Post by Willow on Jan 28, 2016 13:39:14 GMT 9.5
Thailand’s Luk Thep dolls craze sits awkwardly with airlines
RICHARD LLOYD PARRYTHE TIMESJANUARY 28, 2016 12:00AM
Thai aviation authorities are struggling to deal with a new and troublesome class of passenger: life-sized infant dolls whose adult owners demand that they are provided with airline seats and fed in-flight meals.
The dolls, called Luk Thep, or Angel Children, have become a craze after being endorsed by several Thai celebrities.
Many people believe that after being blessed by a Buddhist priest the dolls acquire a spiritual life and supernatural powers, and bring good luck to their owners.
So popular are they that one airline has introduced rules about transporting “angelic” passengers. Thai police has warned that the dolls are being used to smuggle illegal drugs. Some Luk Thep owners have objected at having to treat their dolls like hand luggage, and place them in overhead lockers.
An internal memo circulated by the airline Thai Smile, part of Thai Airways, states that the little angels can travel as paying passengers, provided that they wear seat belts for take-off and landing.
They will be served drinks and snacks, but can only occupy window seats and must also be kept away from emergency exits.
Depending on quality, the dolls cost from 100 baht ($3.98)) to 10,000 baht new. Secondhand Luk Thep, which are said to have acquired great supernatural potency, can change hands for 10 times that amount.
The Thai police’s Economic Crime Suppression Bureau reported this week that three doll sellers had been arrested after failing to pay 100,000 baht in import duties on Luk Thep dolls imported from China.
More seriously, a female child doll found on Monday in a carpark at Chiang Mai airport was found to have 200 methamphetamine pills in a cavity in its chest.
Police general Chakthip Chaijinda said he had been amazed to learn that airlines had introduced rules to permit the dolls on flights.
“How did we ever get to this point?’’ he said. “Criminals will have a new way to smuggle drugs. I have instructed all the immigration checkpoints to be strict, whether they are at airports or the borders. They must also strictly screen Luk Thep dolls passing their checkpoints.”
Thai anthropologist Visisya Pinthongvijayakul said the doll craze reflected the need for consolation during political turmoil in Thailand.
“This is a very uncertain time,” he told news agency AFP. “I think this is a practice that reflects an unstable and critical moment in Thai society.”
RICHARD LLOYD PARRYTHE TIMESJANUARY 28, 2016 12:00AM
Thai aviation authorities are struggling to deal with a new and troublesome class of passenger: life-sized infant dolls whose adult owners demand that they are provided with airline seats and fed in-flight meals.
The dolls, called Luk Thep, or Angel Children, have become a craze after being endorsed by several Thai celebrities.
Many people believe that after being blessed by a Buddhist priest the dolls acquire a spiritual life and supernatural powers, and bring good luck to their owners.
So popular are they that one airline has introduced rules about transporting “angelic” passengers. Thai police has warned that the dolls are being used to smuggle illegal drugs. Some Luk Thep owners have objected at having to treat their dolls like hand luggage, and place them in overhead lockers.
An internal memo circulated by the airline Thai Smile, part of Thai Airways, states that the little angels can travel as paying passengers, provided that they wear seat belts for take-off and landing.
They will be served drinks and snacks, but can only occupy window seats and must also be kept away from emergency exits.
Depending on quality, the dolls cost from 100 baht ($3.98)) to 10,000 baht new. Secondhand Luk Thep, which are said to have acquired great supernatural potency, can change hands for 10 times that amount.
The Thai police’s Economic Crime Suppression Bureau reported this week that three doll sellers had been arrested after failing to pay 100,000 baht in import duties on Luk Thep dolls imported from China.
More seriously, a female child doll found on Monday in a carpark at Chiang Mai airport was found to have 200 methamphetamine pills in a cavity in its chest.
Police general Chakthip Chaijinda said he had been amazed to learn that airlines had introduced rules to permit the dolls on flights.
“How did we ever get to this point?’’ he said. “Criminals will have a new way to smuggle drugs. I have instructed all the immigration checkpoints to be strict, whether they are at airports or the borders. They must also strictly screen Luk Thep dolls passing their checkpoints.”
Thai anthropologist Visisya Pinthongvijayakul said the doll craze reflected the need for consolation during political turmoil in Thailand.
“This is a very uncertain time,” he told news agency AFP. “I think this is a practice that reflects an unstable and critical moment in Thai society.”