Complaints Filed Against Topless Women Dancing During Songkran.

[newermonkey]

related article

Ladyboys Arrested for Stripping in Public During Songkran

Police have arrested Thai transvestites who stripped down to the waist while celebrating Songkran in Pichit Province.

The ladyboys apologized and promised to wear traditional Thai dress next year after the incident made headlines over the Thai New Year Festival.

Twenty four year old Praewanis Reelakul along with 5 of her friends confessed to allegations after the media revealed footage of the transvestites stripping in public over the Songkran holidays.

The incident has sparked criticisms among many groups in society.

The ladyboys were stripping while water was being sprayed by passers by on a road in Pichit Province.

Police charged the ladyboys with obscene behavior in public and fined them 500 baht each before releasing them with a warning.

Preawanis apologized to the public for her inappropriate behavior, acknowledging that it may have damaged Pichit Province's reputation.

She also promised that this shameful incident would not happen in the future.

A campaign is being launched to urge ladyboys in the province to wear traditional Thai dresses next year during Songkran as a means of preserving good Thai culture.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-18

And here is the picture of the guilty ladyboys....

[jimbeam1]

What is the big fuss about topless girls/women the breasts are not sexual organs no more than a mans nipples

Have you led a sheltered life?

I don't think he's the one that has had the sheltered life. What is so disturbing about some women's bosom? If you treat women as sexual objects then yes I can see why you would be disyturbed. However, the human body is how we are made. Why is a bosom more sensual than an elbow? Well, it's because people like you say it is. If someone is having a bit of harmless fun in the midst of the wild debauchery that is Songkran, big deal. Deal with the drunks and the illegal alcohol sales first and then I'll get upset over a naked boobie. You've seen one before right? do they scare you or something?

Is anyone annoyed by the site by a naked breast? I don't think so. I think it is more a case of the fact that on a world stage it is not something Thailand wants to advertise about herself - the "wild debauchery" in the streets, I mean. FullMoon parties have cased embarrassment and various governments have tried to stop, hinder or just hide the fact they exist over the years - I don't think they want Songkran to end up as a national FM party - certainly doesn't match their target tourists. The thread was about the fact that the 3 girls were arrested and the YouTubers, nit about whether we like mammaries swinging in our faces.

Hmm. Yes I am sure Thailand would much rather promote crime and corruption?

jb1

[hyperdimension]

Topless Thai dancers flash animation Edited April 18, 2011 by hyperdimension

[andiron]

Covering the female breasts and being ashamed of the body is a Western import to Thailand, another wonderful gift from the Christians.

[hyperdimension]

I watch King Naresuan 3 recently and my female Thai friend was disgusted by all the nudity. I told her it's part of Thai history (but she refuses to believe it), and that there wasn't enough nudity in the film.

It's funny that I, a farang, was teaching her something about Thai history. Aren't students taught that nudity was part of Thai culture? Or are Thais ashamed of their past culture, such that it is censored from school history subjects?

One of the previous episodes of King Naresuan showed more breast exposure which I liked very much.

I wish all Thai women reverted to traditional Thai fashion, i.e. topless. Even children went topless didn't they (with two strings crossing their chest)?

Suppression of expression of sexuality would prevent a lot of tourists from coming here. That's the reason why I'd rather be in Thailand than Malaysia (a Muslim state).

Edited April 18, 2011 by hyperdimension

[Soutpeel]

Police charged the ladyboys with obscene behavior in public and fined them 500 baht each before releasing them with a warning.

"Thai transvestites"..... one would assume these are not transexuals..ie not had bits chopped off or added, but blokes dressing up as women..

Ergo...any male who walks around shirtless in Thailand should be charged THB 500 as well and made to wear tradtional Thai dress's.....

Ergo...Males dressing up in womens traditional thai dress' is preserving good Thai culture.....

Got to love the logic in this article...

Please note that when I arrived in thailand the first time back in 1992, it was in all the guides that it was a big no no for foreigners to walk around shirtless in bangkok, you would get fined.

Ok that may be so...but did they make them wear traditional thai dress in addtion to the fine for this heinous crime...

[bifftastic]

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

No I am certainly not joking.

This event may seem harmless enough, but this leads to other things and sooner or later becomes more extreme.

For example, in Britain young teens and thugs have practically taken over the streets and this is exactly how it all starts if rules are relaxed.

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

I am not a prude or in anyway against this sort of thing, providing it is done at the right places, only for adults and not as a public spectacle for all and sundry.

I wonder if, perhaps, you've been away from the UK for a while and now form your views of what's happening here from the Daily Mail?

