."
"I hate wearing clothes when I've removed them for a purpose."
"You generally hate wearing clothes."
"That's....like...so...agua. Dame agua!"
"Let's concentrate on the food and talk less, yes? That way maybe you'll eat more fish and less chilli"
"Yes, Percy."
This be Frozen Yogurt
Labels: Conversations, Indian food, Percy-Ana Chronicles
Percy - Ana Chronicles - VI: What makes Indian foo...
Percy - Ana Chronicles - V: Food, Shirts and Shorts
Percy - Ana Chronicles - IV: Wimbledon's not a TV ...
Percy - Ana Chronicles - III: What happens in Vega...
Percy - Ana Chronicles - II: Of Maps and Men
Percy - Ana Chronicles - I: A Toast to Donald Trump


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Zhenia Dementyeva
Princeton Girls Tennis
2014-2015 1st Doubles
9/5/2014, Hopewell Valley (0) at Princeton (3)
Win with Nikhita Salgame 6-4, 6-0
9/8/2014, Princeton (4) at Robbinsville (1)
9/9/2014, Hamilton West (0) at Princeton (5)
9/11/2014, West Windsor-Plainsboro South (3) at Princeton (2)
Loss with Nikhita Salgame 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
9/12/2014, Trenton (0) at Princeton (5)
9/15/2014, Princeton (5) at Ewing (0)
9/17/2014, Lawrence (0) at Princeton (5)
9/19/2014, Princeton (5) at Notre Dame (0)
9/22/2014, Princeton (5) at Steinert (0)
9/24/2014, Princeton (5) at Allentown (0)
10/7/2014, Hightstown (1) at Princeton (4)
10/8/2014, Middletown South (0) at Princeton (5), NJSIAA Tournament, Quarterfinal Round, Central Jersey, Group 3
10/10/2014, Hopewell Valley (0) at Princeton (5), NJSIAA Tournament, Semifinal Round, Central Jersey, Group 3
10/14/2014, Ocean Township (0) at Princeton (5), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, Central Jersey, Group 3
10/17/2014, Northern Highlands (2) at Princeton (3), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Semifinal Round, Group 3
Loss with Nikhita Salgame 6-4, 6-4
10/17/2014, Princeton (1) at Millburn (4), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 3
Loss with Nikhita Salgame 7-6 (10-5), 6-3
10/20/2014, Princeton (2) at West Windsor-Plainsboro South (3)
10/21/2014, Princeton (5) at West Windsor-Plainsboro North (0)
Win with Nikhita Salgame 6-1, 3-6, 11-9
10/27/2014, Princeton (5) at Nottingham (0)


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Friday 21st April 2017
We missed out on tickets when Frankie played The Royal Albert Hall last year, so we jumped at this opportunity to see him in the Bournemouth International Centre, and made a full weekend of it on the sunshine coast of England!
This was billed as a Greatest Hits tour, and you do forget just how many hits Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons actually had. The show opened with a short video which charted Frankie's musical career, and as it came to an end, Frankie came onto the stage to rapturous applause and immediately launched into "Who Loves You".
His backing was from a full band, including trumpet, trombone and saxophone, 2 keyboards, drums, guitar, bass and four guys who sang wonderfully and did some co-ordinated dance moves throughout the whole show. You had the feeling these guys had been part of Jersey Boys at some stage, they looked and sounded the part!!! The Musical Director, Robbie Robinson, has been a Four Season in the past and was introduced as a "dear friend for the last 37 years". Robbie was loving it all, and his enthusiasm was quite infectious.
We had heard rumours Valli's voice is augmented through a special microphone so he could still hit those falsettos – it didn't matter if that was the case. He did sound great and you could tell he wanted to deliver the best show he could - if this means a bit of technical support, that's fine with us. There was not much time for chit chat, and indeed, the set was so slick there was hardly any chance for general banter between songs as he moved effortlessly through his back catalogue, working with his band like a well-oiled machine.
