Crackdown On 'Coyote Girls'

[rainman]

As for entertainment venues, the Royal Thai Police will make sure that no one under 20 can enter there.

will that be enforced the same way they're preventing prostitution or..?

[cclub75]

Meanwhile, Ms. Ladda said, the Ministry of Culture and the Education Ministry will enact a ministerial regulation banning students aged below 20 to work as Coyote Girls or Pretty Girls. The regulation will be effective immediately upon being issued.

-- TNA 2006-10-30

The Culture Minister said it does not prohibit young people under 20 from being a Coyote girl as they are already protected by law.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 November 2006

So now we have the scientific proof that it takes exactly 3 days for an information bug located in the left part of a thai official's brain, to travel to his right part, and being corrected during the process.

[george]

Update:

No 'coyote dances' for Loy Krathong: Culture Ministry

BANGKOK: -- Relevant authorities Thursday warned organisers against including "sexually-arousing dances" in the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival.

"Loy Krathong Festival is a beautiful culture of Thailand. We hope every relevant party will hold appropriate activities for this festival," Culture Ministry's acting permanent secretary Veera Rojanapojanarat said.

He was referring to the ongoing moves to deter scantily-clad young women from dancing erotically at public places. Widely dubbed as "coyote dances", these sexually-arousing dances initially began from pubs but soon spread to various events.

According to Veera, all provincial culture officers were already instructed to work closely with local administrative bodies in ensuring that no damage was done to the country's beautiful culture.

Religious Affairs Department's director general Preecha Kanthiya said the "coyote dances" could be counted as offences against National Culture Act of BE2485.

-- The Nation 2006-11-02

[sonnyJ]

So now they found a law that says "no public dancing in sexual fashion during the public holidays" or something? And that's 1942, propaply the year bikinis were invented.

Now the culture control comission must send agents to every part of the country and tell the drunken crowd that this party is OVER!

I do agree that westernization has destroyed many beautiful aspects of many cultures and will continue to do so. People just buy it like crazy. Maybe I was around 15 y-o when I realised that there's nothing anyone can do about it, to stop the change. That's what culture is all about anyway.

Edited November 2, 2006 by sonnyJ

[Jai Dee]

So, who wants to be a coyote girl anyway?

If you surveyed young women around the country and asked them for their choices of career, the so-called "coyote dancer" wouldn't make it into the top 10, or even the top 20.

Dancing erotically in skimpy outfits in front of men is by no means the job of a woman's dreams.

Many students become coyote dancers to finance their studies. Some are fortunate enough to carry on their education while a few become university drop-outs thanks to their part-time dancing work.

Like other employees, they are working legally. They believe dancing, even in front of drunken men, is far better than selling their bodies, but deep in their hearts they know that this is not their career and they prefer not to talk openly about it.

Despite unfavourable work conditions, the number of coyote girls is growing. As they become a favourite entertainment at various events, their performances have extended from nightclubs to temple grounds. They are increasingly visible, and society is getting worried.

Following HM the Queen's recent concern about sexy dancing at a Buddhist event in Nong Khai province, Thai authorities are now seriously looking into ways to curb the sky-rocketting growth of coyote dancers. The Interior Ministry has already asked provincial governors to curb inappropriate performances, especially at Buddhist sites and public events.

Every now and then, Thai society appears to fall into a period of moral panic. We've experienced it before - teen sex, Internet chat sites, under-age night owls and violent computer games. This time round it is the invasion of the coyote girls. The police, too, respond to the panic. This year, apart from their usual Loy Krathong routine of checking on the sexual behaviour of youngsters, they have instituted checks for undesirable dancing.

Many restrictions may have the effect of making coyote dancing fade from fashion. The Culture Ministry has proposed a restriction banning those under 20 from working as coyote girls and stopping all such performances in some places.

Coming to the rescue of the coyote girls are a few officials who look at the picture in a broader perspective. Fortunately not all officials are suffering from this moral panic. Labour Production and Welfare Department Chief Padungsak Thephasdin na Ayutthaya and Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an have expressed concern on the rights issue: the age restriction could be a breach of the right to work, they say.

