Transsexuals win one

The Administrative Court has ordered the Defence Ministry to stop describing transsexuals as people with a "permanent mental disorder".

Petitioner Samart Meecharoen flashes a victory sign yesterday after the Administrative Court ordered the Defence Ministry to stop describing transsexuals and transvestites in conscription records as people with a permanent mental disorder. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

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Transsexuals win fight with Defence Ministry

Court orders 'mental disorder' term scrapped

Mongkol Bangprapa
  
The Administrative Court has ordered the Defence Ministry to stop describing transsexuals who have not had sex change operations as people with a "permanent mental disorder" in their conscription records.

The ruling was hailed by transsexuals and human rights advocates who consider the term to be insulting.

The order will expedite efforts to amend conscription regulations in order to standardise the reasons for relieving transsexuals from draft duty.

The Administrative Court has asked the Defence Ministry and the relevant authorities to find a proper term to describe transsexuals who have not had sex change operations.

"The court sees conscription as being an important task of the Defence Ministry," read the verdict. "It is the ministry's job to speed up the amendment to prevent human rights violations and maintain the interest of military service."

The term "permanent mental disorder" is likely to be replaced with "gender identity disorder" under the amended regulation.

The petition was lodged by Samart Meecharoen who claimed the wording in the conscription papers was not only demoralising but also had deprived him of future employment opportunities.

The paper, known as the Sor Dor 43 certificate, is typically filed with job applications and if it contains the term "permanent mental disorder", transsexuals have little chance of finding decent jobs, he said.

Jetsada Taesombat,a representative of a sexual diversity group, said yesterday he hoped the court ruling would be observed by state agencies and private sector employers.

He said that the group would set up a watch group to monitor the military to ensure the term is no longer used.

Col Chartchai Changsri, of the Army Reserve Command, said it was unlikely that the armed forces would try to appeal the ruling because the amendment is being processed.

He said that the proposed amendment was being considered by the Council of State and was expected to take effect by the time of the annual conscription next year.

Col Chartchai said that under the amended regulations, transsexuals who do not undergo a sex change operation would be put in Category 2.

Those who are in this category would be called up for military service if there are not enough conscripts that year, he said.

petition – an official document in which you ask a court to take legal action (a petitioner is a person who files a petition with the court) คำร้องต่อศาล
Administrative Court – the court which deals with disputes between the private sector and government agencies ศาลปกครอง
transsexual – a person who feels emotionally that they want to live, dress, etc. as a member of the opposite sex ผู้มีจิตใจเหมือนเพศตรงข้าม
transvestite – a person, especially a man, who enjoys dressing as a member of the opposite sex ผู้ชอบแต่งกายลักเพศ, คนที่แต่งตัว-, ประพฤติตัว-, มีบทบาททางเพศ-เหมือนคนเพศตรงข้าม
conscription – the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces การเกณฑ์ทหาร
permanent – happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร  
disorder – an illness or medical condition ความผิดปกติทางกายหรือใจ
scrap – to get rid of; to stop using or accepting เลิก, ทิ้ง
operation – the process of cutting open a part of a person's body in order to remove or repair a damaged part การผ่าตัด
hail – to praise; to say good things about ชื่นชม  
advocate – someone who strongly and publicly supports someone or something ผู้สนับสนุน
insulting – rude or offensive อย่างดูถูกดูแคลน
expedite – to make something happen quickly or easily เร่ง
amend – to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc. especially in order to improve it การแก้ไขกฎหมาย
regulation – an official rule that controls the way that things are done กฎระเบียบ
standardise – to make objects or activities of the same type have the same features or qualities; to make something standard วางมาตรฐาน, ปรับเข้ามาตรฐาน
relieve – to help somebody by taking something heavy or difficult from them แบ่งเบาภาระ
draft – of conscription, the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces การเกณฑ์ทหาร
relevant – directly connected and important to what is being discussed or considered ที่เกี่ยวข้อง
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
proper – right, appropriate or correct; according to the rules  เหมาะสม
task – something that you have to do หน้าที่; ภารกิจ
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
violation – an action that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc.  การฝ่าฝืนกฎหมาย
maintain – to keep รักษา
interest – an advantage or benefit to someone or something ผลประโยชน์
replace – to put a new thing in the place of something old เลิกใช้และนำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
gender – the fact of being either male or female เพศ
identity – who or what somebody/something is  เอกลักษณ์
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim  ยื่น (คำร้อง)
demoralise – to cause to lose confidence or hope  ทำให้หมดความหวัง
deprive – to prevent someone from having something ทำให้ไม่ได้รับ
opportunity – a chance to do something, or a situation in which it is easy for you to do something  โอกาส
certificate – an official document or record stating that particular facts are true  ประกาศนียบัตร เกียรติบัตร
typically – usually; normally อย่างเป็นแบบฉบับ
file – to take official action ยื่น
application – a formal request for permission to do or have something การขอ
decent – of a good enough standard or quality  เหมาะสม
diversity – including many different types of things or people ความหลากหลาย
ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
observe – to obey rules, laws, etc  ยินยอมทำตาม (ทางกฎหมายหรือประเพณี)
state – government รัฐบาล
private sector – businesses and industries that are not owned or controlled by the government ภาคเอกชน
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening  ตรวจสอบ ตรวจตรา
ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done  ให้การยืนยัน, รับรอง, ให้ความมั่นใจ
unlikely – not expected to happen; probably won’t happen ที่ไม่น่าจะเกิดขึ้น
appeal – to make a request that a court change a decision of a lower court ยื่นอุทธรณ์
process – to deal with a document officially so that something can happen  ทำให้ผ่านกระบวนการ,ปฏิบัติการ,จัดการ
proposed – suggested as an idea for a group to consider ถูกเสนอ
Council of State – an official organisation that advises the government on proposed laws and other legal matters คณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกาและสำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา
category – a group of people or things that have similar qualities หมวดหมู่ ประเภท
conscript – someone who has been made to join the armed forces ผู้ที่ถูกเกณฑ์ทหาร