The Muay Thai Phra Chao Suea Sports Association and the Ancient Boxing Association submitted a protest letter to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security after the release of a draft banning children under 15 from fighting, affirming they will continue to oppose it fully.
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On 19 June, Mr. Charatdej Ulit, president of the Muay Thai Phra Chao Suea Sports Association and the Ancient Boxing Association, along with a delegation including Mr. Chinawut Sirisampan, president of the Muay Thai Teachers Association and the World Muay Thai Association; Mr. Channarong Suhonsa, president of the Thai Martial Arts Defense Association; Mr. Saweang Witthayapitak, vice president of the Ancient Boxing Association; Mr. Chaiwat Chaivechanimit (Laem Singh Premchai), representative of the Muay Thai Sports Association; Mr. Promet Phakdeekiriprawan, secretary of the Muay Thai Phra Chao Suea Sports Association; and Phutphadnoi Worawut, representative of professional Muay Thai fighters from Thailand and abroad, traveled to submit a protest letter to the Minister of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) regarding the draft banning children under 15 from fighting. A representative of the minister received the letter on their behalf.
After submitting the letter, Mr. Charatdej Ulit stated that the Child Protection Act draft by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security was created without knowledge or consultation with the Muay Thai community. If left unaddressed, it could cause significant problems and affect efforts to register Muay Thai with UNESCO. The claim that 'Muay Thai' is unsafe is untrue, as the Sports Authority of Thailand currently enforces a Child Muay Thai Act with clear rules and mandatory protective equipment.
Mr. Charatdej added that the Muay Thai Phra Chao Suea Sports Association and the Ancient Boxing Association will also submit protest letters to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and members of the Senate, and they confirm they will continue to strongly oppose the draft.
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, after receiving the documents, plans to hold a meeting on 23 June to discuss matters related to the Child Protection Act draft. Once conclusions are reached, the draft will be submitted to the Cabinet Secretary-General for consideration.