Thailand Blocks YouTube Access

The Thai government blocked access to YouTube on Wednesday after complaining that a short clip on the popular video-sharing site is insulting to the country’s monarch.

Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, the country’s minister of information and technology, said YouTube had turned down his request to remove the contentious 44-second video, which shows graffitti-like elements painted over a slideshow of photographs of 79-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

One part of the clip juxtaposes pictures of feet over the king’s image — a major taboo in a culture where feet are considered dirty and offensive.

“We are disappointed that YouTube has been blocked in Thailand, and we are currently looking into the matter,” said Julie Supan, a spokeswoman for Google Inc.’s YouTube.

According to Sitthichai, thousands of people have called the government to complain about the YouTube video.

(c) 2007 Buffalo News. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.