[JoesBro]

Maybe Her Majesty's - and by implication-His Majesty's - comments deploring such lewd practices will have the effect of a crackdown and the existing laws will be enforced rigorously. I have only attended 2 such Thai celebrations -"Childrens Day" -both rural and both in the North - and thankfully did not witness anything untoward or disturbing of this nature.

[!!Aaroncheg]

just to clarify, I didn't mean to say this issue is to be neglected, I just don't see a point in new regulations because not even the existing ones are enforced at the moment.

Steve, I teach at a Muslim school (about one fourth to one third of the kids are Muslims, the rest are "regular" Buddhist Thais, with a couple of luk kruengs thrown in). our kids dress up to do dances as well, we had a cheerleading show with our 5-year-olds too, we had colours sports day with lots of dancing. thankfully, skirts must be at least knee length at all times, no provocative moves are allowed, though makeup is acceptable for traditional Thai dancing. in fact, on sports day this year, all dances participating in the competition had a strong patriotic theme for the anniversary, so it was very decent. I guess it is pretty much the same in any Christian-run private school around here.

I regularly watch street performances (at the Sunday market) and shows at festivals, and it seems to me scanty dressing is not the norm (except for luk thung singers, and one temple fair I stumbled upon in April), and I don't remember having to walk away because of a sexually explicit performance. it seems I'm not so exposed to questionable shows.

[vladekad]

Thailand is not the only country facing this problem, it is just that it is in the news that everyone realises it. I was at a dance show that my friend was in, typically girls from very young to about 18 were performing, in New York. What some of these girls, who I suppose where under 10, were wearing is appauling. I don't know how parents let their children dress up, willingly at that, like this?!?! I think the change has to come from the parents just as much as the girls and/or country.

[Soassesaisp]

Lewd dancing is nothing new to Thailand!

Ever since they are only toddlers at kindergarten, young girls are often dressed up in mini-skirts, make-up and coloured stockings.

A delight to the sick-minded males, Thai TV and temple fairs are always showing performances by pre-pubescent girls, again scantily dressed and dancing provocatively.

Next, at Thai High Schools they have their (Thai school tradition!) 'Colour Sports Day'. Now, any foreign teacher in Thailand must have noticed the 'lewd dancing' which goes on at schools on such days. Girls from grade 7-12 have the chance to wear 3inch skirts, parade their bosoms and even wear suspenders. And i am not joking......

Thailand has to get to the heart of the problem. Thailand loves beauty but there have to be limits to how it is 'shown' in public.

Absolutely, the education ministry, schools and universities already have their regulations. Instead of more crackdowns they need only enforce the old regulations.

[Soassesaisp]

K.Don just mentioned the urged ban on under-20s.

How about this one: Suphan Town has 4 discos, the smallest though arguably the best is located just near the ClockTower.

Anyway, one of the disco's leading singers is a 15 year-old from one of the local pvt schools. I couldn't believe when i heard about her age as she is up there grinding and flirting away while the men in the place are watering at the mouth.

You can't blame the guys though as she is dressed-up like a 21 year-old and her real age isn't exactly promoted on the disco's promotion posters!

Thailand really plays on the male psyche when this kind of thing can be tolarated.

[JoesBro]

If I am not mistaken, the Times had a large article on this similar topic in the UK last week?
In most cases they probably think it is "cool" to copy what they see on pop videos -thats my
I fully agree with the Queen (18 and still staying this) as it is a rapid moving fad in which all countries in the world are starting to face. It is just wrong for dancers to be seen in such "sexual" activites in public - I for one don't understand it....

I did not see the Times article, but I think these young girls think it is "cool" to ape what they see on pop DVDs etc.

[JoesBro]

Have just seen this in "The Nation":

Ban on under-20 girl presenters/dancers urged

The Culture Ministry will push for a new ministerial regulation that will ban students under 20 years of age from working as scantily-clad product presenters and dancers at events.

The Culture and Education ministries will soon meet to discuss on the issuance of the regulation.

"The regulation can be issued under the Children Protection Act and it can take immediate effect," Ladda Tangsupachai, who heads the Culture Ministry's cultural monitoring centre, said Monday.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon is also set to convene a meeting of relevant authorities, advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations on November 8 in a bid to find solutions that will end the spread of scantily clad girls at the events.

"Part-time jobs will be made available for students during their school holidays," Ladda said.

She added that the Culture Ministry was going to push this issue into a national agenda as a longterm solution.

The scantily-clad product presenters and dancers became a hot issue after Her Majesty the Queen has issued a command cautioning over television images of female dancers in provocative dresses at a Buddhist charity session during the annual sighting of the Naga fireballs.

The statement of Her Majesty's concern was sent to Khaisri.

The Nation

[JoesBro]

K.Don just mentioned the urged ban on under-20s.

How about this one: Suphan Town has 4 discos, the smallest though arguably the best is located just near the ClockTower.

