Thailand: ‘Intrusive’ immigration form now mandatory for foreigners

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IF you are planning to visit Thailand’s resort province of Phuket, you will now be required to furnish a host of personal information, including banking account and social media details to the nation’s Immigration bureau.

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Otherwise, failure to submit applications when entering the province will result in consequences, a Immigration official has warned.

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Immigration Bureau’s crime suppression unit Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Chachaval Vachirapaneegul said the details to be filled in the “Foreign National Information Form”, released last Monday, was now a mandatory requirement.

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“If a foreigner doesn’t want to fill in their information by themselves, they will be questioned for our records anyway. If they don’t fill in the form, we will suspect their reason,” Chachaval was quoted as saying in Phuket News.

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SEE ALSO: Thailand asking foreigners for bank account, social media, and hangout details

Apart from social media and account details, the three-page form asks for foreigners’ contact numbers and email addresses, vehicle registration, and places frequented by the foreigner.

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In the form, visitors were warned that: “Providing false information to an officer, shall be punishable under the Penal Code.”

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According to the paper, the form covers most types of applications for foreigners.

“This form shall be used for making record of information of every alien entering and staying in the Kingdom of Thailand and shall be submit with Notification of residences for Aliens (section 37, 38 of Immigration Act, BE, 2522), or 90-days notification, or Extension of Stays (all purposes), or Re-entry Permits, or in all cases involving alien labors,” the header reads.

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SEE ALSO: Thailand: Foreigners vexed by ‘intrusive’ immigration forms

However, Chachaval did not confirm whether failure to provide certain information would form a basis for applications to be rejected and clarified that the social media account details was optional. He said all other sections were mandatory.

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“We will not force people to provide their social media details,” he said.
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Source: Asiancorrespondent.com/

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Severe coral bleaching threatens popular Phi Phi dive spots

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Coral bleaching is rife in Phi Phi national park - the worst ever recorded in Thailand - alarmed conservation officials reported Thursday.

Many varieties of coral have been affected by the bleaching, which is due to the sea temperature rising to between 31 to 35 degrees Celsius, said an official from the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

Staghorn coral, lesser coral, mushroom coral, cauliflower coral, and hump coral are all being affected by the bleaching, which is far worse than observed in 2010, said Tikamporn Wongtawatchai, a specialist from Marine National Park and Protected Areas Innovation Center (MNIPC).

"Coral bleaching has been recorded all over the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi marine national park, but the bleaching is worse at Koh Kai," said Tikamporn.

This is the first time hump coral has been affected by bleaching, indicating that the bleaching is far worse than ever before. The bleaching has occurred in several popular dive spots, including Pileh Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Koh Yoong, Monkey Beach, Koh Pai and Koh Gai.

Conservationists earlier this week proposed closing off Maya Bay to tourists to help restore the bleached coral and other endangered marine life there (story here).

"We cannot control nature. However, we can stop people from disturbing the marine life in these spots. Hopefully, this latest report of the extensive damage will persuade the DNP to take quick action by closing off Maya bay and other spots in Phi Phi national park affected by the bleaching," said Tikamporn.

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Bali Art Festival

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French performers and artists are all set to take part in the annual arts festival that gets underway next month

Around 15,000 artists are expected to take part in the 38th Bali Arts Festival, a month-long cultural festival, which this year runs from June 11 until July 9.

More than 300 traditional and contemporary art performances are scheduled to enliven Bali's biggest and most magnificent cultural fiesta.

Ida Ayu Masyeni, arts and movie section head at the Bali Cultural Agency, says a cultural street parade will mark the opening of the festival on the afternoon of June 11. Hundreds of artists from across Bali will participate in the parade, displaying their best performances.

"Representatives of all eight regencies across Bali will perform," Ayu confirms.

The street parade will take place in the Renon area of Denpasar, and all participants will encircle the Bajrasandhi Monument, a museum built in the form of a giant genta — a sacred bell used by Hindu High Priests.
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 Beside participants from across Bali, the street parade will also be enlivened by cultural performances from France.

"We are expecting more participants from overseas," says street parade coordinator Anak Agung Gede Raka.

Raka congratulated France for its participation in the event. "This will deepen our relations with France," he says.

After the parade, the event will continue with an opening ceremony on the Ardha Candra open stage at the Bali Arts Centre in Denpasar. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected to officially open the event.