I was on those streets yesterday, will be on them again today, young teens and thugs have not taken them over. I checked. I'll double check today, if it's safe to go out that is!

As for the demise of culture, it's interesting to discuss these things. I was talking with a friend the other day about manners and respect. These things have definitely diminished here in London, but I also think our parents generation had similar, if not exactly the same conversations!

To be honest, I can't think of any particular rules that have been relaxed, thereby allowing the current situation to develop. Perhaps parenting skills come into play?

As for drunken topless women on the streets, I kinda agree with you, it's not a good thing at all. I don't think it's prudish to disapprove of such things in public. There are, after all, many many places to see topless women.

[zthyadat]

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

Is the possible 5 years in prison in any way reasonable? I may have misread, but it sounds like you may be favouring it. To arbitrarily decide it is a violation of the Computer Crime Act to post a video of an incident in a public street is a ridiculous application of the law. The computer crime act has no clear guidelines on such things. There are differing opinions on what denigrates Thai culture, but the "authorities" can decide this after the fact. How are people supposed to protect themselves from a law that is so unclear? I suppose the solution would be never to post anything - just in case they run afoul of the Culture Ministry's latest notions.

[Tywais]

Is the possible 5 years in prison in any way reasonable? I may have misread, but it sounds like you may be favouring it. To arbitrarily decide it is a violation of the Computer Crime Act to post a video of an incident in a public street is a ridiculous application of the law. The computer crime act has no clear guidelines on such things.

Actually it does.

Section 14. If any person commits any offence of the following acts shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than one hundred thousand baht or both:

(1) that involves import to a computer system of forged computer data, either in whole or in part, or false computer data, in a manner that is likely to cause damage to that third party or the public;

(2) that involves import to a computer system of false computer data in a manner that is likely to damage the country's security or cause a public panic;

(3) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data related with an offence against the Kingdom's security under the Criminal Code;

(4) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data of a pornographic nature that is publicly accessible;

prachatai

Pretty specific I would say.

[zthyadat]

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

I agree. All Western influences should stop, so the place can stay exactly as it is for my pleasure. Of course, my presence will have no Westernising effect whatsoever.

[FOODLOVER]

No just anal retentive. Let me guess. When you fart do dogs come running? If so you may be one of the proud few who require a bb to be greased before passing.

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

No I am certainly not joking.

This event may seem harmless enough, but this leads to other things and sooner or later becomes more extreme.

For example, in Britain young teens and thugs have practically taken over the streets and this is exactly how it all starts if rules are relaxed.

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

I am not a prude or in anyway against this sort of thing, providing it is done at the right places, only for adults and not as a public spectacle for all and sundry.

[Soutpeel]

Topless Thai dancers flash animation

Yeap..instead of persuing these "topless women" and charging them..they should be giving them a medal for promoting Tradtional Thai culture internationally, and in fact I beleive it should go one step further, during Songkran (by law punishable by a fine/jail time) all females shall celebrate Songkran topless in accordance with Thai tradition.

This would be boost for tourist in Thailand....

[gingerbread]

Why waste our time with phony pics? I logged in to see what all the furor was about and got to see BS. Shame on you.

[thaikahuna]

Pure and simple its Thai moralistic hypocrisy.

[Dissolution]

I think that at a certain point, people will have to start thinking about what culture means. With the rate of globalization these days, damning people for their customs that set themselves apart from the norm is more damaging to a culture.

Culture =/= Conformity.

1. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group

2. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.

[Samuian]

ABAC Poll: Thai society deteriorating

BANGKOK, 18 April 2011 (NNT) – The recent news report regarding a group of half-naked young women splashing water on Silom Road in Bangkok reflects a deteriorating Thai society, according to a recent survey by Assumption University Research Center (ABAC Poll).

"Deteriorating" oh' lord!

It's going to be a major desaster, all so well guarded ehtical values, moral down the drain, dancing the apocalypso!

Pat Pong, Soi Cowboy, Nana, walking street, Bangla, Nightmarket and the numerous "massage parlours", karaoke bars, and karaoke motels are all nothing else then the sick imaginations of these sex-tourists flocking the country and besmearing its pure glory...oh' no!

Suvannabhum is what it is!

[PoorSucker]

Took me 20 sec to find four different clips.

[Thai at Heart]

Here are the before & after pics of the topless dancing girls on Ministry of Culture's website http://yfrog.com/h4nvfpkj

Source: Richard Barrow

Seems they were re-enforcing Thai tradition, no?

[arthurwait]

He said that the clip has negatively affected the image of Thai culture and that all parties involved with such behaviour should be punished, while asking police to give importance to this issue, for it destroys the country's reputation.

