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Smegma
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This commentary article is from today's Bangkok Post. I do agree with the writter.
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We allow abuse when we ignore it
Wasant Techawongtham (Deputy News Editor for Environment and Urban Affairs, Bangkok Post)
The case of Chuwit Kamolvisit has stirred up a hornets' nest. It has brought into the limelight the unpleasant fact that prostitution, despite the law against it, is alive and well. And it is not something only for the lowdown and the crude. Mr Chuwit's clients are for the most part well-educated and well-off.
For the authorities, the ugly reality is that many among their ranks have compromised their sworn duty to enforce the law in exchange for handouts. It is a fact we all are fully aware of, but it takes someone like Mr Chuwit, who has the goods and the guts, to spill the beans on the cops.
The scandal is a major embarrassment for a government headed by an ex-cop. The authorities could not afford to let their soiled image be further sullied. They had to do something about it. So they did what they always do when faced with a scandal. They shuffled people about. A few officers were moved to inactive posts pending investigation.
As if to make up for their own poor reputation, the authorities turned their attention to the sex service industry. It is unclear, however, what it is they hope to achieve. They don't really want to close down all the entertainment places that have been known to front for prostitution. But nor do they want these places to be so brazen in going about their business.
Deputy PM Purachai Piumsombun, who made a big splash as a social order crusader while heading the Interior Ministry, was taken out of mothballs and put in charge of the campaign. His mission reportedly is to clean up the massage parlour industry that has enriched Mr Chuwit and his friends and snared so many cops with handouts. Other lesser crusaders at Interior are targetting other establishments in the sleaze industry.
The campaign may attempt to appease the more conservative among the population. And make no mistake about it, Thai society is conservative. But most Thais are also pragmatic enough to realise that no force of law can do away with the world's oldest profession. Many such campaigns have been launched before, and not one has succeeded.
Experience should have taught us that there is no use in making sexual acts between consenting adults a crime. Prostitution, like gambling, is an underground industry that has been going on for ages. It is a source of criminal behaviour involving human trafficking, coercion and abuse.
Attempts to crack down on prostitution only result in driving it further underground and subject the people working in the trade, mainly women, to further abuse.
The government would do well to follow up on its policy to draw underground businesses above ground. There is no need to legalise prostitution. Simply decriminalise it and treat it as an industry that requires special supervision, making it subject to strict regulations and all relevant laws, in particular the labour law.
Sex workers have been taken advantage of for too long. They deserve legal protection and all the benefits of the workplace just like any employee.
The authorities then should expend their efforts on preventing abuses in these workplaces, coercion or other means to force women, men, girls or boys into this profession, and youths visiting these establishments.
The moralists will say that decriminalising prostitution will promote moral decay and turn our youngsters into sex fiends. But even they should be able to understand how women, girls and boys have been forced and sometimes tortured to perform sexual acts against their will, and how they have been denied proper compensation and welfare protection because the law cannot reach them. That is the sin.
Decriminalising prostitution will accord sex workers the human rights and dignity others already enjoy under the constitution, while the government will benefit from additional tax earnings.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:32 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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Yurune
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I was just reading that......I thought it was well written...might not win many votes though...and as we know....Votes make wealth.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 1:35 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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Yurune
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Inane post.
Actually did you you notice the comment by Trink about how they now register every girl in a bra....LOL...typo...bar...but I thought I'd leave it.
They are now all in computers and the fat old git mused that info could be used against them when applying for passports......possible...hmmmm
That's as inane as I can do Smeg.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:01 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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Smegma
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And what makes you make inane posts?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 2:04 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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Vancouver Jay
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Other lesser crusaders at Interior are targetting other establishments in the sleaze industry.
Meaning Deputy Minister Pracha, we must assume. And since he's targeting the farang nightlife for the most part -- leave aside his efforts against the clubs which are mainly freelancer and Thai-for-Thai -- it's interesting that the compassionate and even-handed tone of the article now throws out the pejorative term. Sleaze.
Let's not forget that we sleazemongers only pump in a few percent of the total sex economy. The vast majority of structured p4p in the Kingdom is Thai-for-Thai. And the farther you get from the bright lights of the big massage parlours the higher the level of coercion used against the workers grows.
What is sleazier, a girl dancing topless in a bar and servicing farang of her own free will or a girl held in debt-bondage servicing the locals? f_ck the Post.
Simply decriminalise it and treat it as an industry that requires special supervision, making it subject to strict regulations and all relevant laws, in particular the labour law.
Sex workers have been taken advantage of for too long. They deserve legal protection and all the benefits of the workplace just like any employee.
Where can I get a pair of glasses this rose-colored? If there was ever a hint of affording widespread labor protection to sex workers all you'd see is a change in the structure of the industry. All those folks would go off the payroll and nothing would be accomplished. You'd end up with something similar to the West where dancers are charged stage fees.
Whatever changes took place you can be sure they would be to the continued benefit of the venue operators and the continued detriment of the employees.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:28 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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JHolmesJr
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"The case of Chuwit Kamolvisit has stirred up a hornets' nest. It has brought into the limelight the unpleasant fact that prostitution, despite the law against it, is alive and well. "
Wow, I'd never have noticed otherwise.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:35 am on Aug. 29, 2003
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Kryptonite
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CM2? Just watch out for those pesky little Italians LMAO!
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:55 am on Sep. 1, 2003
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ringthebells
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I do believe that cm2 is on top of the list for the next crack down and pipi test.
I hope I am wrong.
rtb.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:59 am on Sep. 1, 2003
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