The month-long fiesta will take place around the Bali Arts Centre. Besides art performances, the event will also feature arts and handicraft exhibitions, competitions, seminars, movie screenings and culinary events where people can enjoy authentic Balinese food.

Located on Jl. Nusa Indah in downtown Denpasar, the Bali Arts Centre is a cultural complex showcasing traditional Balinese architecture. The Bali Arts Centre contains many stages, an exhibition hall and many other facilities for various cultural activities. It was opened in 1973 and was designed to preserve Balinese culture. The Bali Arts Festival was first held there in 1979.

Masyeni says preparations for the festival are 70 per cent complete. As of now, France is the only country that has confirmed that it will participate in the event. The organisers, however, are still open to other countries taking part.
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 "France has confirmed its participation in the Bali Arts Festival. French citizens will participate in the street parade and the opening ceremony," she says.

The organisers acknowledge that foreign participants could be fewer this year as the festival will be held during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan. So far, only the province of Central Java has confirmed its attendance at the festival. Last year, at least 14 regencies and provinces took part.

Amandine Grisard, the director of Alliance Francaise Bali, said that French art would be displayed during the parade. Her organisation will collaborate with Printemps Francais 2016, a French-Indonesian Cultural Festival being held in 10 cities across Indonesia, including Denpasar.
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Source: The Nation
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Cambodians flock to Thailand over long weekend

CAMBODIA’S four-day long weekend to celebrate the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni is expected to result in at least 4,000 Cambodian tourists visiting Thailand per day via Sa Kaew and potentially generate up to Bt80 million for the economy, a senior official said yesterday.

 The holiday finishes tomorrow.

Lt-Colonel Benjapol Rodsawat, deputy chief of Sa Kaew immigration police, inspected the crowded situation at the Aranyaprathet immigration border checkpoint yesterday in a bid to ensure smooth services.

Cambodian families crossed the border to visit popular attractions including in Bangkok and Pattaya. 

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New 100 Million Baht Tourist Attraction Burned To The Ground

A brand new 100 million baht Thai-style wooden house at Ban Phayamai near Pattaya was burned to the ground on Friday morning.
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The new tourist attraction was completely destroyed after taking almost ten years to build as workers put the finishing touches to the interior before opening to paying visitors.
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Firefighters were called to Ban Phayamai in Nong Preu at around 10am and took several hours to bring the blaze under control.
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The large wooden house was built of teak and other precious wood at a cost of 100 million baht and is owned by Khunthong Ou-ngern, a well-known businessman and owner of Poipet market.
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The fire was believed to have been started by an electrical fault.

Fire crews struggle to bring the flames under control as fire rages through the yet to be opened Ban Phayamai tourist attraction in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on Friday morning. The Thai-style wooden house, which took about 10 years to build at a cost of 100 million baht, was completely destroyed. (Photo by Chaiyot Phuttanapong)
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Ps. 1 Euro = 40 Thai Baht.
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Source: Stickboybangkok
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Thai Visa Run Tales: The Road To Poipet

It actually feels like a punishment.

“You want to spend another 30 days in Southeast Asia?!”

“Yes, please.”

“Then you shall suffer!”

Leaving the big smoke smouldering behind on the horizon, you attempt to seek some semblance of comfort within the cramped confines of the minibus.

This isn’t easy for several reasons: the first being that you are sharing the back row of seats with an assemblage of fellow visa-runners who between them weigh more than the fucking van itself; and secondly, of course, the guy behind the steering wheel appears to be in a tremendous hurry – couple this with the shot rear suspension and it’s a miracle you have yet to stipple the vehicle’s interior with a recently digested Moo Sub Mama cup.

So, a mere 30 minutes into the journey and you have already sunken into a pit of woeful despair.

There’s probably only one solution to your current plight; well actually there’s two but one of them tends to see you banged up in the Immigration Detention Centre for a fortnight before being escorted to the airport and banished from the country for eternity, or two years, or something like that.

No, the more – and I begrudgingly use the word – sensible option is to ask Khun Maniac-Driver-From-Hell to pull over at the next available beer Chang retail outlet and purchase no less than seven large bottles.

Advantage – you. Now you have the upperhand.

Although you will morph into a most perturbing presence – and thrice-per-hour comfort breaks will become a trend – Aranyaprathet, the last Thai town before Cambodia, is met in fine fettle and you can now go about perusing the many hundreds of quirky stalls at the border market.

