Thai Minister slams topless dancing during Water Festival

Thai Minister slams topless dancing during Water Festival

Topless dancers at the recent Sangkron festival in Bangkok.Thai authorities say it's inappropriate that three young women danced topless in downtown Bangkok during rowdy New Year's celebrations.Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat said Monday the incident during the annual Songkran water festival was "very inappropriate and unacceptable." It happened last week not far from the world-famous Patpong red-light district and was captured on videos posted online.He said, "I demand that society come out and criticize them."Songkran traditionally was a time to sprinkle water on elders respectfully in exchange for blessings.

Splashing water on unsuspecting friends or passers-by became a way to relieve the heat, but now the revelry often includes drunken mayhem.

Source: AP
Published April 18 2011