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Date: 2nd April 2001, Bangkok Post

Teenagers shrug off party-poopers

Wassayos Ngarmkham and Sirikul Bunnag

Teenagers could not care less what action police and education officials may take to stop them going out at night. They insist on having fun.

Some are even shouting "Violation of children rights!" over the latest campaign by police and the Education Ministry, which unfolded Friday night at Royal City Avenue, better known as RCA.

When police and ministry officials showed up at RCA, the majority of teens simply shrugged and said police would leave them alone in no time.

Posted with orders from Huai Khwang and Makkasan police stations, discotheques and bars had to turn down the music to allow a procession of more than 500 children and parents, plus a band from Surasak Montri School, march down the avenue.

The 9.30-11pm event included a Phi Ta Khon masked parade from Loei province to "drive away evil influences".

The campaign's launch was presided over by Kasem Worawan na Ayutthaya, director-general of the General Education Department, and Pol Gen Sunthorn Saikwam, deputy national police chief.

But once the coast was clear, girls in revealing dresses and boys with eccentric hair-dos returned in full force.

RCA went back to its usual partying self, although some operators did ask customers to show their IDs before letting them in.

"I am not afraid of the police. They make arrests and then let you go. And I'll come back," said a girl, 15, who was angry at being barred from a pub. The boy she came with shrugged and said: "This campaign isn't going to work. Police are serious for only a couple of days. I don't really care. We can buy canned beer and enjoy ourselves around here even if they don't let us in."

Another girl, Gift, 19, scoffed at the campaign. "Eighteen-year-olds are grown-ups. And it isn't true we are here to do drugs," she said.

One 16-year-old whose attire drew one's eye directly to the navel, was visibly upset when told she could not enter the bar.

"I'll find a way to get in. I don't agree with this. It's a violation of children's rights. I want to relax. This is my semester break.

"And if police are going to act tough here, I'll go some place else: either Khao San road or Pho Sam Ton," she said.

Krissana Borisut, a 20-year-old university student, welcomed the campaign but also believed nothing would come of it. "These kids know how the police work. The campaign will be brief," he predicted.

However, children who took part believed in the campaign. Chatiya Tiwa-ayu, a 12-year-old in a green fancy dress from Surasak Montri School, said the swingers would realise going out at night was bad for them.

"They will know they are taking risks: drugs, sexual seduction and all that..." she said.

Sakrin Chomthaisong, a 15-year-old from the same school, said he would be happy if the campaign discouraged minors from going out.

Veerapan Prasitpirom, owner of Baby Blink Bar, said he supported the campaign but doubted it would work without a concerted effort from all parties, particularly parents.

Mr Veerapan's staff regularly check IDs before allowing teenagers inside his bar.

"I've been doing this for a while, not just tonight. I have a 15-year-old daughter and I never let her come to this place," he said.

Police nationwide have been ordered to crack down on entertainment places which allow minors into their premises.

Pol Gen Sunthorn said the authorities were serious about the campaign, and called for tougher penalties against nightspot operators breaking the law.

Meanwhile, Bangkok police are dusting off Revolutionary Party Announcement No 294, which bars people under 18 from night entertainment venues after 10pm. The decades-old announcement subjects parents of minors caught in such places to fines of 500-1,000 baht.