Kids' fights 'must comply with law'

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat has warned anyone organising Muay Thai fights involving children, including those to be held during the Loy Krathong Festival on Thursday, to comply strictly with the law or face legal action.

He said those involved include promoters, parents and referees, while operators of boxing camps must make sure they do not violate the Boxing Act.

Mr Weerasak was speaking after he chaired a meeting of a committee to discuss the sport on Monday.

Those present endorsed a draft amendment to the Boxing Act, which was submitted by a subcommittee.

"The priority is to protect young boxers rather than the benefits of those involved in organising child boxing matches," Mr Weerasak said.

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is already deliberating another draft amendment to the Boxing Act to set a minimum age limit for young boxers after a 13-year-old boy died after suffering severe head trauma recently in Samut Prakan.

The current law does not set a minimum age but only stipulates a need to register children under the age of 15 who practice the martial art.

Unlike the draft currently with the NLA, the government's version will not stipulate a minimum age limit in order to allow the NLA committee vetting the draft to freely discuss an appropriate age stipulation.

The death of Anucha Thasako, a 13-year-old kickboxer, who suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage on Nov 11 after being knocked out in the ring, has drawn public attention to a draft amendment to the Boxing Act, now seen as a mechanism to better protect the rights and safety of young kickboxers.

Meanwhile, deputy national police chief Chalermkiat Srivorakhan chaired a video conference meeting between police agencies to discuss measures to prevent crime during the Loy Krathong Festival on Thursday.

Security will be stepped up at 200 festival locations nationwide, particularly at four major tourist venues for festivities in Bangkok, Pol Gen Chalermkiat said.

They are Asiatique, which is expected to draw up to 20,000 people, while about 10,000 people are expected at Rama VIII Bridge. The recently unveiled Iconsiam is likely to attract about 50,000 and about 5,000 will show up at Chulalongkorn University.