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'Racy' condoms banned
08/08/2006 14:39 - (SA)
Bangkok - Thai cultural watchdogs have banned
a line of condoms whose name translates as "Good Penetration", saying the suggestive label could draw youngsters into having sex earlier, newspapers reported on Tuesday.
The condoms are actually named "Tom Dundee" after the stage name of a popular country singer, but Culture Ministry
officials said this was inappropriate and offended good norms
and culture, the Thai Rath tabloid said.
"Dundee" in Thai means "Good Penetration".
"Although the name is not vulgar or rude, it is ambiguous,
boastful and provocative," said Ladda Tangsupachai of the
Cultural Watch Centre.
"It could entice excessive consumption and lure children
and youths with little maturity to start having sexual
activities before their appropriate age," she added.
Dundee, whose real name is Puntiva Poomiprates, defended
lending his stage name to the condom brand.
He said he was merely following a government policy to
promote safe sex in a country where over 500 000 people have
HIV or Aids, and indicators point to climbing infection rates
among the young.
"You can't stop human desire, no matter how old they are, so it is better to protect them," Puntiva said, adding that he had been telling his audiences about the risks of Aids and unwanted pregnancy for years.
In Thailand, condom producers have to seek approval from
both the Health and Culture ministries.
- Reuters
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South Africa
