Police Intensify Raids On Internet Cafes

[PhilHarries]

He points out that almost 16 per cent of respondents now don't visit cafes because of gambling, glue-sniffing, smoking and alcohol abuse there, adding that cafes allowing alcohol consumption and smoking are worse.

So the smoking and alcohol abuse are worse in the cafes that allow smoking and alcohol than in those that don't.

And the world champion for stating the blindingly obvious is.............................

[simey]

An internet shop just outside of Maenam in Samui was raided two days ago for printing fake money - the printing equipment was taken away by the police. Seems these places are the cause of all sorts of things!

[mrtoad]

He points out that almost 16 per cent of respondents now don't visit cafes because of gambling, glue-sniffing, smoking and alcohol abuse there, adding that cafes allowing alcohol consumption and smoking are worse.

So the smoking and alcohol abuse are worse in the cafes that allow smoking and alcohol than in those that don't.

And the world champion for stating the blindingly obvious is.............................

Pure genius. I wonder how big a research grant this guy gets.

[kmart]

Monty Python couldn't have written it any better than this stuff.

[chuck_s]

There are gays in them Internet cafes in Thailand. Wow!!! What next.

Next thing you know, them breeders will be looking for sex in them internet cafes as well.

[sriracha john]

The bizarreness level is taken up several notches...

Kids arrested

Three boys aged between 8 and 12 have sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl after watching pornography at an Internet cafe.

Thammasala police arrested the boys at a housing estate in Thawee Watthana. Their parents were taken for questioning, too.

The victim's parents complain their daughter was assaulted on April 17. They assert she was raped, and an examination confirms she has had sexual intercourse. Police are considering charges ranging from gang rape to taking a minor for a lewd act.

Inspector Major Phuwadol Niamsri says the boys admitted to the acts and say they copied what they saw older boys watching on a computer. They had been at the Internet cafe to play games.

- The Nation (today)

Edited April 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[geriatrickid]

And yet again, WHERE ARE THE NEVER TO BE BLAMED PARENTS?

Oh no, the concept of taking responsibility for one's progeny? egads, are you daft man? Those parents have rights don't you know? Besides little krub is perfect and incapable of wrong.

Is it just me but this is shaping up to be an excuse to limit access to the internet or to impose stricter censorship laws?

[sriracha john]

Is it just me but this is shaping up to be an excuse to limit access to the internet or to impose stricter censorship laws?

A quick review of the consequences of these Internet cafes (and by association, the Internet itself) reveals narcotics usage, delinquency, child rapes, robberies, extortion, assaults, underage alcohol consumption and tobacco usuage, homosexual stalking, and currency counterfeiting.

They'd be crazy NOT to impose stricter laws to control the situation and severely limit access to both Internet cafes AND the Internet. They are collectively destroying Thai society.

Edited April 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[MrSnrang]

Where are these places?

[sonnyJ]

Haven't they checked your place yet, Mr Snrang?

It's a full out war on internet users. Be warned.

[DaiHard]

"assaulting another victim in the toilet of a shrine in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district"

So he actually assaulted the boy at a shrine but just happened to be in an internet cafe when he was arrested. In which case I can't see why internet cafes are taking the blame.

As it happens lots of kids take ya-ba so they can play games for hours at a stretch and a few of them deal ya-ba to pay for their gaming; all those 20 bahts add up. Its the games that are the problem not the internet cafes per se: maybe they should look at the Chinese model where if a gamer is on line playing the game for too long it starts to slow down until its unplayable.

[sriracha john]

Boys watched porn on the Net before assaulting girl

< same details as yesterday snipped >

The 8-year-old says he asked the girl to come and "play" with him at a wooded area behind the housing estate. He says they did this "two or three times". On the day of the alleged assault, the boy invited other friends. He showed them what he and the girl had been doing. One refused to participate and told the girl's mother.

Meanwhile, following news in Daily Xpress that a 7-year-old boy was recently the victim of a sexual assault at a Phra Nakhon computer shop, concerned citizens are demanding action.

The Family Network insists the police and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration impose measures to protect children frequenting Internet shops.

They want children restricted to no more than three hours a day at cafes, children under 15 banned after 8pm, and under 18s after 10pm.

All Internet shops must be registered, they say, and city officials and police must regularly inspect them. They want shop-owners to "ensure a safe and appropriate environment."

Bangkok Deputy Governor Putthipong Punnakan says there are 10,000 computer "shops" open during the holidays, some temporary establishments taking advantage of the school-break business.

Six months ago there were just 4,000 such shops, and just 1,000 were registered, he says. The city must approach police to close unregistered cafes.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung will discuss unregistered Internet shops and those open beyond legal hours with provincial authorities and city police chiefs.