A few pairs of knickers were thrown onto the stage during the second half, something we reckon happens at all of his shows. During the band introductions, one of the four backing singers, pocketed a rather flimsy g-string that had been thrown!
The show lasted the best part of 2 hours without a break. That's not bad going for a guy who is about to reach his 83rd birthday in a matter of weeks!!! His energy was similar to the Duracell Bunny, and even at the end of the show he had the energy to walk along the front of the stage and shake hands with everyone (and there were a lot) who had outstretched hands.
Highlights for us were "Save It For Me", "Silence Is Golden", "Rag Doll", "Bye Bye Baby (Goodbye)" amongst loads of other hits. "My Eyes Adored You" sounded brilliant, and "December 1963 (Oh What A Night) " went down a storm and by the end up, the whole auditorium were on their feet, dancing and singing along.
A classic conversation took place with the family seated behind us.
Young guy "Is Aunt Jean coming tonight?"
Mum "No, she was asked but didn't want to come."
Young Guy "Why?"
Mum "She said she'd been to see The Jersey Boys" and that will do her!"
Oh what a night she missed!


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Fleeing Rohingya at the mercy of a smuggling network greased by graft
For desperate Rohingya arrested in Thai territory, hope for the future can rest simply with ...
Members of the ethnic minority arrive in Thailand from Myanmar and Bangladesh in hope of better lives, but enter a tangled human trafficking web where local officials, complicitous members of their own group and fixers make them pay dearly for their dreams.
For desperate Rohingya arrested in Thai territory, hope for the future can rest simply with how much money they have to pay off local officials and human traffickers. The prospects are dire for those without the required cash—being sold into slavery is commonplace.
Muh, a 43-year-old Rohingya living in Bangkok for over a decade, has intimate knowledge of trafficking operations originating in either Bangladesh or Myanmar's Rakhine state, where stateless Rohingya have been subjected to violent persecution in recent months.
Before the raid on 400 Rohingya near the Thai-Malaysian border in Songkhla's Sadao district on Thursday, Muh, real name withheld, told Bangkok Post Spectrum his connections had informed him that security officials were preparing to pounce on a ''safe house'' there.
He painted a complicated picture of the smuggling racket, involving complicitous Rohingya in both countries, corrupt Thai officials, fixers throughout the whole process and safe houses where the Rohingya are kept until they can be smuggled across the border.
While smugglers can demand up to 50,000 baht [US $1,1667] for passage to another country, costs can go up considerably for Rohingya detained on Thai soil.
Muh says in some cases Rohingya who are reportedly deported back to Myanmar are in fact taken to safe houses in southern Thailand.
The smuggling boats can carry 50-80 people per trip and the captain is usually fluent in Thai, Myanmar and Bengali.
''These people want to be arrested by Thai officials because it is part of the plan,'' Muh said. ''Once they are arrested, they go through the immigration process.
The trafficker gets involved during the deportation process. This is the point when they have to pay another sum so that they can go to their preferred destinations. Those who can afford to continue their journey will get to go to Malaysia or Indonesia. But those who remain here will be sold to the fishing industry where they will be forced to work for 20 hours a day with no days off. I can't reveal where, but sometimes Rohingya are sold to fishing boats in the middle of the sea.''
Surapong Kongchantuk from the Lawyers Council of Thailand chairs the human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities, stateless people, migrant workers and displaced persons and has been documenting and working on cases involving smuggled Rohingya for over a decade.
In the past, the Rohingya had come to Thailand by themselves to escape poverty and persecution, but trafficking has become big business in the last four to five years.
''A Rohingya agent will go around and tell them about coming to Thailand and then going on to Malaysia for work for good pay,'' he said.
''The agents are Rohingya who either live in Thailand or Malaysia. Once people in the village see them having a good life in other countries, they want the same.''