Just what does he think Thailand's reputation is? Shocking how this wonderful pure society will be marred by these hussies! The fact they are allowed to flaunt themselves in public and sell their bodies with impunity in bars often owned by policemen is doing far, far worse damage.

500 Baht for dancing topless; 100,000 baht or 5 years for uploading the video to Youtube... The message is that it is not a big deal to dance topless in public - as long as nobody finds out. Pretty much like Thai politics...

And which country endorses hanging their dirty washing out in public? Of course the country is not totally pure - nowhere is - but surely it's understandable that people want to extole the good and hide the bad - not the reverse. Look how quick we are here to defend our home countries when slurred - always make for the longest and most vicious of posts.

In most countries prostitution is either legal or illegal and enforced. What exactly is the situation here? How can the government on one hand make such a fuss about protecting "Thailand's image" when there are hundreds of ladybars, Pat-pong and Pattaya? I ask again - what part of Thailand's reputation is being damaged?

Extolling the good and hiding the bad does not improve the country's reputation, it only shows hypocrisy. Next thing they will bend stats about murder, rape, etc. as these also lower the ignorant foreigners' opinion of this wonderful nirvana Thailand.

There are many clips on the web of US "Spring Break" students doing much worse in public - yet I don't see this public reaction from US government officials. They have real problems to worry about I guess.

Do you not think the people who aren't involved in these things aren't sick of it ? Everytime they say they are Thai, morons wonder if they are hookers or just plain ask. Even though they maybe better educated, far richer and classier than the western chav who judges them. My country the UK has christ knows how many hookers advertising everywhere (the law is rarely enforced) yet if you said a woman there was a hooker she would go mad or America - one of the worlds leaders in prostitution, but again would anyone call an American girl a hooker just because she American ? Of course not.

If someone came out with the old joke what do you call a black woman with a job or a black man in a suit there would be uproar.

Why should everyone in Thailand be judged by the actions of hookers, corrupt police, scammer and politicians. They don't represent everyone in the country, but half the western world still thinks it's ok to judge every Thai person on this.

Yep it probably is hypocrisy and if the girl was Thai ( I can't be bothered watching the clip) I doubt she will be paying her fine with money and getting arrested for filming it is ridiculous, but I'm sure there will be plenty of Thais that will be glad that it might help contribute to reduce the rascism levelled at them.

[sausageandmash]

Who says that topless dancing is bad? It's not so much the topless dancing that's funny, it's the prudish reaction by idiotic, reactionary officials which is hilarious. Really, Thailand is just like a Carry On film sometimes. But the real point you're missing is that most countries would just laugh it off as a bit of fun. Hardly what I'd called dirty washing. This is the 21st century. Stop being a retrogressive prude.

He said that the clip has negatively affected the image of Thai culture and that all parties involved with such behaviour should be punished, while asking police to give importance to this issue, for it destroys the country's reputation.

Just what does he think Thailand's reputation is? Shocking how this wonderful pure society will be marred by these hussies! The fact they are allowed to flaunt themselves in public and sell their bodies with impunity in bars often owned by policemen is doing far, far worse damage.

500 Baht for dancing topless; 100,000 baht or 5 years for uploading the video to Youtube... The message is that it is not a big deal to dance topless in public - as long as nobody finds out. Pretty much like Thai politics...

And which country endorses hanging their dirty washing out in public? Of course the country is not totally pure - nowhere is - but surely it's understandable that people want to extole the good and hide the bad - not the reverse. Look how quick we are here to defend our home countries when slurred - always make for the longest and most vicious of posts.

[aaacorp]

I think the image of deads during last may much more damageable for thailand image than 3 topless thai girls

[sausageandmash]

Topless dancing is NOT pornographic.

Pretty unspecific, I would say. Well?

Is the possible 5 years in prison in any way reasonable? I may have misread, but it sounds like you may be favouring it. To arbitrarily decide it is a violation of the Computer Crime Act to post a video of an incident in a public street is a ridiculous application of the law. The computer crime act has no clear guidelines on such things.

Actually it does.

Section 14. If any person commits any offence of the following acts shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than one hundred thousand baht or both:

(1) that involves import to a computer system of forged computer data, either in whole or in part, or false computer data, in a manner that is likely to cause damage to that third party or the public;

(2) that involves import to a computer system of false computer data in a manner that is likely to damage the country's security or cause a public panic;

(3) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data related with an offence against the Kingdom's security under the Criminal Code;

(4) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data of a pornographic nature that is publicly accessible;

prachatai

Pretty specific I would say.

[Tywais]

Topless dancing is NOT pornographic.

There is a US Senator who was caught looking at a topless photo and everyone, including himself, agreed it was porn. Expect Thailand's definition is even more puritanical.

