Phuket Tattoo Artists Ink Compromise On Religious Tattoos

[webfact]

Phuket Tattoo artists ink compromise on religious tattoos

Nontiwat Jantaraprasit, owner of Quality Tattoo Phuket in Kata,

defends the rights of people having appropriate tattoos.

Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- More than 100 tattoo business operators in Phuket were called to a meeting in Karon yesterday afternoon where they were asked to “cooperate” in the latest nationwide “cultural appropriateness” clampdown on Buddhist tattoos.

The meeting followed the Ministry of Culture earlier this week announcing it would impose a ban on all religious tattoos.

The ensuing controversy and heated human rights debates, however, resulted in the Culture Ministry scaling back its initial blanket ban on all religious symbols to focus specifically on Buddhist tattoos.

“Phuket will be the initial province [of focus for the campaign], and we will follow through in every other province,” Culture Minister Niphit Intharasombat declared last week.

“The need for these discussions arose from complaints being posted on the Culture Ministry website. The posts included pictures of foreigners with Buddhist tattoos in inappropriate places,” Culture Ministry Permanent Secretary Somchai Sianglai yesterday explained to the assembly at the Thavorn Palm Beach Hotel.

“The complaints come from concerned Buddhists from all over the country, including Phuket,” he added.

While there are no laws in Thailand expressly forbidding Buddhist tattoos, long-standing cultural practices prohibit the inappropriate use of Buddhist symbols in commercially specific contexts.

To fuel their campaign, the Ministry of Culture ordered a reprint of 10,000 manuals and asked all tattoo parlor operators to keep a copy in their shops to show to clients.

The Thai and English-language handbooks define which Buddhist symbols are ruled by the Culture Ministry as “inappropriate” for commercial use.

Copies of the books were distributed among tattoo business operators yesterday.

This is not the first time in Thailand the line between business and Buddha has been crossed.

“Previously, we have had issues with Buddhist symbols being used for commercial purposes… placed on product logos, socks, shoes and alcoholic products,” explained Culture Minister Niphit Intharasombat.

Ladda Tangsupachai, director of the ministry’s Cultural Surveillance Center, added, “Since the tattoo business is a fairly new career for many, some patrons are not aware of the existing [commerce and cultural] regulations.”

Tattoo operators were well prepared for yesterday’s meeting. Many had met earlier and drawn up a list of compromises to present to officials.

“If the rules forbid us to do any Buddhist tattoos, it will effect our earnings. Besides, foreigners will get these tattoos abroad from artists who don’t really know the meaning of the symbols,” said Nontiwat Jantaraprasit owner of Quality Tattoo Phuket in Kata.

“It’s better that we [do it] so we can explain the appropriation. As Buddhists, we will never provide tattoos on inappropriate parts of the body, and we always explain the importance and meanings of the tattoos first,” he said.

“Those tattoos [seen on inappropriate parts of the body] were probably done overseas by an artist who does not understand the meanings,” Mr Nontiwat added.

The list of compromises stated the artists will apply Buddhist tattoos only on the upper parts of the body, they will not distort the image of the Buddha in a [visually] negative manner and they will explain the importance and meaning of Buddhist tattoos in Thailand before applying any such tattoos.

Secretary Somchai concluded the meeting by saying, “We will collect all the information and opinions and report to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha and related officials.”

He added that results for the debates would take time as officials “do not intend to force the issue, but prefer cooperation”.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health has allied with the Ministry of Culture in the tattoo clamp down.

With an eye on the spread of infectious diseases, Public Health officials will be inspecting tattoo parlors throughout the country to ensure health standards are being adhered to.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-06-11

related topic

Crackdown Ordered On Religious Tattoos In Phuket

[angiud]

Religious fondamentalism, and from the Minister of Culture of the "progressive" Abhisit government.

[OzMick]

"...............prohibit the inappropriate use of Buddhist symbols in commercially specific contexts." How is a tattoo on your body "commercially specific"? Perhaps if it was for prostitution purposes, but which Buddhist symbols were help in that profession.

Is the one with (he who can't be pictured) and the pig OK then?

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Oh good grief, like there is not any more pressing issues to take care of . . .

[anterian]

A friend of mine in England had his body covered in as many Karma Sutra positions as he could fit in. Some he could "animate" by flexing his muscles. He was banned from the local swimming pool. As this was 20 years ago. Could he now in this PC era claim that such a ban was religious persecution?