Indeed this is the trip highlight – unless of course you yield to the Cambodian visa tout’s offer of a Vietnamese national with pretty eyes and, I quote, “big milk”.

But for argument’s sake we’ll eschew this option because it’s downright sordid, depraved and unwholesome behaviour, said nobody, ever…

In amongst the market now and you discover that while tourists go to Chatuchak in Bangkok, locals come here, to Rong Klua. Indeed, walking around the entire market will see you yomp passed an incredible five kilometres worth of, let’s face it, tat – but very affordable and interesting tat nonetheless.

The market is a nice prelude to the main event. Now surrounded by a mob of Cambodian touts who, upon seeing you brandish a British passport, begin to imitate Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, and much to your total awe and utter amusement, Vicky Pollard from Little Britain, you surmise through beer Chang-induced befuddlement that a little help for a few hundred baht would actually be just the ticket.

And before you ask, no, I do not require the services of a large-breasted, Vietnamese lady or a whistle-stop tour of Cambodia in the back of your 1976 Toyota Celica.

With the tout having performed his magic, you go through the motions and are presently stamped out of Thailand and into Cambodia, where you spend your allotted three seconds buying cheap cigarettes and whiskey, fanning yourself with the visa paperwork and, dare I say it, holding your nose.

Poipet – the Cambodian border town – has something of a fetid waft to it, not dissimilar to that of an extremely ripe piece of Roquefort – but it definitely is not Roquefort, if you know what I mean.

Back into Siam now, after having had your visa extended and your passport subjected to varying degrees of scrutiny, you pay the tout, trudge back to the minivan, forlorn at the thought of another four hours of travelling but buoyed because it’s the concluding leg of the trip, and take your seat, clutching the freshly-purchased bottle of whiskey like a comfort blanket.

They say that only two things in life are certain: death and taxes.

They obviously forgot about the visa run.

I am sure, however, that there are those who combine it with a long-weekend in Miami, or a snorkelling fortnight in Fiji.

But for many it’s the minibus, and gulp upon gulp of Cambodian duty-free.

*hick*

Source: Sukhumvit

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Soldiers and municipal workers clean up Khao San Road area after #Songkran

 

Soldiers and municipal workers clean up Khao San Road area after #Songkran

 

 

 

Some pictures from: BangkokPost

 

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Thai man travels 500,000km across Thailand to create Google Street View

Google has mapped out 150 new places of interest in Thailand with the help of Thai triathlete Panupong Luangsa-ard.  

Panupong travelled an estimated 500,000 km using various transportation methods, and walked about 500 km of it.

"While collecting just the tea plantations and strawberry fields, he burned through four pairs of shoes," a Google rep said.

The new places include the Sukhothai Historical Park and ancient temples at Ayutthaya.

Nestled in northern Thailand, Sukhothai Historical Park was once the capital of ancient Siam. Sukhothai means “dawn of happiness”, and now you too can explore this happy place from the palm of your hand with Google Maps. Today, the park joins over 150 new places and national treasures that are now available in 360-degree panoramic imagery on Google Street View.

From ancient temples, to tropical beaches, to strawberry plantations and rice terraces, this new Street View collection showcases the beauty and diversity of The Kingdom. Our intrepid trekker walked 500 kilometers with a heavy backpack across the length and breadth of the country to capture images of places like this:

Temple visits are a must for any visitor to Thailand.
Now you can wander virtually through the ruins of the Chai Watthanaram Temple and pay your virtual respects to Buddha peaking out from behind ancient tree roots at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. See ancient Khmer ruins at Phanom Rung National Park, or get up close to the intricate Buddhist and Hindu sculptures at the The Sanctuary of Truth — a temple made entirely of wood, just outside Bangkok.

Or take a whirlwind tour around Thailand’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions all in one place at Ancient Siam. Dubbed the world's largest outdoor museum, the park is shaped like Thailand and is home to monuments of The Old Market Town and The Pavilion of the Enlightened. 

Source: Coconuts & GoogleBlog

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Bangkokians forced to walk on Airport Rail Link track after train stopped working

Dozens of Bangkokians were forced to walk on the Airport Rail Link’s tracks this morning as they were evacuated from a train to another due to a power outage.

At 9am this morning, the Airport Rail Link transferred an entire crowded train to another train by foot between Makkasan and Ramkhamhaeng station, after the train had stopped working and they had spent an hour trying to fix the problem without success.