Mr Surapong said the Rohingya coming from Myanmar pay 300,000-700,000 kyat (10,600-24,800 baht) to the smugglers and those from Bangladesh 20,000-28,000 taka (7,600-10,600 baht) [30 baht = US $1]. The journey to Thailand usually takes two weeks by boat.
''They used to destroy the boat and run away, but now they surrender to police,'' Mr Surapong said. ''The trafficker takes care of them from that point on.''
''If they want to go to Malaysia, they will have to pay 1-1.5 million kyat or 50,000-80,000 taka. If they don't have the money up front, they can choose to have it deducted from their monthly salaries.''
Mr Surapong said according to interviews with Rohingya, some had their passage paid by relatives living in Thailand, but those who didn't have enough money were sold into slavery, sometimes, as Muh pointed out, in the middle of the sea.
Those who can afford the pay-offs are taken to the safe houses where additional payments determine how quickly they can be moved across the border. Sometimes relatives again come to the rescue; at other times the Rohingya are expected to work to pay off their debts.
''Safe houses are located in many locations, especially in Hat Yai district and Padang Besar district of Songkhla province and Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat province,'' Mr Surapong said.
''All of the safe houses are located in the jungle where no one can easily see them. The safe houses are protected and taken care of by people in 'coloured uniforms'.''
Department of Special Investigation anti-human trafficking centre chief Pol Maj Jatuporn Arunreukthawil said the involvement of Thailand-based Rohingya in the trafficking of their own people had become a concern.
''For the entire time I have been monitoring the issue, I have noticed the majority of Rohingya who came into Thailand are male. But lately, there are some females and children coming in,'' he said.
Pol Maj Jatuporn said by law it was an issue for immigration police to handle, not the military.
''I have heard of many suspicious things going on down South. I have all the information, but I can't reveal it because it will interrupt cases that we are working on at the moment.''
Mr Surapong said despite the best efforts of the Thai government to deal with the issue in a humane way, more and more Rohingya were coming. ''Part of it is because they are treated well once they arrive here,'' he said. ''They get food, water, gas and other things that they cannot get from Myanmar.''
Records detailing the number of Rohingya arrested or detained upon arrival in Thailand date back to 1998. That year, 104 were detained upon arrival after crossing overland into Tak province. That number climbed to 1,123 in 2006, 2,763 in 2007 and 4,880 the following year.
In 2009, the number of arrests dropped to 93 following international publicity about Thai officials pushing the Rohingya's boats out to sea. However, the following year that number rose dramatically to 2,350.
''These numbers reflect the number of people arrested; there are still many of them who were not on the record,'' Mr Surapong said.
The military's Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) is responsible for national security issues, including Rohingya who try to enter the country illegally. In 2008, Isoc set out guidelines in its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to handle the illegal immigrant problem along Thailand's borders.
Spectrum contacted Isoc Region 4 officials in Pattani and Ranong provinces, but both declined to comment on the Rohingya issue, and referred us to Isoc's main office in Bangkok. No one in Isoc's Bangkok office was available for comment.
ROHINGYA OR MYANMAR?
Another problem for Thai officials is whether to designate Rohingya as Myanmar nationals when they are deported.
On Jan 1, 73 Rohingya travelling by boat were detained at Koh Bon and taken to Phuket immigration office. They were designated as Myanmar nationals and deported across the border at Ranong the following day.
''The reason that we have to document them as Myanmar is because we are afraid that we won't be able to deport them at the border if we document them as Rohingya since they are not recognised as citizens by the Myanmar government,'' said one immigration police officer.
Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, who claimed he has full authorisation to deal with illegal immigrants, said Rohingya were treated in a gentle, humanitarian way because of the difficult situation they were in.
''Basically, I just gave them what they needed,'' he said in reference to the Bon island group. ''They had travelled for almost two weeks. They had no food left by the time they arrived, so we offered them some. They said they wanted to travel further. We thought about giving them the petrol to continue their journey to Malaysia, but the sea was really rough on that day. Moreover, their boat was not in good enough condition for them to travel that far.
