The boycott has grown over the last twenty-one months, with the net effect that, during last summer, Thailand's stock exchange fell to its lowest level in 33 months. To quote an article in The Wall Street Journal (07/29/96), "The nation's economy is weakening, corporate earnings are faltering, and export growth is vanishing, amid a backdrop of political bickering."
Dark Horse continues to rally against the Thai government, but now the company also lends its support to an organization within Thailand, one which makes preemptive strikes against the prostitution rings. This organization, the Development and Education Program for Daughters and Communities [DEP], has set up camp in the Hill Tribe villages of Thailand. There they educate, clothe, feed, and often house the daughters of families at greatest risk of selling their children into bonded slavery.
"The United States government put us in touch with Mr. Sompop Jantraka, the head of DEP," said Hankerson. "They flew him into the U.S. to help explore mutual solutions to the global problem of `kiddie sex tourism,' and, based on our work with Don't! Buy! Thai!, he asked to come visit us."
That visit took place late last year, and was attended by Jantraka, Hankerson, Dark Horse vice president of marketing Lou Bank, and a representative from the United States Information Agency. "This was a `face-to-face,' to see if there was any way Dark Horse and DEP could work together on our common goal: ending `kiddie sex tourism,'" said Bank. "What Sompop needs to do this -- what these children need -- is financial support. It costs $500 per year to keep a girl out of prostitution, to give her a better chance at life."
Dark Horse will show its support for Sompop and the DEP by running public service announcements for the organization within its comics, including the high-profile Star Wars comics. "We are very pleased with Dark Horse's show of support," said Jantraka. "They are not just talking -- they are doing."
"Support of the boycott attacks one side of the problem, a very important side," said Dark Horse founder and publisher Mike Richardson. "Our allegiance with Sompop and DEP attacks the problem from another, still more important angle. These warriors are doing what the Thai government fails to do -- they are standing up to the flesh peddlers of Thailand. They are cutting off their supply. I admire their strength and determination, and am honored to be able to do anything to aid them in this war."
Public service announcements for DEP will begin appearing in various Dark Horse comics -- including Star Wars titles -- in July 1997. A copy of the p.s.a. is included with this release.
The Development and Education Program for Daughters and Communities has eight facilities throughout Thailand. Founded by Sompop Jantraka in 1990, DEP is funded by UNICEF, International Labour Organizations, Asian Children's Fund, foreign embassies, and personal donations. They receive no financial support from the Thai government.