Not worth debating actually as that is the specific computer crime act that the government is referring to so they are clearly defining it as porn. How it plays out is anyone's guess though.

[sausageandmash]

Calm down mate, it's only a bit of fun. The reason Thailand has this reputation is because the western press picks up on sensationalism and blows it out of proportion. Thai prostitues who started coming to the west in the early 1990s were picked up by the press who then travelled to Thailand to see it first hand.

I think you're being very naive when you say "Why should everyone in Thailand be judged by the actions of hookers, corrupt police, scammer and politicians. They don't represent everyone in the country, but half the western world still thinks it's ok to judge every Thai person on this." Unfortunately this is what Thailand is becoming famous for, whether you like it or not. If this country is pioneering anything like the the telephone, the train, the car, the computer or even Premier League football, then please let us know.

Do you not think the people who aren't involved in these things aren't sick of it ? Everytime they say they are Thai, morons wonder if they are hookers or just plain ask. Even though they maybe better educated, far richer and classier than the western chav who judges them. My country the UK has christ knows how many hookers advertising everywhere (the law is rarely enforced) yet if you said a woman there was a hooker she would go mad or America - one of the worlds leaders in prostitution, but again would anyone call an American girl a hooker just because she American ? Of course not.

If someone came out with the old joke what do you call a black woman with a job or a black man in a suit there would be uproar.

Why should everyone in Thailand be judged by the actions of hookers, corrupt police, scammer and politicians. They don't represent everyone in the country, but half the western world still thinks it's ok to judge every Thai person on this.

Yep it probably is hypocrisy and if the girl was Thai ( I can't be bothered watching the clip) I doubt she will be paying her fine with money and getting arrested for filming it is ridiculous, but I'm sure there will be plenty of Thais that will be glad that it might help contribute to reduce the rascism levelled at them.

[alexpoker]

Just remind me how many people were killed over Songkran, how many buckets of water were thrown into the faces of motorcyclists causing a some to fall off, I know of one young girl that was killed in such an incident and people are causing such a fuss over these two young women having fun - pathetic.

I gotta agree with this one way more. Someone naked over Songkran shouldn't be such a huge deal tbh. Sure charge them for public indecency w/e, but trying to punish someone for posting is on the internet is way over the top.

[xminator]

There should be laws against grumpy old men. Then people can file complaints against them too...

[silk]

And to all those people who write posts that Thailand is tolerant and there are not as many laws and restrictions on personal freedom, and that’s why they are here. Well...I suspect you have more personal freedom with regards to displaying your breasts in public back home than here. Personally I think there are just as many laws here, if not more, but its the liberal application and use of those laws when it suits those who apply them, without much consistency that gives the impression of more freedom. Not a criticism, just my personal freedom to voice my observation...or do I get a two thirds fine for observation...tricky.

Fully agreed.

Many farangs (not all) do throw plastic bags, bottles, cigarettes and packing paper on the streets everywhere here in Thailand. In their eyes this is "freedom". They do this because they know of the liberal use of laws. This is just pure ignorance and bad behaviour.

In their home country they do not do this and seperate the garbage. Why not give a good example here to a society, still in the process to change their usual behaviour?

[Loz]

Imho, to make an example out of two women who were ramping up the party with a bit of a show is the thin end of the wedge. Where will it all end? I think you have to let societies develop and a few girls going topless at a national street party is not so serious.

Remember the pics of Princess Margaret? Now that was a scandal. This? trival nonesense.

[thaifrelst]

This is a good start. Continue with the bargirls ( fine 5000bth) Bar owners 500 000 bth fine. If the bar owner is a policeman set the fine to 2000000 bth and 15 years of prison. If a high ranked military or politician is involved, - just shoot them to maintain the good reputation of the good morality of Thailand.

[Tanaka]

What I think is that with all the talk about this and how it should not have been filmed especially so that children could see it. And the clip was pulled from Youtube with all the condemnation of it all.

Then when I woke up this morning and my wife turned on the T.V. on Channel 3 as she does everyday, and what do I see-- The complete video at 6:15 A.M. All I can say is AMAZING THAILAND!

So will Channel 3 also be subject to the 5 year prison term and the 100,000 Baht find same as the original poster on youtube

Children? Can be harmed by seeing tits? We would have a better world without all these hypocrits. Or is it that you just don't know because you won't remember, of course? You see, one of the first things a child sees, is a woman's breast! So they are quite used to them. And worse, the children suck on them! Surely you must find a way to condemn that too? Or maybe you should suggest fining the mothers who breastfeed their babies! Because in your view the poor children can be harmed from seeing a naked breast.