[kimamey]

A friend of mine in England had his body covered in as many Karma Sutra positions as he could fit in. Some he could "animate" by flexing his muscles. He was banned from the local swimming pool. As this was 20 years ago. Could he now in this PC era claim that such a ban was religious persecution?

I'm not a lawyer but I think he would have to show that Karma Sutra was a recognised religion, that he was a follower of that religion and that what he was doing was consistent with that religion. With Buddhism for example if you had a tattoo of the Buddha on the soles of your feet that would undermine your assertion that you were Buddhist. Mind you that example is fairly obvious but in a lot of cases people do things which are inappropriate depending on how strictly you follow the religion. Also a lot of rules are just made up by people in the religion who just like being in a position of power. That's when it gets complicated.

[dominique355]

The word most frequently used by the Taliban Minister of Culture seems to be "appropriate". Is there some kind of legally binding definition of what is appropriate? I don't think so. So why does this guy not just forget the whole thing?

I happen to follow the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and I might report you the the Spaghetti Taliban Police if I ever catch someone putting a spaghetti tatoo (or a real spaghetti, for that matter) on an inappropriate body part. Oh, and I reserve myself the right to rule on what is an "inappropriate" body part. (Hint: Angelina J. thighs are not considered as "inappropriate" )

What does it take to get rid of this clown? Voting for Yingluck? Well then, let's do that!

[OzMick]

The word most frequently used by the Taliban Minister of Culture seems to be "appropriate". Is there some kind of legally binding definition of what is appropriate? I don't think so. So why does this guy not just forget the whole thing?

I happen to follow the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and I might report you the the Spaghetti Taliban Police if I ever catch someone putting a spaghetti tatoo (or a real spaghetti, for that matter) on an inappropriate body part. Oh, and I reserve myself the right to rule on what is an "inappropriate" body part. (Hint: Angelina J. thighs are not considered as "inappropriate" )

What does it take to get rid of this clown? Voting for Yingluck? Well then, let's do that!

On the balance of one well-meaning religious idiot or a pack of demonstrated terrorists, arsonists and thieves, let's not.

Really, who is he bothering except some idiots contemplating a Buddhist image tattoo that they regret for the rest of their lives?

[boggle]

I can not beleive this has not been nipped in the bud. What a joke.

Morons!!!!

[techboy]

Oh good grief, like there is not any more pressing issues to take care of . . .

Oh good grief, I cannot believe that I even opened this story. When are these guys going to get themselves a Bangkok Post feed?

[stanley2550]

I am sure the Cultural Minister follows the 5 majoy precepts of Buddhism to the letter: 1. No Killing or harming anything, not even a fly. 2. I bet he has never stolen or taken money or anything else from anyone. 3. And you can

be rest assured he dosen't drink any alcoholic beverages or has never lite up a cigarette. 4. I would be quite sure he has never lied to anyone including his ole lady. 5. and never boned any women outside of his marriage..

Thailand is definelty a model for Buddhism for sure. If I were the Cultural Minister I think I would definetly have better things to do. This guy must have nothing else to do.

[LivinginKata]

Post removed under rule 3) Not to post in a manner that is vulgar, obscene or profane .

[TackyToo]

The word most frequently used by the Taliban Minister of Culture seems to be "appropriate". Is there some kind of legally binding definition of what is appropriate? I don't think so. So why does this guy not just forget the whole thing?

I happen to follow the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and I might report you the the Spaghetti Taliban Police if I ever catch someone putting a spaghetti tatoo (or a real spaghetti, for that matter) on an inappropriate body part. Oh, and I reserve myself the right to rule on what is an "inappropriate" body part. (Hint: Angelina J. thighs are not considered as "inappropriate" )

What does it take to get rid of this clown? Voting for Yingluck? Well then, let's do that!

dam_n right! What a mendaciously society! Prior to Songkran they promote paintings with bare breasted women on the website of the Ministery and if they see some boobs in the open they say this is not our culture... Besides, the last stunt of another Minister (Health) who complained about fish tanks in Spas,-is this all the Ministers in this country are concerned about??? Get a life buster!

Edited June 12, 2011 by TackyToo

[skybluestu]

Video from the BBC about it http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13884448