Thailand braces for Valentine's Day with warnings, a new hashtag and calls for morality

[george]

Thailand braces for Valentine's Day with warnings, a new hashtag and calls for morality

BANGKOK: -- In most countries, Feb 14 is a highly commercialised day of romance. In Thailand, it’s also a time for strict warnings — and this year a new Twitter hashtag aimed at preventing premarital sex.

The Culture Ministry’s Moral Promotion Centre launched a widely publicised campaign earlier this week called “Just a Meal for Valentine’s Day” that urges teens to go home after their dinner dates.

It’s also asking youths to show support for the campaign by tweeting (hashtag) DinnerOnly in Thai. A Twitter search today found that the request had drawn varied reactions of mockery with many postings of the Thai equivalent to LOL!

Despite its well-earned reputation to the outside world as a freewheeling destination for sex tourism, Thailand’s socially conservative authorities are on a constant mission to uphold the country’s traditional Buddhist values among Thai people.

Hollywood movies are censored with sex scenes and cigarette smoking pixelated out, and Thai soap operas can’t show alcohol consumption.
Authorities annually warn youths to avoid “inappropriate activities” on Valentine’s Day, which is widely celebrated in Thailand.

“Parents and teachers should create correct understanding about Valentine’s Day with children,” Narathip Pumsap, the Moral Promotion Centre’s director, was quoted as saying on the English-language website of the Khaosod newspaper.

Narathip suggested that instead of engaging in intimacy, teens “show love to their family, society, themselves and the country”.

This year’s campaign comes amid a morality overhaul initiated by Thailand’s military government, which took power from an elected administration following a coup last May.

The Ministry of Culture said it conducted a recent survey that found 83% of Thai teenagers planned to have sex on Valentine’s Day, according to The Nation and several other Thai newspapers, which did not say whether the survey had a margin of error.

The National Police Force has asked parents and teachers to inform children of the “dangers” of Valentine’s Day and to avoid “risky behavior”, police Maj Gen Patipat Suban Na Ayuuthaya told a news conference earlier this week, according to the Khaosod newspaper.

Police have also warned nightclubs nationwide not to admit underage customers.

Patipat said that all police units would be on alert until Sunday to “increase vigilance in risky areas” such as nightclubs and urged entertainment venues to call police hotlines to report cases of youths trying to enter.

One all-girl’s school in Bangkok took the extra step of holding a Valentine’s Day self-defence class earlier this week.

Thai media showed policewomen on stage in the auditorium of the Sainampeung School flipping a man before an assembly of hundreds of students.


-- 2015-02-13

[iReason]

"This year’s campaign comes amid a morality overhaul initiated by Thailand’s military government ..."

[Deli]

It's more about double moral than about morality...

[DoctorG]

It is now V Day. Has thailand gone shagalistic? Can TVFers please report sightings of multiple teenage bonking rampant throughout the land.

[Songhua]

"Parents and teachers should create correct understanding about Valentines Day with children, ......

Narathip suggested that instead of engaging in intimacy, teens show love to their family, society, themselves and the country"

Yes, the west has had it wrong all these years. The real meaning of Valentines Day is love of the nation.

[Lupatria]

The Culture Ministry’s Moral Promotion Centre launched a widely publicised campaign earlier this week:

[torpedo1970]

It is now V Day. Has thailand gone shagalistic? Can TVFers please report sightings of multiple teenage bonking rampant throughout the land.

Looking down the Soi, the Soi-Dogs is still at it as rabbits... Nothing new here

[Floater 7]

Use Condoms!

Just say NO, does not work for sex or drug use. Get real.

It's not rocket science.

[luv4get]

It is now V Day. Has thailand gone shagalistic? Can TVFers please report sightings of multiple teenage bonking rampant throughout the land.

Looking down the Soi, the Soi-Dogs is still at it as rabbits... Nothing new here

[luv4get]

Are they having safe sex ?

[lildragon]

The saviors of Thailand ladies and gents. Trying to make things warp back to the 50's.

[benalibina]

Morality....behaviour and attitude towards others.......not towards SELF.....nice try anyway.....from the ??morals...