Thai Authorities Take Extreme Measures After Boy's Death

May 25, 2009 | News Category: Gaming Law

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In Thailand, a twelve year old committed suicide, throwing the Thai gaming world into turmoil. The twelve year old boy jumped from a window on the sixth floor and fell to his death after his father told him that he was not allowed to play Internet games anymore.

As a result of this tragedy, on Thursday, the Thai Criminal Court has ordered seventy-two websites, that it says are promoting Internet gambling and other online games, to be shut down. The Department of Special Investigations have claimed that the Thai Criminal Court told the Information and Communications Technology Ministry that all sites listed as promoting addictive computer games should be closed down. This list includes all online betting sites and all sites that might entice players to make online bets.

Thursday's court order to shut down the gaming sites has been challenged by those who believe that this kind of shut down is not allowed by Thailand's existing laws. Thailand's Department of Special Investigation are notifying Internet service providers about the court order. The Deputy Chief, Suchart Wong-anandchai has said that Internet service providers that have encouraged or even provided Internet gambling access could face losing their licenses, receiving fines, and possible prison time.

An anonymous adult commented on the court order saying "I fully understand the court is trying to protect the youth, but it is not fair that I cannot go to my computer and play games online. I am an adult and I think I can decide whether or not I can play games on my computer."

In a similar vein, Bundit Sornpaisarn, the director of the Rajanagarindra Child and Adolescent Mental Health Institute said that it is more likely that children who are aggressive and have serious gaming habits are more likely to attempt suicide than other children. Sornpaisarn suggested, however, that discipline is needed from an early age, instead of a ban on games.

He also suggested that positive communication from parents is the best way to treat gaming issues amongst adolescents and that it is the parents that have the duty to listen to their children and control their own emotions when doing so.

At this time there is turmoil in Thailand with the courts taking extreme measures, the emotions surrounding the untimely death of a young boy, not to mention the lawmakers claiming that the court order is illegal under the current statutes in Thailand. As a result of this turmoil, there is concern and speculation that online gambling will be greatly affected, although the real issue was adolescent gaming.