Army boycotts Lazada over promotional video clip

ARMY Commander-in-Chief Gen. Narongphan Jitkaewthae today (May 9) ordered all army units nationwide to refrain from ordering products from Lazada eCommerce platform over a promotional video clip criticised for negatively referring to the monarchy, Matichon newspaper said.

At the daily meeting of the Army Operations Centre Gen. Narongphan also prohibited Ladaza’s delivery vehicles from entering army areas nationwide.

However soldiers were not prohibited from buying products offered for sale at the eCommerce platform but if they ordered anything they would have to go outside the military area to collect it.

This promotional video clip was produced by Mr. Anivat Prathumthin, or Nara Crepe Kratoey, a popular net idol and had attracted a lot of comments from activist groups. 

On Friday royalists had rallied at Lazada’s office on Sukhumvit road to demand a more serious apology over this promotional video clip as they were not satisfied with the apology issued earlier. They were also dissatisfied that a junior staff member had been sent to receive their complaint and wanted someone with authority to meet them but none showed up.

Yesterday the Corrections Department announced the closure of its Wansuk shop at Lazada platform for improvement after the Royal Chitralada Projects, Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd., a manufacturer and distributor of instant food and fruit juice, and Mae Fah Luang Foundation’s Doi Tung shop likewise did so citing the same reason.

Later, Col. Ying Sirichan, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said that this action was taken because Ladaza’s marketing advertisement content adversely affected the monarchy and seriously hurt the feeling of Thai people.

She added that the army had now implemented a policy forbidding all its military units from ordering goods from Lazada platform with deliveries to any military unit under the army prohibited.

This action was taken to protect the monarchy and take social measures against an organisation that behaved inappropriately and created division in Thai society, she added.

CAPTION:

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Narongphan Jitkaewthae with a logo of Lazada at the top left corner. Image: Matichon

Also read: Corrections Department shuts its Lazada shop

Royalists rally at Lazada office over promotional video clip