All passengers arrived safely at Hua Mark station. The Airport Rail Link is currently closed until they are able to clear all the passengers in its system, according to a Spring News journalist. 

The Airport Rail Link, which is operated by State Railway of Thailand’s subsidiary SRT Electrified Train, has not yet issued an official statement to explain the incident.

Source: Coconuts

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10 things you should NEVER do when you visit Thailand!

Thailand is a wonderful country. When you visit Thailand or plan to spend time in this country, then you should avoid a few important things. Most Thai people are conservative. You should be extremely careful with everything concerned with the king and the religion. Here’s a little list I’ve compiled of things you should not do whilst in Thailand.

1. Do not raise your voice or get angry with locals

It makes me incredibly uncomfortable to see foreigners (‘Farangs’) come to Thailand, and start ranting and raving aggressively at the locals. Thai people generally do not shout at each other or show anger – everything is done with a smile, however annoyed they are.

Reasons for this foreign aggression usually include: the fact that foreigners often expect all Thai people to be fluent in English, combined with the fact that things in Thailand do not happen at the same pace or with the same efficiency (or level of stress?) that they do in the West. If you’re easily wound up by people not understanding your machine-gun garbled English, and expect things to happen as and when you click your fingers, I’d suggest you headed somewhere else on holiday. (Be warned, beneath the smiley Thai demeanor lies a raging monster waiting to explode – and should you push them far enough, you will not know what hit you.)

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Thailand - Metropolitan police chief tells foreigners to carry passports at all times

BANGKOK:-- Police have called on foreigners to carry their passports with them at all times in order to help officers crackdown on transnational crime.

On Friday evening, officers from Lumpini and Thonglor police raided entertainment venues and set up two police checkpoints in order to ensure that foreigners were carrying either their original passport or a photocopy with them.

The operation led by Pol. Lt. Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, Metropolitan Police Commander, saw raids on 15 entertainment venues.

Pol. Lt. Gen Sanit also revealed that passport control checkpoints were set up outside the Grace Hotel, Soi Nana and the Asoke Montri intersection.

The police commander, told reporters that the operation had been to focus on foreigners who may be involved in crime.

He added that following the raids and passport checks, everything went smoothly and no one was found to be breaking the rules.

“The reason I decided to do the mission tonight is because many entertainment venues which attract foreign tourists are located in these areas. And since many foreigners visit these areas I’m afraid some of them might have ill-intentions to be involved in dark business, or even crimes, especially trans-national crime.

“This operation also helps to boost confidence between tourists and the security forces”, he added.

“I also want to ask for cooperation from all tourists to carry their passports or a photocopy every time when they go out.”

Earth Hour: Bangkok to switch off lights for one hour on Saturday

Bangkok will turn off the lights at several streets across the city.

#Bangkok officials have urged residents to switch the lights off at their homes for one hour on Saturday night to join the Earth Hour movement which promotes sustainability.

The Earth Hour, which was started by WWF and is held across 7,000 cities each year, will take place between 8:30pm - 9:30pm on Saturday night. 

During this hour, people are encouraged to switch off non-essential lights as a symbol of their commitment to the planet and to a sustainable world.

Bangkok will also hit the off switch at several streets across the city including Silom, Khaosan, Ratchadaphisek, and Yaowarat. 

Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, The Giant Swing and Rama VIII bridge will also go through a blackout.

Last year Bangkok saved 1,940 megawatts of electricity during the Earth Hour, which accounted for nine percent of the total electricity saved, Naewna reported.

Source: Coconuts

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Thai officials target European visitors to boost 'quality tourism'

Thai tourism officials are renewing their focus on European tourists as they seek to raise the country's "quality tourism" benchmark.

Last year 5.6 million Europeans traveled to Thailand, generating EUR10.3 billion (THB404.4 billion) in revenue, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

And in 2014 European visitors spent more time on average in Thailand compared to any other visitors, with each person staying for 16.4 days and spending around EUR106 (THB4,162) per day.

TAT said it is now aiming to increase tourism revenue from European visitors by 4.38 percent.

“Thailand’s focus now is on enhancing the image of Thailand to be a 'Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess'," said Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports.

"At the same time, we need to ensure a balance between tourism growth and its social and environmental impact."

Europeans have played a major role in developing tourism in Thailand, which accounts for about 10 percent of its GDP.

