Nazi pair in mall cause stir

Central Pattana Plc (CPN), the owner of CentralWorld, yesterday insisted in a statement that it and Mastercard, its co-organiser of the shopping plaza’s current New Year decoration event, had nothing to do with two men in Nazi uniform who had their photos taken at the event.

The statement was issued yesterday after the Israeli embassy in Bangkok had condemned this fresh pro-Nazi faux pas in Thailand.

CPN and Mastercard had organised the festive decorations for members of the public to enjoy and have their photos taken at the event during New Year celebrations, said CPN.

Neither CPN nor Mastercard has anything to do with the two persons’ actions, said CPN, adding that the company has a policy not to support inappropriate activities that could cause offence.

CPN, as a leading company, is committed to running a business with good governance and taking into consideration its social responsibilities, said the company in the same statement.

The Facebook page “Israel in Thailand” yesterday published a message from Meir Shlomo, the Israeli ambassador to Thailand who blasted the two men in Nazi uniform for offending Jews.

“I am disappointed to see the sad reoccurrence of incidents in which Nazi symbols are displayed on random occasions in Thailand. Needless to say, that this is an insult to the 6 million Jews and other victims of the Nazi regime and their relatives,” read the message.

“There is yet a lot to be done in Thailand through proper education and public awareness,’’ read the same message.

The same Facebook page later in the day updated its post by adding a paragraph reading: “In light of the apology that was given by one of the people in the photos, we have accepted his request and deleted the photos accordingly.”