Prompted by television images of female dancers in provocative dresses at a Buddhist charity session during the annual sighting of the Naga fireballs, Her Majesty the Queen has issued a command cautioning relevant authorities to be strict with such acts.

Minister of Culture Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon, who received the statement of the Queen's concern from the her Principal Private Secretary Office, said that Her Majesty did not condemn any individual agencies or the dancers, but commented that: "Buddhists in general should always bear in mind what is good for the image of the country".

"Any shows or performances organised in association with any Buddhist festival should be held with respect for Lord Buddha and Buddhism," Khaisri quoted

the Queen as saying in the statement.

Khaisri said she regarded that the media's role in publishing or broadcasting such images as a very crucial factor.

"The media needs to use very good judgement on which things should be relayed to the public, and which should not," she commented.

The minister said she personally felt there should be laws passed to control the publication or broadcasting of material that it was difficult to judge whether to allow or not, although censorship laws against publication of pornographic material or themes deemed unethical were already in effect.

The Buddhist charity session with the dancers was covered in a television channel's news report on the Naga fireball sighting in Nong Khai province. The dancers, widely known as "coyote dancers", were seen in provocative dresses and dancing with sexually explicit moves.

She said that after television report covered the provocative dancing most graphically, the news was then published in newspapers for all to read before newscasters showed the images again in both morning and evening newscasts.

"The repetition of images and the act could mislead [young girls] into doing the same," Khaisri commented.

She said the agencies and bodies that would be asked to discuss the matter and work out solutions with the Culture Ministry included the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Interior, the Supreme Sangha Council and the Office of National Buddhism.