The education minister said: "A lewd dance is a lewd dance, regardless of age." In other words, the lewdness of the dance should not be the basis of discrimination.

The Culture Ministry may think the restrictions on ages and venues are the right medicine for the increasing number of coyote girls, but they may be hitting where it doesn't hurt. If a coyote-dance troupe performs at an inappropriate place, it is the organiser who should be blamed. This would make everyone aware of cultural sensitivity rather than singling out the dancers. For they are just employees, and whenever or wherever they are employed, they will do their job. As to whether or not their bodily movements are in good cultural taste, we can again point the finger of responsibility at their employers.

It is about time that policy-makers looked at possible "threats" to our norms and values in a broader perspective instead of panicking. The Religious Department can ask all Buddhist temples to avoid inappropriate performances. The coyote dancers are just a tiny part of the overall problem, and the tip of the problem at that, not its root. The policy-makers should go back and try to answer all the basic questions. What is the target audience of coyote dancers? Why has coyote dancing become popular?

They may also find out why, if it is not a dream job, girls take it."

More importantly, after gathering the information, they should find out whether the dancing is the thing we should be panicking about. Does society really collapse because of dancing girls?

Editorial Opinion from The Nation - 4 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Coyote Dance bans from temples

The authority of Ubon Ratchathani Province prohibits Coyote Dance in the temples, and bars all activities that contravene the local traditions during the Loy Krathong Festival.

Mr. Sudnit Butrwang, the acting chief of the provincial Culture Office, said he had a talk with the Bureau of National Buddhism and the monk deans. They have all agreed to completely ban Coyote Dance in all temples. However, the northeastern-style musical shows can be played, but they have to be appropriate. Performers cannot wear sexy clothes and perform sexually arousing dances.

Local police officers have been assigned to look after the festivities in the entertainment venues, and the wrongdoers who breach the regulations will be prosecuted accordingly. A document on the measures and regulations during the Loy Krathong Festival has been delivered to the local administrative organizations, and they have been asked to cooperate and keep a close eye on all types of entertaining presentations in order to prevent them from staining the wonderful traditions.

Mr. Sudnit stated that prohibiting people under a certain age to conduct Coyote Dance may infringe their personal rights. However, this problem can be solved by keeping their performances in check.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 November 2006

[kmart]

I'm looking forward the "Crackdown on Practicality" myself.

[jobsworth]

I am neutral on this issue and will leave it up to the Thai people to decide what they want...but...it seems to me that I heard that in times gone by there used to be young women dancing with bare breasts as a regular thing at temple festivals.....am I mistaken or has anyone else heard of this?

Chownah

Yes it was a part of Thai culture.

Women were naked from the waist up.

Not just in the temples but everywhere.

No this is not just a male fantasy.

Apsara I think it was called.

Also any man could and did take any lady he fancied into the bushes

and she had to submit.

It still exists today but I cannot say where or by whom.

[udon]

My maid always cleaned house topless, she said it was part of Thai culture.

I didn't question it.

[Ijustwannateach]

Not too long ago I went to a mixed disco outside BKK and noticed these "coyote dancing" girls- they weren't employees, they were just trying to attract attention (and boy, did they get it). Of course, I was paying more attention to the crowds of gay men they came with- I guess they had to be pretty blatant to find any straight men in the place. On a serious note, it might have been possible that some of them were trying to attract paying customers- I don't know that kind of scene- and that may be an unstated reason for the suppression.

Since it seems to have been of some interest in this thread, my source for information about how age of majority trumps other legal age-limits comes from an experienced lawyer in a Thai legal firm. Your mileage may vary, but that's what the legal precedent says.

"Steven"

[TAWP]

If I were to type what I think about this or the person issueing the first statement about it, I would be banned.

So I will not.

[wolfmanjack]

Quite a few countries have different ages for different things - in the UK age of consent is 16, marriage and driving 17 and majority (voting) is 18

Actually 16 for marriage, 18 without parents consent (except in Scotland, where 16 without parents consent is allowed), but your point is valid, which is why I think it's stupid to criticise Thailand for this alone.

