US tourists fined for naked butts at Thai temple

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Two US citizens have been fined for posting photos online of their naked buttocks at a famous Thai temple and could face further indecency charges.

Joseph Dasilva, 38, and Travis Dasilva, 36, were arrested on Tuesday night at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport as they prepared to leave the country for Cambodia.

The picture, taken at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), shows the pair with their backs to the camera, gesticulating at the temple with their shorts pulled down.

Joseph Dasilva and Travis Dasilva were arrested by Thai authorities for posting photos online of their naked buttocks in front of a famous Buddhist temple. /Instagram Photo

The pair admitted to posting the picture on Instagram and Twitter, according to local police.

They charged the pair with exhibiting public nudity – for which they were each fined 5,000 baht (153 US dollars) and are also considering further charges of indecency in a place of worship and disseminating pornography on the Internet.

“They might be charged with obscenity in sacred places instead of normal obscenity," a Thai police statement said. "People accused of the former will have to bear a longer prison term. It reminds people to respect Thai religion and culture.”

A “religious insults” crime can be punished with up to seven years in jail, according to the Thai law. Disseminating pornography online can incur a five-year term.

The Dasilvas have taken photos of naked buttocks at tourist hotspots many times. The couple, who call themselves “travel junkies,” post their naked on their Instagram account named “Travelling Butts.” The account, which had 14,000 followers, has been taken down.

US-based San Diego Gay and Lesbian News quoted a San Diego city commissioner as saying the men had asked for help.

The commissioner, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, told the paper: “Though I am very disappointed in their actions, I am talking to US government officials to see what assistance we can give them.”

Reaction on social media has been quite consistent.

Ranier Maningding, the owner of the popular blog Love Life of an Asian Guy, posted: “It is really culturally ignorant to think that you could moon people in whatever country you’re in and not receive backlash.”

Twitter user Michael Ortali‏ said: “Even if I'm gay, I side with the Thai people on this. You can't just go to a country and be indecent on what people consider their sacred places. That's pure stupidity and disrespect. A tour in jail will give them a good lesson.”