Government Ready To Change Laws On Sex Industry

[george]

Government ready to change laws on sex industry, says Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hinted yesterday that his government was ready to change the laws surrounding the country's burgeoning sex industry.

Mr Thaksin told a forum on Thailand's underground industries, such as gambling and prostitution, that minor penalties and small enforcement budgets to target the trade encouraged corrupt relationships between sex bosses and police.

'I wanted all of you to brainstorm on this issue and the government is ready for changes,' he told delegates to the one-day conference in Bangkok.

For some time, the Thai authorities have considered legalising the multi- million-dollar illicit business that has turned the country into a famous centre for sex tourism.

Earlier this year, an academic report claimed that 2.8 million Thais served as sex workers in the country from 1999 to 2002, and that the industry grew last year.

Thailand has thousands of go-go bars, massage parlours and brothels. The industry boomed during the Vietnam War when US servicemen flocked to the country's red-light districts.

The National Economic and Social Advisory Council reported last year that massage parlour owners in Thailand paid a staggering 3.2 billion baht (S$135 million) a year in police bribes.

But Thai prostitutes and academics have argued that legalising the nation's sex industry would increase child exploitation and lure more women into the trade.

The Thai government has been keen to stamp out Bangkok's image as a sex tourism destination and has introduced tougher measures under which bars and other entertainment venues close at 2am.

The most recent legislation governing Thailand's sex industry, passed in 1996, substantially increased penalties for selling children into the trade while reducing punishment for sex workers.

-- AFP 2004-06-27

[ovenman]

One wonders whether Shin Corporation is now looking to invest in some entertainment establishments...?

[stumonster]

I take it he solved all the other problems he was working on and is prepared to take on the next challenge. The ''ímage''of the fearless leader prospers

''if it is not going to make me money it is not worth doing!"'

[mouse]

I see it differently; The tourist has brought and continues to bring million of Dollars into the Thai economy by means of medicine payments for the sick Buffalo, aid to the family and a million other reasons.

Thailand is doing better than it's neighbors as a result of this. Yes, it should finally be legalized, zoned, stringetly controlled and of course taxed so that the Thai Government can also get it's deserving share of the bounty. But do not repair something that is not broken. Sun and Palms are everywhere in the world but beautiful Thai women are only in abundance here.

[Crushdepth]

Thailand's underground industries, such as gambling and prostitution...

Underground ? Underground ??? Of course ! I'm heading down the subway right away

[eyespan]

I agree with Stumonster. But you see, the head waiter can make as many mistakes as he deem fit to make the lives of the people miserable and then pay for his votes during elections.

[snoophound]

Yes interesting isnt it.

The Falang comes here to get laid but a high percentage end up providing social welfare payments to the girls families.

How will Thaksin replace this?

I think the Sex tourist thing is overblown.

Ask any Thai girl and they will tell you about all the Thai sex establishments.

It is reasonably accepted married that thai men use these regularly

[eyespan]

To be or not to be...... You don't see much social workers persuading the ladies to stop working.

Recently a friend of mine in Hatyai told me that certain organisations are offering courses such as hairdressing and cooking to the girls at 5 or 10 baht a day. I salute these efforts as they really offer an alternative to the sex industry. Unlike all the talk no action TRT.

[eyespan]

You're wrong if you think the thais can't see through him. He is more or less percieved as a neccesary evil. Everybody knows he is lining his own pocket but it is hard to name an alternative capable of taking over him. More than food in their stomachs, some people need an authorative government. I remember Thailand in the 80s, not safe at all for anything. Major shootouts somewhere everyday.

[Up2U]

To be or not to be...... You don't see much social workers persuading the ladies to stop working.

Recently a friend of mine in Hatyai told me that certain organisations are offering courses such as hairdressing and cooking to the girls at 5 or 10 baht a day. I salute these efforts as they really offer an alternative to the sex industry. Unlike all the talk no action TRT.

My wife owns a beauty salon.

She would be broke if it was not for the bar-girls who go in for their daily hair and nail work-up.

[astral]

"the country's burgeoning sex industry"

He's only just noticed?

Where has he been for the last 20 years or more??

[NedKelly]

Most people agree that something like 85% of Thailands sex industry is actually the domestic market. Farang only make up a small but visible part of it. Go and take a look inthe soi's off Ratchadapisek Rd and see the size of the clubs over there.....they are huge. They obviously make a lot of money.

[Martin]

Why is Thailand's image so unbalanced?

And, more importantly, what can it do about it?

And what organisation should be encouraged to put the picture straight?

Compared to the size and population of the country, the Thailand farang sex tourist scene isn't that big. And I think that a good look at it in many countries in the world would throw up some real surprises between actuality and perceived images.

In my view, Pat Porn/Nana/Soi Cowboy/Pattaya/Patong are just small boils on an otherwise healthy body. And lots of other countries, where Western currencies buy a lot more than they do in the West, have similar situations, but without the poor image.

If Thaksin can get out the message that Thailand is not complacent about the harm done to it by this distorted image, he will serve the country well.

However he can't come out and point to other countries being as bad or worse, but 'getting away with it'. That is a no-no in international diplomacy. But some NGO could do it. And then we could all help by hammering the message 'Home'.

[Martin]

Nice one, astral!

[drbones666]

As Thailand is becoming more buddy-buddy with the USA, I suspect future changes will be in the direction of restriction.

[Martin]

And, looking at the two that they have elected to lead them,the same goes for the Americans and the British.