BANGKOK – Thailand’s Ministry of Culture has urged teens to celebrate Valentine's Day this year by having dinner, and not sex, with their romantic partners.

The campaign, called "This Valentine's Day, Dinner Only," was announced by Chaweerat Kasetsunthorn, assistant of the Minister of Culture, in a press conference at yesterday.

Chaweerat explained that the Ministry is deeply concerned by a recent survey in which 83 percent of young people interviewed said they planned to have sex on Valentine's Day. 

"It will lead to moral problems, especially pregnancy at an age when they are not ready. This problem has the potential to keep escalating," Chaweerat said. "One of the reasons for this is young people’s  free and convenient access to online media."

Valentine’s Day has become a widely-celebrated in Thailand in recent decades. Despite the country's reputation as a top destination for sex tourism, Thailand's socially-conservative authorities frown upon the holiday, which is perceived to encourage premarital sex. Every year, police and state agencies launch a campaign to ensure that Thai youths refrain from "inappropriate activities."

Chaweerat explained how romantic rituals associated with Valentine's Day put young people at risk of having sex.

"They express their love by receiving flowers, telling their partners they love them, having dinner, watching a movie, and then they will invite each other to nightclubs and bars, where they will kiss, hug, and touch each other," Chaweerat said. "Some couples end up having sex."

Narathip Pumsap, director of the Moral Promotion Center, urged all Thai teenagers to use the "hashtag" #DinnerOnly on social media this Valentine's Day.

"We want to reflect the idea that new-era teenagers have morality and ethics in their love," Narathip said. "What's important: parents and teachers should create correct understanding about Valentine's Day with children. Teenagers can do many other activities on that day, such as showing love to the family, society, themselves, and the country."

Related coverage:
Thai Police Warn Parents of Valentine's Day 'Dangers'

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Ministry of Culture has urged teens to celebrate Valentine's Day this year by having dinner, and not sex, with their romantic partners.

The campaign, called "This Valentine's Day, Dinner Only," was announced by Chaweerat Kasetsunthorn, assistant of the Minister of Culture, in a press conference at yesterday.

Chaweerat explained that the Ministry is deeply concerned by a recent survey in which 83 percent of young people interviewed said they planned to have sex on Valentine's Day. 

"It will lead to moral problems, especially pregnancy at an age when they are not ready. This problem has the potential to keep escalating," Chaweerat said. "One of the reasons for this is young people’s  free and convenient access to online media."

Valentine’s Day has become a widely-celebrated in Thailand in recent decades. Despite the country's reputation as a top destination for sex tourism, Thailand's socially-conservative authorities frown upon the holiday, which is perceived to encourage premarital sex. Every year, police and state agencies launch a campaign to ensure that Thai youths refrain from "inappropriate activities."

Chaweerat explained how romantic rituals associated with Valentine's Day put young people at risk of having sex.

"They express their love by receiving flowers, telling their partners they love them, having dinner, watching a movie, and then they will invite each other to nightclubs and bars, where they will kiss, hug, and touch each other," Chaweerat said. "Some couples end up having sex."

Narathip Pumsap, director of the Moral Promotion Center, urged all Thai teenagers to use the "hashtag" #DinnerOnly on social media this Valentine's Day.

"We want to reflect the idea that new-era teenagers have morality and ethics in their love," Narathip said. "What's important: parents and teachers should create correct understanding about Valentine's Day with children. Teenagers can do many other activities on that day, such as showing love to the family, society, themselves, and the country."

Related coverage:
Thai Police Warn Parents of Valentine's Day 'Dangers'

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

BANGKOK — The brother of a volunteer medic killed in the 2010 crackdown on Redshirt protesters has vowed to file a lawsuit against Thailand’s national anti-graft agency for its slow progress in prosecuting those responsible for the violence.

Nattapat Akhart, whose sister Kamolkate Akhart was shot dead by soldiers during the military operation, has accused the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of deliberately dragging its feet in prosecuting the Democrat Party politicians who authorized the crackdown.

"It's been almost five years since the crackdown in 2010, but there has been no progress at all," Nattapat said yesterday. "It is obvious that many civilians were killed by soldiers. It's not complicated like the corruption case of the rice-pledging scheme."

Nattapat was referring to the NACC’s prosecution of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her alleged failure to stop corruption in her government's rice policy. Last month the agency presented the case to the junta’s interim parliament, which voted to impeach Yingluck and ban her from political office for five years.

Critics accuse the NACC of harboring political bias against Yingluck and other politicians allied to the Redshirt movement.

