BOOK FAIR

Distributor caught selling porn comics blacklisted

Anjira Assavanonda

Organisers of the Bangkok International Book Fair have blacklisted a distributor found selling pornographic comic books at the fair from next year's event.

The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand has also dismissed the distributor, Rung Wattana Co Ltd from the organisation for selling porn media, association president Thanachai Santichaikul said.

Rung Wattana was caught selling porn comic books at the fair at a discount price of 10 baht each. Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham, who went to inspect booth No. S42 on Thursday, had the comics removed from shelves after receiving complaints from the Foundation of Family Networks.

Mr Thanachai said he called a meeting with the owner of Rung Wattana right after the incident and the owner showed responsibility by closing down his booth on Thursday evening.

"He claimed he had bought the used books in big lots from other publishers, and had not realised there were porn books mixed in," said Mr Thanachai, adding the association would impose the punishment anyway.

Following the incident, the association issued a statement calling on all distributors to abide by its rules and to make sure no porn comics are sold.

The 15 committee members of the association will also help watch out at the event to ensure no porn books are sold in the four remaining days. The fair started on March 30 and will end on Tuesday.

"Anyway, it's impossible for the committee to check on every book at the fair. This year, we have more than 800 booths selling over a million book titles," Mr Thanachai said. The family networks have volunteered to help look out for porn at the fair, he added.

"It was good that we had cooperation from parents to keep these bad publications away from children. I feel thankful for everyone who helped expose the problem, so we could find a solution to it," he said.

He added that the family networks also urged the association to keep a lookout for other books improper for children such as those with violent content.

Police raided the warehouse of Rung Wattana Co Ltd located between Soi Charansanitwong 29 and 30 in Bangkok Noi district. Some 2,000 books were seized and sent to the book committee to check for any pornographic content. No charges have been filed against the company's owner yet.

Bangkok Post

Saturday April 07, 2007