Thai Police Punishment

[guyham]

I haven't seen this in any of the Thai news. This came from my son in USA. Also similar article in British Guardian newspaper website. Hope it works - maybe should catch on to rest of the world.

THE LIGHTER SIDE: Bad Thai cops to endure Hello Kitty shame

Thai police officers who break rules will be forced to wear hot pink

armbands featuring Hello Kitty, the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of

shame, a senior officer said today.

Police officers caught littering, parking in a prohibited area, or

arriving late ? among other misdemeanors ? will be forced to stay in the

division office and wear the armband all day, Police Col. Pongpat

Chayaphan said. The officers won't wear the armband in public.

The armband features Hello Kitty sitting atop two hearts.

"Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them

feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no

matter how minor," said Pongpat, acting chief of the Crime Suppression

Division in Bangkok.

"(Hello) Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho

police officers want covering their biceps," Pongpat said.

Police caught breaking the law will be subject to the same fines and

penalties as any other members of the public, he said.

"We want to make sure that we do not condone small offenses," Pongpat

said. He added that the CSD believed that getting tough on petty

misdemeanors would lead to fewer cases of more serious offenses including

abuse of power and mistreatment of the public by police officers.

Hello Kitty, invented by Sanrio Co. in 1974, has been popular for years

with children and young women. The celebrity cat adorns everything from

diamond-studded jewelry, Fender guitars and digital cameras, to lunch

boxes, t-shirts and stationery.

? The Associated Press

[mellow1]

Certainly shows they are very serious in making some changes.They should start a little easier and not be so tough.

[sbk]

already covered in News Clippings here and General Forum here

I think two threads is enough

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