Bar ban for lone women

[kao_boy]

The Nation

Published on Feb 14, 2002

 

Outcry as Bangkok police use 40-year-old law to keep single females out of nightspots to curb prostitution

Police might receive bricks instead of flowers as Valentine gifts after taking the "Social Order" campaign one step too far in women's views.

Acting on a directive from the metropolitan police headquarters, Bangkok police stations have issued orders instructing entertainment places to shut out women who arrive without male companions. This has provoked an outcry from the public and many female groups.

The Nation yesterday obtained a February 6 order issued by Lumpini police to operators of all entertainment venues in the Lumpini area. Apart from basic instructions regarding strictly adhering to the legal closing time and bans on weapons as well as underage customers, it stated that any woman arriving at an entertainment establishment alone must not be allowed to enter the place.

"This is the biggest joke I have ever heard," said Supensri Puengkoksoong, head of the Women's Rights Protection Centre. "People just want to relax in such places and the government is treating them as if they all are criminals. Doesn't the gender equality clause in the Constitution mean anything to the government?"

Police insisted that the directive was neither illegal nor unconstitutional, pointing to an old law empowering police to ban women, coming alone or in groups without male companions, from entertainment places for their own safety. The law was also intended to curb prostitution.

Pol Maj-General Damrong-|sak Nilkhuha, deputy metro-|politan police commissioner, |said police would not use the directive to launch an indiscriminate clampdown on lone female customers.

"Of course, it will be a case-by-case approach. It's not that every woman will be warned or arrested," he said.

Somyos Suthangkun, chairman of the Entertainment Places Operators Association, argued that there are times and places for laws.

"As far as I know, this one is nearly 40 years old. We should amend or review obsolete laws like this instead of abusing them," he said.

"This hypocrisy has got to end. If police want to crack down on prostitution, just check out massage parlours. People go to pubs or cafes to have fun, and if they become attracted to one another and decided to go have sex, it's their right."

Human Rights Commissioner Naiyana Supapueng said the directive was discriminatory and vowed to bring the issue to her panel's attention if any woman was arrested because of it. Chantana Raksayu, an official of the lesbians' rights group Anjaree, vowed to organise a protest against the directive if it was really enforced.

"Some women just don't want male companions. Does this mean they have no right to have fun in this country?" Chantana said.

Actress Penpak Sirikul said she would support the directive if it was enforced selectively, such as against young girls entering establishments alone. "But if all women are subjected to the ban and warning, it would be outrageous discrimination," she said.

Meanwhile, police have sought cooperation from operators of love motels, condominiums and apartments to keep an eye on young people on Valentines' night.

Deputy Education Minister Jamlong Kruntkuntode will preside over a ceremony this afternoon to deploy juvenile delinquency police to various spots around Bangkok to watch out for improper activities on the part of teenagers. The focus will be on youth parties that involve sex or drugs, he said.

[Central Scrutinizer]

Kao_boy,

Thanks for posting that. Very disturbing news. I loved the comment by the actress. Silly woman she is, or what?

If this spreads it looks like GTG will need a date to escort her into Woodstock if she ever goes again. :-) What areas does Lumpini district involve...anyone?

Cent

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Cent ]

[Guest]

It does include Sukhumvit Soi 4, Nana Plaza.

[Lord Toad]

From baronbonk weekly newsletter:

Last week all bars in the Lumpini police district, in Bangkok, should have received a missive from the head of the local plod. It was a letter that was apparently prompted by Puritanical's "Social revitalization project" that laid down some of the rules that must be followed by entertainment parlors, which are bars, and not just gogos etc.

The item that caught a few eyes was number 3. This said "You are prohibited to allow any female who does not work in the entertainment parlor to enter such parlor without accompanying male."

Did this mean that all single girls, Thai or farang, were barred from bars? I did a little checking and found that this is the law in Thailand and has been for a long time. But it is one of those laws that has clearly been forgotten. Did this now mean that Puratanical was about to re-enforce this law? That should really help the tourist figures and outrage feminists world wide.

However, a bar owner spoke to a senior policeman at Lumpini and expressed his concern at the ruling.

"Did this mean he had to refuse entry to single, or groups of, tourist women?" he asked.

"No no,' said the policeman, "we just put that in so we can get money from the freelancer bars. They think they are doing nothing wrong so they do not pay enough police tax."

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Be careful guys (posters). I hope that you let the article speak for itself.

I believe that the Lumpini precinct also includes the Langsuan area, which has tons of unescorted girls, who definitely aren't slutty.

This is a pretty significant development.

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

"What areas does Lumpini district involve...anyone?"

Probably not 100% correct on this, but here goes.

Sukhumvit up til Asoke, Ploenchit, Lang Suan/Sarasin, Rajdamri (?), and I am assuming a bit more. But these would be the major areas with entertainment in them.

Don't think Siam Square falls in the same district, but could be wrong.

Sanuk!

[Guest]

An editorial in the Nation makes for interesting reading. Not sure if they are being sarcastic or serious, certainly not making direct criticism of Khun Purachai.

"it seems that my desire to be physically overwhelmed by Phi Tong (brother Tong) increases every time we meet and kiss passionately.

Had it not been for Uncle Purachai Piumsombun, the interior minister, I would have already given in to Phi Tong".......

......."So my diary, I have been able to preserve by virginity because of Uncle Purachai. I am safe now from all the consequences. But I don't know what'll happen to me next when Phi Tong makes an indecent proposal"

Nation editorial

[Guest]

Whether the policies are right or wrong (and I'm sure it's easy to guess the choice I believe is correct), I'll bet the electorate is eating this stuff up like flies on shit.

It's kinda like in America, where people CHEER Presidents(men on the secret payroll of farmers) who say, "We must stand up for family farm values." Then, the government takes tax money away from workers valiantly fighting on the margins of existence in various other industries, and gives it to fat-cat millionaire fucks whose worthlessly inefficient mega-farms have no rationale for being in business in a capitalist system.

It is really embarrassing to see fellow citizens who are cheer-screaming out, "Traditional values!" getting anally raped, proportionate to the volume of their exclamation. Am I of the same race as these American pathetic, loser, turds? Anybody see any parallels elsewhere in the world?