- Daily Xpress / April 26, 2008

[sriracha john]

A Purachai wannabe.....

ICT Minister inspected internet shops

Information and Communication Technology Minister Man Pattanothai, together with officials from the ICT Cop Center *&lt;deleted&gt; is that???* and the Children, Juveniles and Women Division, inspected the internet service shops in front of Kasetsart University yesterday, as the Computer Crime Act will be effective on August 26th this year.

Following the inspection, many internet service shops have been found to violate the regulations. The lightings were dim in many shops, and children below 18 years of age were found using their computers beyond the permitted time between 2 PM and 10 PM.

A regulation also states that internet service shops must not allow their customers below 18 years of age to use the computers for three straight hours. However, closing down illegitimate internet service shops could not be done yet, as using internet is still essential for youths’ education.

The National Statistical Office are gathering relevant information on the internet service shops nationwide within two weeks.

- ThaiNews (today)

Edited May 3, 2008 by sriracha john

[slapout]

If this agency (whoever/whatever) it is, does not, nor intend to shut down or fine those internet cafes who break (law/rules) why waste time and human effort to even go in the dens of sin.

[astral]

My son can spend 5+ hrs a day on the internet [but I don't allow it]........does that mean that he is on drugs??

Quite possibly.

One of my step sons developed a taste for the red soft drink, Nam Dang,

someone had been lacing it with amphetamines.

Please warn you children not to share drinks in these places.

A new bottle opened in front of them is the safest.

The drug dealers will stoop so low to get new customers.

[sriracha john]

INTERNET CAFES

Illegal outlets to face closure

All cafes, game shops told to register immediately; nationwide inspection to crackdown on illegal activities

The owners of some 10,000 Internet cafes and computer-game outlets across the country could be closed and their assets seized if illegal activities are found to have been committed on their premises, the Office of National Culture Commission (ONCC) *yet another "agency" becomes involved as they all jump on the bandwagon...* said yesterday.

A nationwide inspection will begin soon. *Now that Yongyuth has resigned as House Speaker, give him the new job of Leader. He's great at leading raids... He could lead 200 commados in shooting up these cafes with automatic rifles.*

About 10,000 such venues were registered in the last year, and another 3,000 this year as of March, ONCC secretary-general Preecha Kanthiya said. He called on owners of any illegal venues to register their businesses immediately. He did not say how many Internet cafes and games outlets there were in Thailand.

The inspection will be jointly conducted by local police, and agents from the Interior, and Information and Communi-cations Technology ministries. * ...with hopefully Yongyuth leading this "Charge of the Light Brigade" *

Apart from rape and sexual abuse, there have also been reports of prostitution and drug dealing in computer gaming shops.

The Office of National Buddhism (ONB) *sigh* yet another agency... said yesterday it agreed with a suggestion that Internet cafes and gaming outlets be moved into Buddhist temples for better supervision. *great idea*

ONB official, Amnart Buasiri said many temples provided free Internet access and computer use for children as public services.

He said under monks' supervision, pornographic and content deemed inappropriate for children would be blocked or made forbidden, while monks could limit the hours kids spent at the computurs, and ensure quality and constructive content.

- Daily Xpress / May 6, 2008

[sriracha john]

Let the Spanish Inquisition begin.... with the kids...

Police Crack Down

The Children, Juveniles, and Women’s Division of the Royal Thai Police has cracked down on Internet game shops that allow children under 18 years of age to use their facilities after legal hours.

The Children, Juveniles, and Women’s Division of the Royal Thai Police or CWD have promised tough actions against those who violate a ban imposed by the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.

The ICT Ministry imposed a ban on all Internet cafés or online game shops from allowing children less than 18 years of age to use the shops’ services after 10 p.m.

The CWD conducted a raid on over 30 Internet game cafes in Bangkok last night. The raid found 3 Internet cafés operating beyond legal hours. Underage customers found in the cafés claimed that shop owners did not inform them of the legal time limit. The Internet game cafés will be prosecuted by authorities.

Violators of the ICT’s ban will face fines of no more than 30,000 and/or a 3-month jail term.

Meanwhile, National Cultural Committee secretary-general Preecha Kanthiya reveals that as many as 10,000 new Internet game cafés opened in Thailand in 2007.

The National Cultural Committee, together with the ICT Ministry and the Ministry of Interior will be carrying out random checks on Internet game cafés and karaoke bars in Bangkok.

Places found to be providing services outside the description provided in their commercial licenses will be prosecuted by the National Counter Corruption Commission or the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

- Thailand Outlook (today)