Personally, I think if you're old enough to pay taxes, or die or kill for your country, then you're old enough to do anything the rest of the population can do. I don't mean to single out the US, as many other countries do similar, but their laws on drinking make them the most appropriate to point out. Can't buy alcohol until 21, but can die or kill in Iraq at 18....ridiculous. Some other ridiculous laws....age of consent in US 18, but if they go to another country under the age of 18, but over the age of consent in that country (UK 16 for example), they can still be prosecuted in the US. Thailand has similar laws, it is ilegal for Thais to perform in pornography, even if they made it in a country where it is legal. So before everyone criticises Thai law, remember what it is all based on!

Do any of you guys know anything about the USA ???????????????

Every State has their own Laws as far as drinking, age of consent, driving, etc. etc.

The only age limits that are mandated by Federal Law are the voting and military service laws.

In the state that I grew up in the drinking age was 18 then raised to 21 then lowered to 19. the age of consent for sex was 16 or 2 years differance whichever was lower. So a 16 year old could have sex with a 14 year old but an 18-100 year old could not go below 16.

[TokyoT]

Do any of you guys know anything about the USA ???????????????

Every State has their own Laws as far as drinking, age of consent, driving, etc. etc.

The only age limits that are mandated by Federal Law are the voting and military service laws.

In the state that I grew up in the drinking age was 18 then raised to 21 then lowered to 19. the age of consent for sex was 16 or 2 years differance whichever was lower. So a 16 year old could have sex with a 14 year old but an 18-100 year old could not go below 16.

Well in theory the states have the right to set the drinking age, the feds have basically told the states that unless they keep the drinking age at 21 they will not get federal highway dollars. Back in the day a few states fiddled around with near beer (really low alcohol content beer) in varying attempts to pull one over on the feds and having a lower drinking age for near beer only. Well the feds were having none of that and soon put their boot down on that as well - so near beer is no more.

So while every state has the right to set their own drinking age they do so at their peril - and the threat of the loss of federal highway dollars. Pretty sure all states have long since given up on this fight and all have set the drinking age at 21. But I have been living in Asia for quite a while now so maybe something has changed.

And as far as those coyote dancers go - I am not sure why anyone is getting bent about some dancing wolfs? Are wolf years counted like dog years? So a 20 year old coyote would actually be a little less than three years old in human years.

Surely the wolfman knows a thing or two about Coyote's?

Edited November 6, 2006 by TokyoT

[wolfmanjack]

Do any of you guys know anything about the USA ???????????????

Every State has their own Laws as far as drinking, age of consent, driving, etc. etc.

The only age limits that are mandated by Federal Law are the voting and military service laws.

In the state that I grew up in the drinking age was 18 then raised to 21 then lowered to 19. the age of consent for sex was 16 or 2 years differance whichever was lower. So a 16 year old could have sex with a 14 year old but an 18-100 year old could not go below 16.

Well in theory the states have the right to set the drinking age, the feds have basically told the states that unless they keep the drinking age at 21 they will not get federal highway dollars. Back in the day a few states fiddled around with near beer (really low alcohol content beer) in varying attempts to pull one over on the feds and having a lower drinking age for near beer only. Well the feds were having none of that and soon put their boot down on that as well - so near beer is no more.

So while every state has the right to set their own drinking age they do so at their peril - and the threat of the loss of federal highway dollars. Pretty sure all states have long since given up on this fight and all have set the drinking age at 21. But I have been living in Asia for quite a while now so maybe something has changed.

And as far as those coyote dancers go - I am not sure why anyone is getting bent about some dancing wolfs? Are wolf years counted like dog years? So a 20 year old coyote would actually be a little less than three years old in human years.

Surely the wolfman knows a thing or two about Coyote's?

I am not sure about the drinking age now since I have been here for 7 years and I am well past the age where i have to worry about the drinking age.

I do know a thing or 2 about coyotes and wolves. A coyote is not a wolf but they both are canines and do count their years as dog years. However their life expectancy is not as great as domestic dogs since they do not have regular access to food or vets. But lets not get into a discussion about the legal age of consent for coyotes, wolves or dogs.