"Such discrimination by the NACC has made me decide to file a lawsuit," Nattapat said. He said he will accuse the agency of violating Section 157 of the Criminal Codes, the same dereliction of duty charge that the NACC filed against Yingluck. 

In August 2014, the NACC was granted jurisdiction over charges filed against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for authorizing the 2010 crackdown, which led to more than 90 fatalities, mostly civilians.

Abhisit and Suthep were originally charged with murder by the Division of Special Investigation in 2010, but the Criminal Court threw out the case last year on the grounds that the former leaders should be charged with "abuse of power" by the NACC instead.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the ruling as a "serious setback for accountability efforts in Thailand" and "an affront to basic justice and international law."

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, sec-gen of the NACC Sansern Poljiak denied accusations that the commission is purposefully stalling. 

"All the cases get the same treatment. We are not dragging our feet," Sansern said. "The facts in this case have been processed and submitted to the commission, but they are still too broad. They are not concise, so I have assigned officials to revisit them and report back to the commission by 24 February."

This week, the Supreme Court's Division for Holders of Political Office accepted a separate lawsuit filed by the NACC against leaders of  a Redshirt-backed government who ordered a crackdown on Yellowshirt protesters in 2008. 

Two people were killed in suspicious circumstances during the crackdown. The government at the time said the two died from explosives unrelated to the police operation, but Yellowshirt leaders insist that the victims were killed by malfunctioning tear gas canisters fired by police.

CHIANG MAI — In a run-up to Valentine's Day, local officials in Chiang Mai province organized an event to honor a 104-year-old couple who has been married for the last 85 years.

Uipan and Uitip Kaewjaima live in a remote village on the Thai – Myanmar border in Chiang Mai’s Chiang Dao district. Registration records stored at the local district office show that the couple was married in 1929, when they were both eighteen years old.

Boonlue Thamtharanurak presents a gift basket to Uitip and Uipan Kaewjaima, Feb 12 2015.

In an event organized by local officials to mark their 85^th anniversary, villagers made merit to the couple and sought blessings for their own “long-lasting love.”

Boonlue Thamtharanurak, chief of Chiang Dao District, also paid respect and gave presents to the couple.

"I'd like to cheer up these two elderly people who are known for their immortal love," Boonlue said. 

Local residents say Uipan and Utitip are in good health, as they can still walk and converse with neighbors.

Asked to comment on the secret behind their longevity, Uipan said he and his wife like to eat vegetables and fish, and rarely eat meat. According to Uipan, who said he worked as a porter for the Japanese army during its invasion of Burma in World War II, he also regularly exercises, and refrains from smoking and drinking. 

"What's important: I strictly follow the Five Precepts [of Buddhism]," Uipan said. "I like to go to temple and hear the monks' sermons. I never fight with anyone."

He added, "As for the Day of Love this year, I wish that everyone will be happy with their love."

According to locals, Uipan and Uitip have 12 children, four of whom have passed away, and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

BANGKOK — The Supreme Court has accepted a lawsuit against former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his deputies for ordering a crackdown on the Yellowshirt protesters in 2008.

The chairperson of the Supreme Court's Division for Holders of Political Office accepted the case against Somchai and three others on February 9. The other defendants are former Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan, and former Bangkok police chief Suchart Muankaew. 

All four men have been charged with abuse of power under Section 157 of the Criminal Codes for their role in dispersing Yellowshirt protesters on October 7, 2008. 

On February 8, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) announced that it would prosecute Somchai and his deputies in in court. According to court documents, Somchai and three other defendants will enter their pleas on May 11.

The October 2008 crackdown came after Yellowshirt demonstrators, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), seized the Government House and occupied parts of Bangkok to pressure Somchai into stepping down. The protesters accused Somchai of acting as a "puppet" for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Redshirts who was deposed in a military coup in 2006.

Police officers fired tear gas at the protesters and beat some of them with batons. Two demonstrators were killed in "explosions" later in the day. Police insist that they did not cause the blasts, while Redshirt activists say the victims were carrying explosives at the time of their deaths. 

Her Majesty the Queen later attended the funeral of one of the two victims on 13 October 2008 and reportedly praised her sacrifice "for the country and the monarchy." 

Critics accuse the NACC of backing the Yellowshirt faction and ruling against politicians allied to the rival Redshirt movement. The agency has been criticized for its slow progress in prosecuting the Yellowshirt-allied Democrat Party politicians who authorized a crackdown on Redshirt protesters in 2010 that left over 90 people dead. 

Read more:
Families of 2010 Crackdown Victims Demand Progress From NACC

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