Crackdown On Obscene 'mor Lam Sing' Shows

[george]

Obscene 'mor lam sing' shows face police crackdown

BANGKOK: -- Police plan to crack down on obscene shows, which have been blamed as a cause of sexual abuse.

"Performers, organisers and hirers of pornographic shows will be punished," National Police deputy commissioner General Wongkot Maneerin said yesterday. Offenders would face a fine of up to Bt500, if convicted.

Wongkot spoke after a complaint was lodged with the Culture Ministry's monitoring centre over performers from a mor lam sing troupe, who allegedly took their clothes off during a show, staged at a religious rite in Samut Songkhram.

Mor lam sing is an Isaan-style performance with fast-step dancing, and a modern version of the slower mor lam.

"Those involved will face legal action," Wongkot warned.

In response to allegations that local police officers in Samut Songkhram were bribed to turn a blind eye to the sexually-arousing performance, Wongkot said an investigation was being held.

"If the allegations are proven, the punishment could be dismissal from the service," he said.

Wongkot said he had ordered police stations across the country to draw up a list of people who organise or perform in such shows so that police could check on their performances. "If they are found staging the pornographic shows, arrests will be made," he said.

Wongkot said a subcommittee on illegal-media planned to set up three units to comprehensively suppress illegal activities.

"There will be monitoring, legal and investigation units," he said.

The subcommittee would meet today, and Wongkot said he would attend.

Meanwhile, national artist Chaweewan Pantu - known as the "Mor Lam Queen" - urged the Culture Ministry to take action against improper performances by mor lam troupes.

"I have heard that some dancers of these groups offer sex services too," she said.

Ratreesawas Ounthaya, regarded as the originator of mor lam sing, called on the authorities to punish those who exploited the art.

--The Nation 2007-04-24

[Bottlerocket]

Well, the temple is no place for that sort of show and they always have the option to move it to a private venue. However, this is a crackdown on artistic expression. Obviously, a church isn't going to put the Chocolate Jesus on display and that's a decision made by the head of the church. Who is it in these temples that are contracting these shows? It seems they really like their coyote dancing and obscene mor lam. Why punish the troupe when they should be punishing the abbots (or whoever)?

[taxexile]

Offenders would face a fine of up to Bt500, if convicted.

with draconian penalties like that the sleazy purveyors of degrading filth who organise these disgusting and lascivious totally nud_e provocative dancing performances must be quaking in their flip flops.

p.s. whats the best way to get to samut songkram ?

[John K]

Was it just dancing or mimicking some sort of sexual act? As far as I know unless it mimics some sort of sexual act it is art.

[sniffdog]

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Offenders would face a fine of up to Bt500, if convicted.

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Wow, that would deter them from organizing this smut

[hammered]

You'd think that there might be better things for the police to do than to be used to enforce the vanguard of an unenforcable moral crusade. With politcos trying to out reactionary each other I'm sure we will see more of this craziness.

[PhilHarries]

"I have heard that some dancers of these groups offer sex services too," she said.

In Thailand

There has to be some way they can pin this behaviour on farangs.

[Nawtilus]

Offenders would face a fine of up to Bt500, if convicted.

with draconian penalties like that the sleazy purveyors of degrading filth who organise these disgusting and lascivious totally nud_e provocative dancing performances must be quaking in their flip flops.

p.s. whats the best way to get to samut songkram ?

Highway 35