French tourist shocked by Nazi gear in Pattaya

Nazi paraphernalia is displayed by a vendor in Pattaya. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

PATTAYA: A French tourist was surprised to see the Nazi flag and other souvenirs with the image of Adolf Hitler openly on sale to visitors to the resort city.

Alexandre Jandaeng, 34, took the pictures of the items by his mobile phone and asked a tourist police officer on duty on Saturday about their legality, as all Nazi symbols are banned in his country.

The policeman explained to him that Thai laws did not ban the swastika and other Nazi paraphernalia. But any counterfeit item was subject to legal action, he added.

Some European countries, including France and Germany ban any display of the swastika. The symbol was used by Hitler when he led Germany to ignite World War II and kill millions during the Holocaust.