Around 65 percent of European visitors to Thailand make repeat visits.

TAT said it is targeting the European market as part of its agenda to boost "upscale, niche-market" tourism to the country.

That includes luxury travel options and niche holidays like weddings and honeymoons, spas and wellness, sports tourism and community-based attractions.

“There are more travelers who want to join sport activities in Thailand, so now we are ready to pair tourism and sports into one," said Kobkarn.

"Sports such as Muay Thai boxing, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, marathons, golf, tennis and sailing are widely available in the country with highly skilled tuition and support services.”

Source: Coconuts

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Banned: new rule comes into force prohibiting visa overstayers from re-entering Thailand

From March 20, new immigration rules will come into force that will BAN foreigners from re-entering Thailand if they overstay their visa by more than 90 days.

The new rule is part of tightened security measures, Thai PBS reported.

Foreigners who voluntarily come forward will face the following bans: if they overstay for more than 90 days they will be banned from re-entering the country for a year; overstays of more than a year will face a three-year ban; overstays of more than three years will face a five-year ban; and overstays of more than five years will face a ten-year ban.

Authorities warned that those who don't hand themselves in will be arrested and prosecuted, and face longer bans. If they overstay less than a year they will be banned for five years, and if they overstay for more than a year they will be banned for ten years.

Immigration officials will ask hotels, apartments, hostels and landlords renting homes or rooms to foreigners to report the stay of foreigners so they can keep a closer track of their stay in the country.

Source: Coconuts

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Say Goodbye to Bangkok’s Flower Market

Vendors sell flowers on Valentine's Day, Sunday, at Bangkok's Pak Khlong

 It was a blue Valentine for Bangkok’s Pak Khlong Talad yesterday, as the historic flower market sold its final roses for the holiday.

 

Two weeks remain before a City Hall deadline its many streetside vendors clear out to improve the flow of traffic, which will spell the end of the iconic market known for being an inexpensive place to buy flowers.

 

With roots as a market stretching back to the late 1700s, the market has operated 24 hours a day for six decades. It’s most packed during the festive seasons flowers play a big part in celebrating such as Valentine's, Loy Krathong and Wai Khru, when Thai students show their gratitude to teachers with flowers. 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has given them until Feb. 29 to clear out. Three locations have been arranged for vendors to relocate: inside a private building at Pak Khlong Talad, the nearby Yodpiman Flowers Market and the Song Serm Kaset Thai Market a few minutes walk north.

  

The historic flower market sold its final roses

Source: Khaosod-English

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From A Tuk-Tuk Scam To A Jealous Thai Girlfriend

VIDEO
Watch a tuk-tuk scam happen in real time from British vlogger Nishi V.

 Thaivisa user asks, “Am I being a dick to my Thai girlfriend?”. Answer, a resounding “yes.”

 40 year old American is travelling back to the US to visit friends and family shortly and plans to stay with his ex-girlfriend in her “1.2 mil condo her plastic surgeon boyfriend bought her” during his time there. His 23 year old Thai girlfriend (Ed: a notoriously rational and reasonable demographic) is upset at his decision. His response?

We got sucked into the infamous tuk-tuk scam, but as far as scams go, we definitely got the better end of this deal.
Click 'SHOW MORE' below..

It's true that Bangkok is full of chaos, scams and grime, but it is also filled with beauty, friendly people, and amazing sights. Tuk-tuk scams are the norm, and after some research, I discovered that we had a lucky escape & that others weren't so lucky. Read my full story here http://bit.ly/1QaQEec

 
Have you ever been scammed in Bangkok or any other city around the world?
I’d love to hear about what happened. 

 

Can’t wait to hear how this one ends…

Source:  http://whatsonsukhumvit.com

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Santana and Carabao to serenade Bangkok this February

Maria, mariaaaaaa. If you’re of a certain generation then we’re pretty sure this is your favorite Santana song. If “Black Magic Woman” is more your jam, then you probably don’t identify as a millennial or you just have great taste. In which case, let’s hang out.

Either way, get excited, because the grandmaster guitarist himself will be serenading Bangkokians on February 29, 2016. Carlos Santana will take to the stage at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani and he’ll be joined by local rock legends Carabao.

Santana rose to fame in the 1960’s and 1970’s, when there were few Latino musicians in America’s burgeoning rock scene. He got his start all the way back at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. At the time, his band Santana was unknown to the massive crowds in New York, but after an eleven-minute instrumental rendition of “Soul Sacrifice" his guitar skills quickly became a thing of legend.