Anyway, one of the disco's leading singers is a 15 year-old from one of the local pvt schools. I couldn't believe when i heard about her age as she is up there grinding and flirting away while the men in the place are watering at the mouth.

You can't blame the guys though as she is dressed-up like a 21 year-old and her real age isn't exactly promoted on the disco's promotion posters!

Thailand really plays on the male psyche when this kind of thing can be tolarated.

Well, looks like your local "7-11" -or similar- is going to get a new "satuday girl" when the new law comes into force

[doctorzlo]

Steve that is not a big town is it? I thought it was like a little rural hub, am I wrong?

[Caursedus]

Well there is a time and a place for every thing, Just in this place, this form of dancing is inappropriate.

[JoesBro]

Fully agree with HM the Queen. Only wish we had someone of her great influence to "clean up" the UK.

[Fiesialenp]

Queen voices concern over lewd dancing
The Nation, 30th October 2006

Prompted by television images of female dancers in provocative dresses at a Buddhist charity session during the annual sighting of the Naga fireballs, Her Majesty the Queen has issued a command cautioning relevant authorities to be strict with such acts.

Minister of Culture Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon, who received the statement of the Queen's concern from the her Principal Private Secretary Office, said that Her Majesty did not condemn any individual agencies or the dancers, but commented that: "Buddhists in general should always bear in mind what is good for the image of the country".

"Any shows or performances organised in association with any Buddhist festival should be held with respect for Lord Buddha and Buddhism," Khaisri quoted

the Queen as saying in the statement.

Khaisri said she regarded that the media's role in publishing or broadcasting such images as a very crucial factor.

"The media needs to use very good judgement on which things should be relayed to the public, and which should not," she commented.

The minister said she personally felt there should be laws passed to control the publication or broadcasting of material that it was difficult to judge whether to allow or not, although censorship laws against publication of pornographic material or themes deemed unethical were already in effect.

The Buddhist charity session with the dancers was covered in a television channel's news report on the Naga fireball sighting in Nong Khai province. The dancers, widely known as "coyote dancers", were seen in provocative dresses and dancing with sexually explicit moves.

She said that after television report covered the provocative dancing most graphically, the news was then published in newspapers for all to read before newscasters showed the images again in both morning and evening newscasts.

"The repetition of images and the act could mislead [young girls] into doing the same," Khaisri commented.

She said the agencies and bodies that would be asked to discuss the matter and work out solutions with the Culture Ministry included the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Interior, the Supreme Sangha Council and the Office of National Buddhism.

[vladekad]

great influence to "clean up" the UK.

If I am not mistaken, the Times had a large article on this similar topic in the UK last week?

I fully agree with the Queen (18 and still staying this) as it is a rapid moving fad in which all countries in the world are starting to face. It is just wrong for dancers to be seen in such "sexual" activites in public - I for one don't understand it....

[!!Aaroncheg]

I might be perceiving the situation all wrong (again), but instead of coming up with new regulations, shouldn't the existing ones be strictly enforced? I mean regulations about other aspects of moral and proper behaviour conductive to the improvement of Thai society at a large scale. rules and regulations about employing children, school attendance, underage drinking, drinking and driving, underground gambling dens, drug trade at schools, trafficking of humans and forcing people into prostitution, etc, etc.

Steve, what are the parents of that girl doing? cheering her in the first row?? next thing you realise they will sell her off to a brothel.

[JoesBro]

Just saw this in the Bangkok Post-I reckon the Education Minister has a good point:

Coyote girls 'inappropriate at any age'

Education minister Wijit Srisa-arn disagreed with culture ministry's suggestion to set a minimum age for girls to become a coyote dancer - because no one ever is old enough for such a task.

"If it's inappropriate for girls to be a coyote dancer, it will always be inappropriate, regardless of age," said Mr Wijit on Tuesday. "It's not about the age. It's more about the impropriety to do that in public."

Mr Wijit said the education ministry should consider before issuing a regulation that it would work in reality and that it does not violate individual rights.

Amornvit Nakorndhup, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of education, said there is no need to issue a new regulation if government wants to ban college students from becoming a coyote dancer.

According to Dr Amornvit, universities and education ministry have rules that students must not do anything unethical. "These rules can be applied to the coyote issue, so no need to issue a new one," said Dr Amornvit.

[vladekad]

Welcome to the problem that every country in the world is facing and debating....

[vladekad]

I did not see the Times article, but I think these young girls think it is "cool" to ape what they see on pop DVDs etc.

I do agree but if something isn't done up high (i.e. the Queen, etc) then who is to stop it? It is a growing epidemic all over the world to dance like this and it is getting bigger. The thing is that you can't technically say or do anything about it because it is personal preference whether they want to do this or not. You cannot enforce something like that which limits the way people dance because it is their free right to do so.

I know I may sound amibiguous in this but I do see both sides of the story but do advocate something to be done before it gets out of hand (which it already has and just makes it harder to fix).

Regards, Andrew