No April Fools' Day in Thailand

Update: Of course this was an April Fools' Day joke by 2bangkok.com - but given the Ministry of Culture's track record, it wouldn't have been surprising if they have really done it... 2Bangkok.com reports it, among other high-profile English websites in Thailand, has received a letter from the Ministry of Culture.

It advises that, owing to the political climate, creating April Fools' Day news items might "cause misunderstanding" and that the ministry would initiate action against Thai websites posting fake news items. Fake items posted in past years are to have a clear disclaimer added.

Interestingly, later in the letter, it mentions that April Fools' Day is not a Thai tradition, but a "foreign holiday."

Due to the possible risks and legal costs related to this MOC notice, we have decided to forgo April Fools' stories this year.

"No April Fools' Day jokes?", 2Bangkok.com, April 1, 2010

Playing the "heated political situation"-card? Check! Playing the "legal threat"-card? Check! Playing the "foreign and Thai tradition don't mix together"-card? Check! Congratulations, full house!

But then again, I have not seen this letter mentioned anywhere else...!

Further reading:

• Bangkok Post Blogs: New Facebook group: We're sick of the Ministry of Culture