BANGKOK — The billboard, featuring large Chinese characters and a picture of an elderly person with a dignified appearance at Bangkok’s Huai Khwang intersection on Ratchadaphisek Road, came to light on July 22. Thai police have now launched an investigation.
It began when a Facebook user, later identified as Ms. Phattharanan Jarudul, 29, posted a picture of this billboard with the question, “Can they do this?” She gave an interview to media on Monday that she is a regular traveler on this stretch and usually sees advertisements for fried chicken stores.” Correction: “In an interview with the media on Monday, she said that she is a regular traveler on this stretch and usually sees advertisements for fried chicken stores.
She then used Google Translate to decipher the message and was surprised at the content, prompting her to post this on Facebook.
“I was personally surprised and wondered if it was really possible to buy a nationality. The entire ad was in Chinese, so it seemed to be targeting a specific group of customers. I was shocked to see such an advertisement for buying nationality in our country. It should have at least included Thai or English. It looks like niche advertising,” she said.
The poster advertised the conversion of citizenship and claimed that it was 100 percent legal. The citizenships offered were Indonesian for 30,000, Vanuatu for 70,000, Cambodian for 100,000 and Turkish for 150,000, without specifying the currency.
It also stated that passports could be obtained within 30 days, that security and confidentiality were guaranteed, that payment would be made on completion and that agents were being recruited worldwide.
The ad claimed to be from a company that has specialized in emigration services for over 13 years and was endorsed by government agencies. This raised questions among the public about the legality of acquiring citizenship in Thailand.
In the Huai Khwang neighborhood, often referred to as Bangkok’s second Chinatown, there are numerous stores with Chinese lettering. This billboard, measuring about 14×12 meters, was placed on a four-story building at the intersection.
When the reporters arrived to investigate, they found about 6-7 workers dismantling the billboard. When asked, one worker explained that his employer had instructed him to remove the billboard. When asked who the employer was, the worker did not answer and instead evaded the question.
Officers from Huai Khwang Police Station later confiscated the billboard and the installation equipment and took the workers for questioning to determine the employer and who ordered the advertisement.
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MP from the Move Forward Party (opposition), commented that the situation, if real, is a serious problem and a slap in the face of the government.
“Considering the large non-Thai billboard, this shows a disregard for Thai law enforcement. The government and police should take this seriously. There is a large Chinese population in the Ratchada-Huai Khwang area, which is why the advertisement targeted Chinese speakers. This incident indicates that Thailand could become a hub for global threats,” he said.
Initially, Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuchnarat, deputy commander of the Immigration Department, confirmed that the sale of citizenship occurs worldwide, especially in countries with smaller populations seeking foreign business investment. However, he assured that such practices are not allowed in Thailand. The authorities will thoroughly investigate the case to determine the legality and possible violations of Thai law. If they are found guilty, legal action will be taken.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana stated that initial investigations indicated that the advertisement was promoting the sale of nationalities in their respective countries and not in Thailand. The ad only used Thai advertising space, which does not appear to jeopardize Thailand’s security. Nevertheless, thorough checks are being carried out to prevent any impact on national security.
Police General Torsak Sukvimol, the National Police Chief, has also ordered the Metropolitan Police Bureau to urgently investigate the case of a Chinese-language billboard advertising passport sales. They are to determine who owns it, whether it violates any laws, and to swiftly pursue legal action against the offenders in all aspects, even though the billboard has already been taken down.
Furthermore, he has instructed the Immigration Bureau to thoroughly screen foreign nationals entering and residing in the Kingdom of Thailand to ensure compliance with immigration laws. This is to support and maintain a balance between tourism and national security. He emphasized that offenders, whether Thai or foreign nationals, must face legal consequences in all cases.
Later on July 22, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin also followed up on the issue by visiting Huai Khwang Police Station to talk with the police. He stated that he came only to emphasize the importance of proper legal compliance, especially regarding the installation of advertising billboards. He also instructed the Huai Khwang police to address the problems of illegal Chinese businesses, or so-called ‘Gray Chinese businesses’, and drug issues in the area.
Police Colonel Prasopchok Iampinit, Superintendent of Huai Khwang Police Station, said that he has coordinated with relevant agencies to inspect the building where the advertising billboard was installed on July 23. There are three main issues to be investigated: 1. The permission for installing the advertising billboard, 2. The payment of advertising taxes, and 3. The buying and selling of citizenship and passports. For the third issue, consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau will be necessary to determine whether advertising the buying and selling of citizenship and passports is permissible in Thailand.
“From what we know now, there are 8 countries where citizenship can be bought and sold. This mostly occurs in countries with small populations that invite foreigners to do business in their countries. We will have a meeting to discuss this tomorrow,” he said.
Paitoon Ngamook, the director of Huai Khwang District, reported that his office had received reports about the billboard. If it is found to have been placed without proper authorization under the Public Health Act, the penalty could be up to three months in jail, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both, with additional daily fines of up to 10,000 baht. Other offenses are punishable by the police.
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