In more recent memory, Santana’s 2000 album “Supernatural” featured collaborations with artists like Rob Thomas, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Cee Lo Green. The album won 9 Grammy awards and “Maria, Maria” became a classic.

Santana made history in Thailand with sell-out shows dating back to 1994, 1996, 2003, 2011 and 2013. 2013 is also the year that Santana and Carabao jammed together on stage, much to the appreciation of Thai rock fans.

Carabao was started by Thai university students in the early 1980’s. The name means buffalo in Tagalog, perhaps an homage to the Philippines, where the band members met. The symbol of strength and perseverance also conotes the working class life, which is the theme of much of Carabao’s music.

 Both the themes and the sounds, a mix of Northeastern Thai folk with Latin beats, quickly resonated with all Thais, making Carabao the most popular and successful Thai band of all time.

Now you can catch these two legendary acts together at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on Februay 29, 2016, as part of the global Santana Luminosity Tour 2016.

Tickets prices range from 2,000-5,000 THB. Click on over to Thai Ticket Major to score your tickets or call 02-262-3838. Keep up with BEC Tero on their Facebook page.

Source: Coconuts

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‘Maintenance Fee’ for All Foreign Tourists Proposed by Tourism Governor

BANGKOK — A plan to charge foreign tourists 360 baht each time they enter the kingdom as a fee to maintain and improve tourist attractions has been proposed by the head of the tourism authority.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, suggested in an interview that money collected from the fees could be reinvested in the tourism throughout the kingdom, but almost as soon as the idea was suggested, it was played down by his own organization.

In an interview with Voice TV, Yuthasak said foreign tourists would be charged USD$10 (360 baht) each time they enter Thailand, whether by air, land or sea. Among its uses, he said, would be enhancing security measures.

“It will be collected under the name of a tourist attraction administration fee,” Yuthasak said. “We will use the money to maintain and improve security systems of tourist attractions across the country, in order to support the tourism sector, which has been growing steadily.”

He also did the math for its potential windfall.

“If there are 30 million tourists, Thailand will earn 10.8 billion baht per year from this fee, and it will help each province earn around 142 million baht to improve its tourism,” he said.

The plan’s prospects were unclear, however. Hours after the Voice TV published the interview, an official at the tourism authority said the idea was only Yuthasak’s personal idea.

“This is not an official policy. It still needs additional study,” said authority spokeswoman Sunantha Montri. “It’s only an idea.”

She said Yuthasak is attending a summit in the Philippines and not available for comment.

In the Voice TV article, Yuthasak dismissed any concern the fee would adversely affect tourism, saying many countries already had similar policies.

“I believe it won’t affect [tourism] that much, because at the present time many countries already collect this fee in subtle ways,” he said without elaborating. 

Source: Khaosod (English)

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THAILAND - Birds in plastic bags spark anger online

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A photo of several birds confined in a small plastic bag outside a popular temple in Ayutthaya, waiting to be freed by 'compassionate' visitors, sparked another round of social media outrage, even though the animal release has long been part of making merit for Thai and Chinese Buddhists. 

The photo was posted on Monday by Facebook user Friends Not Food - Thailand, who wrote:

"Yesterday, I went to Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya. There are dozens of shops selling fish, turtles and birds. They are held captive in plastic bags for days and nights. Look at the animals' condition. Only inhumane people can do this.

"Beliefs like freeing turtles will make you live longer, and setting the birds and fish free will bring you good luck are for the gullible and stupid. No one is doing anything about this. No monks dare to teach people that this is not a Buddhist path.

"Let us do something about this and put these animal sellers out of business by sharing this post and telling our friends, colleagues and everyone around us to do the right thing.

"This evil business has to be driven out of the country and we Buddhists must stop being gullible. Follow the actual teachings of Lord Buddha!".

Net users called on authorities to take legal action against animal sellers around temples.

Facebook user Danai Kaewpradit, whose comment received the most 'likes', wrote that the birds in the picture are scaly-breasted Munia, which are protected under the Thailand Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act.

Another Facebook user commented that sellers usually drugged these creatures so that they would later return to captivity after their release, to be sold again. Many rivers and ponds near temples are polluted, and freed animals are often in ill-health.

Source: BangkokPost

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