Politics Call To End Vice-plagued Business

[george]

POLITICS CALL TO END VICE-PLAGUED BUSINESS

Chuwit does massage U-turn

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Chart Thai party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday called on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stamp out the prostitution-riddled massage business within the next few years. Earlier widely known for having run several lucrative massage parlours in the Ratchadaphisek road area and nearby, Mr Chuwit suggested Mr Thaksin introduce legislation to criminalise the ``modern-day'' massage parlour business, which, he said, not only involves the flesh trade but harbours other illegal dealings.

''For the sake of our young generation, the premier should come up with a bill to put an end to all massage businesses in the next three years. Modern-day massage is not only prone to prostitution but encourages gambling and other vices,'' said the maverick lawmaker.

About 20 business people currently own leading massage parlours in the Ratchadaphisek road and New Phetchaburi road areas, Mr Chuwit said.

Hundreds of Burmese and Karen women were lured into prostitution at massage parlours in the Ratchadaphisek area. Though the Burmese and Karen were known to carry fake IDs, the Immigration Police and other authorities did not arrest suspected prostitutes, Mr Chuwit said.

``The police might have arrested some of the Burmese and Karen only to release them in exchange for pay-offs a few hours later. You'd feel as though you were somewhere in Burma if you got to the sidewalks of Ratchada and noticed those women did not speak Thai,'' he said.

The ex-massage parlour tycoon earlier charged that senior police officers received bribes from massage parlour operators.

Mr Chuwit added that he planned to introduce legislation to keep all businesses involving vice from within a 500-meter radius of schools and colleges nationwide.

Meanwhile, national police commissioner Pol Gen Kowit Wattana said the police had never planned to issue a licence to the Alaina massage parlour on Ratchadaphisek road whose owner should have known that it was illegal to set it up in front of a secondary school.

Pol Gen Kowit's decision not to issue the licence was in line with the suggestion of a review committee of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, led by Pol Gen Amnuay Petsiri, which stated that the parlour's business was in breach of the law.

--Bangkok Post 2005-09-21

[sriracha john]

Since he's a wealthy millionaire from proceeds derived from his massage parlor businesses.... perhaps it would be the charitable thing from him, if he wants to truly stamp out current massage parlor businesses, by simply buying them out and converting them to some other legitimate business.

He could also use his millions in past profits made off these women to assist the newly out-of-work women for job re-training in a legitimate field.

Anything short of these measures make him look even more buffonish than he already is...

[ovenman]

''For the sake of our young generation, the premier should come up with a bill to put an end to all massage businesses in the next three years. Modern-day massage is not only prone to prostitution but encourages gambling and other vices,'' said the maverick lawmaker.

This reads like "Hey! If I can't make money off this anymore, nobody else should either."

[kat]

I love the way the article uses the term "lure" to describe how these women are lured into the flesh trade. Many of them have been smuggled or sold by human traffickers, whose influence and money reaches all the way to the top.

Think about it: How can "hundreds" of Burmese and Karen women work right on Ratchada, but not be affected by the huge round-up of illegal migrants that sent many Burmese to primitive "refugee" camps?

[cdnvic]

Chuwit campaigning against the sex trade reminds me of Krusty the Clown campaigning against illiteracy.

cv

[RDN]

Since he's a wealthy millionaire from proceeds derived from his massage parlor businesses.... perhaps it would be the charitable thing from him, if he wants to truly stamp out current massage parlor businesses, by simply buying them out and converting them to some other legitimate business.

He could also use his millions in past profits made off these women to assist the newly out-of-work women for job re-training in a legitimate field.

Anything short of these measures make him look even more buffonish than he already is...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's vermin and should've been dealt with years ago.

[britmaveric]

Modern-day massage is not only prone to prostitution but encourages gambling and other vices,'' said the maverick lawmaker.

Hypocrite comes to mind. So he intends to stamp out all massage parlours nationwide?

Where's a person going to go and have a good thai massage?

[The Skipper]

He sold his massage empire a few years ago.

I wonder how the new owners feel about his new stance?

[singa-traz]

Since he's a wealthy millionaire from proceeds derived from his massage parlor businesses.... perhaps it would be the charitable thing from him, if he wants to truly stamp out current massage parlor businesses, by simply buying them out and converting them to some other legitimate business.

He could also use his millions in past profits made off these women to assist the newly out-of-work women for job re-training in a legitimate field.

Anything short of these measures make him look even more buffonish than he already is...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's vermin and should've been dealt with years ago.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought that's why he was going into politic, to continue to be in the spotlight and avoid an unfortunate encounter with a moto-taxi ... with two passengers ...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Since he's a wealthy millionaire from proceeds derived from his massage parlor businesses.... perhaps it would be the charitable thing from him, if he wants to truly stamp out current massage parlor businesses, by simply buying them out and converting them to some other legitimate business.

He could also use his millions in past profits made off these women to assist the newly out-of-work women for job re-training in a legitimate field.

Anything short of these measures make him look even more buffonish than he already is...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's vermin and should've been dealt with years ago.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't praise the bugger RDN

[Buff-horns]

This miserable worm Chuwit still hasnt been convicted for trashing and demolishing an entire area of businesses in sukhumvit road.

His cardboard cutout has been towering(glowering) over the site in recent months.

[jrincon17]

Modern-day massage is not only prone to prostitution but encourages gambling and other vices,'' said the maverick lawmaker.

Hypocrite comes to mind. So he intends to stamp out all massage parlours nationwide?

Where's a person going to go and have a good thai massage?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The philippines

[Butterfly]

This reads like "Hey! If I can't make money off this anymore, nobody else should either." 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep. My feeling too.

[joe beets]

This miserable worm Chuwit still hasnt been convicted for trashing and demolishing an entire area of businesses in sukhumvit road.

His cardboard cutout has been towering(glowering)  over the site in recent months.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are they using the one where he's wielding the sledgehammer?

jb

[silk123]

Ha ha ha.

Fish can't swim in air.