Thai Police Bust Adult Website Owners

[AllanahStarrNYC]

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/show...WS=0000002665#

[Kriss]

opcorn

[SarahG]

That's messed up.

[peggygee]

Could be related to this. The Thais are pretty mellow people, but in the
LOS, farangs dissing the King is a no-no.

LESE MAJESTE
YouTube ban to remain in effect for now

Blockage of popular video website won't end until still image is removed: minister

BANGKOK: -- The blockage imposed on the YouTube website in Thailand will continue until a particular still image from a contentious video clip regarded as lese-majeste is also removed from the website, Information and Com-munications Technology (ICT) Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said yesterday.

He said the earlier removal of the 44-second film clip containing the content from the US-based website was not enough.

"We also want that picture removed before we unblock YouTube," he added.

The ministry earlier said it would impose the blockade indefinitely until other measures were adopted or YouTube decided to remove the lese-majeste video clip without conditions.

Next Monday, police and the ministry will work out issues to deal with such a case in the future.

Sitthichai said he was "dismayed" and complained bitterly when Google Inc, which owns YouTube, refused to remove the content, citing that it still kept material mocking US President George W Bush far more harshly than what was deemed inappropriate against His Majesty the King.

Sitthichai added that YouTube insisted it would still keep the clip.

"YouTube said it thought there was not enough reason to remove the clip after viewing the video and making its judgement on the content," he added.

He described the posting as "unacceptable" to all Thais.

"Thailand is a small country and has no negotiating power to get the content removed from YouTube. What we can do now is block the YouTube service locally, until the clip is removed," he added.

During the ICT Ministry-ordered blockade, any Internet service provider in Thailand found to be hosting websites containing content that insults His Majesty or the Royal Family or still leaves access to YouTube open to local users will have its operating licences revoked immediately.

The clip was later removed, not long after the blockade of YouTube began in Thailand on Tuesday night.

A message on the YouTube page where the clip was used said the 44-second video clip in Flash format was removed by the user - self-described as a US-based, 30-year old with the user name "Paddidda".

After posting the clip not long after March 25, when he or she registered to use the service, the user never logged into the page until yesterday evening, when the clip was removed, said a note posted yesterday on the YouTube page in question.

Associated Press explained how the content in the video clip violated lese-majeste law. The number of visitors accessing the YouTube page reached 66,553, before the clip was pulled.

In an e-mail statement on Wednesday night, YouTube spokeswoman Julie Supan said the company was "disappointed" its site had been blocked.

-- The Nation, AP 2007-04-06

[yodajazz]

One thing that I caught from the article is that they had the Buddah observable in all of their videos, according to the article. I can see that it would be offensive to a Bhuddist to have these on display during sex scenes. The makers probably just thought that they were adding authentic Thailand flavor to there scenes.

Bottom line is that there is a risk in the undertaking of business's and it helps to be sensititve to local issues.

[peggygee]

One thing that I caught from the article is that they had the Buddah observable in all of their videos, according to the article. I can see that it would be offensive to a Bhuddist to have these on display during sex scenes. The makers probably just thought that they were adding authentic Thailand flavor to there scenes.

Bottom line is that there is a risk in the undertaking of business's and it helps to be sensititve to local issues.

As a woman of color, my experiences in Southeast Asia, have been very
different.

I haven't gone there as a sex tourist, looking to get my freak on. As a
matter of fact wherever I travel I try to be very respectful of the local
customs, and to not be an 'ugly American'.

I realize that sex tourism brings a lot of money into Thailand. But the
Thais are a very proud and gracious people, and having a Buddha in
every corner during the filming strikes me as sacriligous and disrespectful.

Those on HA that only see the glossy photos of the models, may have no
concept of what's going on there. As a woman seeing all the horny
Americans, Europeans, Aussies chasing after the women through the Sois,
like drunken frat boys on spring break it's very sad.

At times like that I feel ashamed to be an American.

[johnie]

It looks like they didn't make their "protection" payment this month to the officials there and thats why they were picked up.

In a country with thousands of postitutes and tons of adult material being produced there, why did the authorities decide to all of a sudden arrest these people? There has to be more to the story than we know of.

I believe there are pornographers who visit this forum who work/have worked in Thailand. have they had any problems with police?

Also, we as americans forget about our right to freedom of speech. Most countries in europe don't even guarantee the right to freedom of speech. For example, in England it is illegal to deny the Jewish Holocaust. If you claim it never happened, you will get arrested. Also, in Germany, you can not name your child Hitler or Osama.

[insert_namehere]

It looks like they didn't make their "protection" payment this month to the officials there and thats why they were picked up.

In a country with thousands of postitutes and tons of adult material being produced there, why did the authorities decide to all of a sudden arrest these people? There has to be more to the story than we know of.

I believe there are pornographers who visit this forum who work/have worked in Thailand. have they had any problems with police?

That's sort of presumptuous. The concept of "squeeze" isn't necessarily a universal throughout Asia, and just like in the good ol' U.S. of A., a lot of times, things aren't acted upon because no-one's bitched about it yet.

A perfect example happened in the office building I work in. 7 story building with a bank on the first floor, architect offices, insurance, collections, lawyers, etc (your standard "professional" mix). Additionally, on the 5th floor there happened to be a company that we all suddenly discovered was shooting porn - in the office. They'd been in the building for 7 months and the only clue anyone had at first was that "oddly dressed" folks were loitering around the 5th floor hallways. If one of there "performers" hadn't decided to add income by trying to boost the large flat screen monitor at the reception desk of a law first next door, gotten busted and spilled some beans while being interviewed by the police, they'd probably STILL be in business.

Sometimes all it takes is a nosey neighbor.

[BeardedOne]

Sometimes all it takes is a nosey neighbor.

[ARMANIXXX]

One thing that I caught from the article is that they had the Buddah observable in all of their videos, according to the article. I can see that it would be offensive to a Bhuddist to have these on display during sex scenes. The makers probably just thought that they were adding authentic Thailand flavor to there scenes.

Bottom line is that there is a risk in the undertaking of business's and it helps to be sensititve to local issues.

As a woman of color, my experiences in Southeast Asia, have been very
different.

I haven't gone there as a sex tourist, looking to get my freak on. As a
matter of fact wherever I travel I try to be very respectful of the local
customs, and to not be an 'ugly American'.

I realize that sex tourism brings a lot of money into Thailand. But the
Thais are a very proud and gracious people, and having a Buddha in
every corner during the filming strikes me as sacriligous and disrespectful.

Those on HA that only see the glossy photos of the models, may have no
concept of what's going on there. As a woman seeing all the horny
Americans, Europeans, Aussies chasing after the women through the Sois,
like drunken frat boys on spring break it's very sad.

At times like that I feel ashamed to be an American.

__________________________________________________ ________________________





Quiet Peggy and pass the beer