Film Act Bans Sexual Offenders From Opening VCD/DVD Stores

[george]

Film Act bans sexual offenders from opening VCD/DVD stores

BANGKOK: -- Under the 2009 National Film Act, authorities will not allow former convicted sexual offenders to open a cinema, a VCD/DVD shop or rental store.

"We will check the background of those who seek an operating licence," Film Review Office director Pradit Posew vowed at a seminar yesterday.

He says the act will bar |anyone who has been sentenced to jail for sexual offences from operating any such business.

"That's why we want the fingerprints of people who request operating licences," Pradit points out.

According to him, the 2009 National Film Act will be announced in the Royal Gazette next week, after which it will take immediate effect.

'Complicated' procedures

Soonthorn Auesurattanachai, who is authorised to seek a licence for his Imagine store in Nonthaburi, says he feels the new act has complicated procedures.

"I really don't understand why my fingerprints are needed. Why should my background be checked this deeply?" he asks.

He says Imagine has sold only copyright items and there is no pornographic material involved. "I will, of course, abide by the laws, but I feel the complicated process takes so much time," Soonthorn laments.

Under the new act, cinemas are required to announce the ratings accorded to each film.

"We will abide by the rule," a representative from SF Cinema says. "We believe the announcement will not affect the number of viewers at our cinemas."

The film-rating system has categorised films into seven groups. The first group is for films that should be promoted; the second for general audiences; the third for viewers aged 13 years or older; the fourth for viewers aged 15 or older; the fifth for viewers aged 18 or older; the sixth for viewers aged over 20, and the seventh for films banned in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2009-08-21

[dale8]

Hello, so does this mean that convicted sexual offenders are not allowed inside these places as customers? I fail to see the point of the government, but this is Thailand. Maybe this will limit the sexual offenders to owning go-go bars and karoke bars. Cheers.

[TAWP]

First step towards more stupid things to come. They will always target the easy groups first, even if it in this case is nonsensical in regards to what they seek license to do.

[Scott]

And the relationship between sex offenses and cinemas is what?

[321niti123]

Does this mean they wont allow kids under the age of 18 to go watch an 18 + film?

Why do they have to announce the names of the films that are banned in thailand, it seems counter productive-> just gives the thai people the name to go download from some pirated site.

[TAWP]

Does this mean they wont allow kids under the age of 18 to go watch an 18 + film?

Why do they have to announce the names of the films that are banned in thailand, it seems counter productive-> just gives the thai people the name to go download from some pirated site.

I think it is fairly obvious why they need to publicize the names of banned movies, as otherwise how would people know what to be able to [not] import, bring in luggage from abroad etc, and border personnel, import checks etc has to have these lists aswell.