Bus company agrees to pull violent films

Inter-provincial bus operator Transport Co has bowed to a petition from passengers and parents that movies containing violent content be banned as on-board entertainment.

The online petition was led by Sajin Prachason, a 32-year-old mother and a regular passenger on Transport Co buses.

Ms Sajin started the campaign at Change.org on July 13, calling on the company to stop showing violent films on coaches.

"Like many parents, Ms Sajin doesn't let her young children watch violent films. But when she took a trip on the Transport Co's special air-conditioned coach from the Northeast to Bangkok recently, she and other travellers had to endure over two hours of throat-slashing and grenade-exploding in Rambo 4," said a statement posted on the campaign's web page at Change.org.

Within one week, nearly 300 people had signed the petition.

The US-based website aims to promote social change by the use of online petitions. The Thai version of the website was launched last month with a number of people starting campaigns about various issues.

Under Change.org's system, every time a person signs their name to a petition, an email will be sent directly to the decision-maker on the particular issue. In this case, the petition was sent to Wuthichart Kalayanamit, president of the Transport Co, and three other executives.

Mr Wuthichart yesterday sent an email to Ms Sajin saying he had received all the petitions and he would instruct bus conductors and attendants to make sure no inappropriate movies are shown on the buses.

Mr Wuthichart said he took the matter seriously and will try to improve the company's service.

Ms Sajin said she was happy the company's executive responded to the petition. "This seems to be a small matter, but it is indeed a dangerous matter," she said.

Tul Pinkaew, Change.org's campaign director for Thailand, said online petitions are a powerful tool for social change.