''Letting them continue would be the same as trying to kill them, so I ordered the officials to take them to land and follow the standard procedure. For this case, we had no choice but to deport them. I understand that they are seeking asylum, but we are not in the position to handle that.''
The governor said while it may appear to be a big national security issue involving human rights, Phuket had to consider its image as a tourist town.
''There is no way that we would keep a warship along the coast to guard our border, instead we are acting as a good housekeeper who keeps the whole town clean and organised,'' he said.
Nightmare without borders
After a week-long trek, Muh arrived in Thailand from Myanmar 13 years ago hoping his ordeal under the repressive state regime was finally over.
Originally from Rakhine state, Muh, who unlike many Rohingya come by boat, arrived on foot via the Mae Sot border in Tak province with two friends. A new chapter in his difficult life was about to begin. ''I ran away from my village and headed towards Yangon. The only safe place I could think of was Thailand,'' said 43-year-old Muh.
''Once we crossed the Thai border, we felt safe and didn't have any further plans of where we wanted to go. The only thing that scared us was being deported back to Myanmar, because I knew in my heart that we would end up back in prison.
''Our worst fears came true when we were arrested by Thai police in Tak province. We were sent to a prison that held many others from Myanmar. We were mixed in with them for a couple of day before three big trucks—not police trucks—took us somewhere we didn't recognise.
''There were 30 people on each truck. I was separated from my friends, and scared of where we'd end up. Then we arrived at a safe house where a man explained that if we didn't want to be deported back to Myanmar, we would have to pay them money. Then they would take us to work in Thailand.
''I ended up paying around 700 baht. It was a lot of money for me at the time—I had almost nothing. Then they brought me to a buffalo farm in Tak province. I watched and fed the animals, and slept in a small shack. I got paid 200 to 300 baht a month with food and a place to sleep.
''After a while I ran away. I just took any bus and got off at Nakhon Sawan, where I found a family who helped me. I got a job as a construction worker before I went to Nakhon Ratchasima province. I saved some money and decided to come to Bangkok with a little help from my Rohingya friends.''
In Bangkok, Muh made a living selling roti on the street. Soon he was able to communicate in Thai fluently. His language abilities and connections make him an ideal interpreter when Rohingya arrive in Thailand through human traffickers.
Muh says he declines to get involved with traffickers who smuggle Rohingya to sell in the labour market, but he admits that such smugglers exist all over Thailand. He knows about much of the movements of Rohingya into Thailand.
''None of the Rohingya want to come to Thailand. Their main target is to make it to Malaysia or Indonesia. Thailand is just the passageway for them to get to their desired destination.
''When we see news of Rohingya coming to Thailand by boat, most are younger males. That's because the traffickers want to sell people for labour.
''Each of them contacts a local agent from Myanmar or Bangladesh. Then the Rohingya have to pay the agent to get them on a boat sailing to the Thai border. It usually takes 10 to 14 days, and they normally end up in Ranong, Phangnga or Phuket. It depends on where the agent wants them to be.''
Still the memories of the oppression his people face at home still hang heavily on Muh.
''The threat of being raped, robbed or killed were some of the worst nightmares we faced. Maybe that's why I don't know what a bad dream is because we faced it on a daily basis, every waking moment of our lives.
''The Rohingya are treated so unfairly. We have a long history of having roots in Myanmar, but we've never been included as part of the country. The military treats us as less than human. They can just come to our village and demand to take some women for their own pleasure. If we fight back, they'll hurt us. They're fully armed. So we have to trade our food, oil or money to save the women.
''So you can see why Rohingya want to escape from that nightmare and find a better place. They'll do anything to get away so they don't have to suffer.
''Some Rohingya travel by foot and sneak into Thailand across the border but most of them don't make it. Other popular options are to pay for someone to get them out of there or to sell themselves to a human trafficker.''
This article was first published in The Bangkok Post on January 13, 2013.