They say the two admitted to selling online pornographic images of Thai women and transvestites.

The Canadian is identified as 29-year-old Kyle Mark Milgram and the American as 60 year old John Gilbert Bowen.

They were arrested yesterday after police raided an apartment in the town of Pattaya -- known for its beaches, thriving sex industry and high crime rate.

Selling pornography is a crime in Thailand, and the suspects face a maximum penalty of three years in prison if convicted.

Their hometowns were not immediately known.

Also ...

Thailand Cracking Down on Internet Porn

Bangkok Post, 10/28/05 - The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has plans to make cyber space free from "inappropriate content", beginning next month, under a scheme known as Cyber Clean. Kanawat Wasinsungworn, assistant to the ICT minister, said yesterday the ministry expects to sign an agreement with webmasters and website owners on Nov 7.

ICT ministry representatives, cyber inspectors and website operators met on Wednesday to discuss the details.

Mr Kanawat said Cyber Clean had drawn positive feedback from the 50 favourite websites.

The Cyber Clean icon would appear on the participating websites. If web users spot improper language or images or any content deemed a threat to national security, they could click the Cyber Clean icon.

The website contents, IP address, URL and pictures will be copied and sent to cyber inspectors for examination. The webmaster would be served a warning if the contents were determined improper.

CAT Telecom would be responsible for coordinating with overseas websites.

Mr Kanawat said Cyber Clean would target only pornographic content. There were no plans to interfere in political web-boards.

He denied having proposed that internet users be required to give their ID numbers before posting messages on web-boards.

"I've never said anything about it. And there's no way we'll force people to do it," he said.

A source said that some website owners had suggested that internet users be required to give their ID numbers before connecting. It was suggested this would prevent cyber crime and deter users from posting improper messages.

Prime Minister's War on Porn

Post Today Editorial, Oct 23, 05 - At long last, social problems are gaining the attention of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Speaking on his weekly "Meet the People" radio programme last Saturday, the prime minister said he would launch a "D-Day" against social problems on Dec 1. The month-long campaign will target pornographic materials now available in shops, roadside stalls and on the Internet. Internet cafes which promote online gambling and sexual encounters will also be eliminated.

This is a rare departure from his previous policies, which targetted narcotic drugs, mafia figures, corruption, poverty and the ongoing violence in the deep South.

However, Prime Minister Thaksin is still singing the same tune by threatening to remove government officials if they fail to tackle social problems in areas under their jurisdiction. The fact is that gambling and pornography have long existed in Thai society. A large number of people know where to find pornographic materials, which are also available on the Internet. These things are happening every day right under the noses of law enforcement officials, who seem to be turning a blind eye to them.

The prime minister's declaration of the new war on pornography is a good start and it deserves public support. If left unsolved, this problem will escalate. If the minds of our young people are poisoned by these materials, the country's future will be in jeopardy.

The problem, however, cannot be solved by a month-long campaign. We have seen this kind of short-run campaigns before and they all ended up in failure. When government officials lower their guard, those intent on selling drugs and doing illegal activities will spring into action. The same is true with the proliferation of pornographic materials in Thai society.

To be effective, the campaign must be carried out continuously by law enforcers. And it must be complemented by a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of this problem. School and religious institutions must join hands in the fight against this scourge, while the family institution must be strengthened so that our young people will not stray onto the wrong path.

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