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Over 3000 accidents in Chiang Mai during Songkran last year
Chiang Mai Public Relations Office pleads for revelers to take more care
Supatatt Dangkrueng
The head of Chiang Mai Public Relations Office, Wichien
Noonrowd, has called upon Chiang Mai people, drivers, motorists and tourists
to be careful while they celebrate the Songkran Festival.
The statistics from the Provincial Accident Protection
Committee showed that there were 3,342 accidents, with 1,607 vehicle
accidents resulting in 17 deaths. Most of them were caused by collisions
between cars and motorcycles.
During last year’s Songkran festival, the highest
numbers of accidents occurred on the 14th of April during the afternoon and
running through to the evening. Wichien said that more than 80 percent of
injured people rode carelessly without helmets and were under the influence
of alcohol.
He appealed for residents and tourists to be careful and
to drive with safety and never drive while drunk. It is hoped that the
number of injuries and accidents will be less this year. With the high
percentage of unlicensed drivers and riders with no helmets, Chiang Mai will
be indeed fortunate if this is the case.
Tourist police step up cover for Songkran
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Chiang Mai Tourist Police have made special preparations
covering all tourist services and guarantee public safety during this
year’s Songkran Festival. The operation will cover Chiang Mai, Lamphun,
and Lampang.
Pol. Maj. Archayon Kraithong, Chiang Mai Tourist Police
inspector, said that the Songkran Festival holidays always attract a large
number of tourists to the Northern provinces, especially Chiang Mai, Lampang
and Lamphun.
“Chiang Mai Tourist Police are now ready to serve
tourists during the peak season by setting a strategy for the tourists’
facilities and for their safety. Police numbers will be increased in tourist
crowded areas such as Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station, Chiang Mai
International Airport, Chiang Mai Railway Station, Night Bazaar, and any
tourist sites,” said Pol. Maj. Archayon.
Special operations teams will be prepared to investigate
criminal cases and suspects around hotels and guesthouses. They will also be
stationed with the Chiang Mai Land Transport Office to check vehicle users
and for drugs at the Arcade Bus Station.
Due to Iraq war tensions police will be vigilant for
signs of criminal or terrorist activity around embassies and consulates to
prevent any such incidents in advance.
The Chiang Mai Tourist Police specialist Songkran
Festival operation officially started from the Tourist Police Office at 6
p.m. Thursday (April 10).
Art On The Ground Club wishes you
a Happy Lanna New Year
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
Chiang Mai Municipality and the Art On The Ground Club
have organized Happy Lanna New Year Celebrations April 9-15 at Mahawan
Temple grounds on Thapae Road, Chiang Mai.
The activities include traditional ceremonies, such as
building sand pagodas, paying homage to Buddha images, making merit and
presenting Pha Pa (yellow robes given to the Buddhist monks) at the temple,
plus painting, carving, pottery and hand woven cotton. There will also be
folk performances with local Thai instrumental bands, a local food
marketplace and herbal medication will be available at the temple.
Chao Duangduen Na Chiang Mai, the director of Chiang Mai
Cultural Council, Udom Puasakul, deputy Chiang Mai governor, Udornphant
Chantarawiroj, president of Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative
Organization, Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai mayor, Chalermsak Suranant,
director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Region 1 Office and Pornchai
Jitnavasathien, Municipal Councilor of Chiang Mai Municipality presided over
the opening ceremony on April 9.
Phayao province explores
a new travel route to Laos
Autsadaporn Kamthai
A Phayao tour company has signed a contract with another
in Laos to open a new travel route linking Phayao to Chaiyaburi District in
Laos.
Ruengwan Buanuch, Phayao deputy governor, presided over
the signing ceremony between Kwan Phayao Tour and Service Limited and Sai
Nam Rung Karn Tingtiew Limited from Laos.
These two companies will open a new travel route from
Phayao to Chaiyaburi District to promote a tourism linkage between Phayao
and Laos. The new route is also aimed to promote eco-tourism, arts and
culture of both Thailand and Laos, and strengthen relationships between the
two countries.
Ruengwan said the security of tourists is assured on this
new route, which passes through the borderlines between Thailand and Laos at
Ban Huak, Phu Sang Sub-district, Phayao
On 10th and 30th of each month there will be local
products marketplaces at the Thai-Laos border in Phu Sang Sub-district as an
additional attraction for tourists.
Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre met his Chiang Mai fans
Supatatt Dangkrueng
The “For Fan Fun Fair” tour concert was held in
Chiang Mai at the Municipal Stadium on March 30, with guests Nat, Kat and
Jintara, the girls featuring in Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre’s latest
album.
Bird
Thongchai McIntyre (center), Nat Meria (right), and Kat Catereeya (left),
last week met their Chiang Mai fans.
On the previous day, Bird, Kat and Nat met fans and the
media at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel. Bird was looking forward to being on
stage for the Chiang Mai fans, as his last concert in Chiang Mai, Baab Bird
Bird, was several years ago.
The concert started about 7.30 with his famous song Fan
Jah featuring Nat, Kat and Jintara. The show was quite special for Chiang
Mai fans because Bird sang many special famous northern Lanna songs from the
past and spoke in the Lanna language as much as he could.
Following the sell-out concert, there were traffic jams, with many
concert goers taking over 30 minutes just to exit the car parks. Before
coming to Chiang Mai, Bird concerts were held in Khon Kaen, Phitsanulok,
Nakhon Sawan and Chiang Rai. Following the Chiang Mai concert the group is
traveling to Surat Thani and Phuket, and will end the tour with a concert in
Hat Yai.
Lanna style wedding not only for Thais
But is another example of double pricing
Thai and foreign couples can be married in traditional
Lanna style at the Northern Thai Traditional Wedding Ceremony, on May 11.
The ceremony will be hosted by the Chiang Mai Public
Health Office and the Chiang Mai Cultural Council.
One of the objectives of the arranged weddings is to
prepare the couples physically, mentally and socially for their change of
status, as well as to maintain Lanna traditions, especially with regard to
the sartorial aspect, which is regaining popularity in the North and
elsewhere.
This traditional ceremony called “Ku Kaew Wattanatham
Muang”, or getting married in the Northern style, is open for both Thai
and foreign couples who can fulfill certain requirements.
Thai couples should be at least 20 years old, have
photocopies of identity documents and pay a fee of 8,900 baht for
registration. They will receive health check-ups and be provided with
information about family planning and maintenance; be hosted at a wedding
reception, joined by up to four guests, lunch in the Lanna Khan Toke style
and receive a photographic record of the ceremonies along with souvenirs and
presents.
Foreign couples are required to pay $US700 (which works
out to over 30,000 baht). They also need to be 20 or over. They must offer
their passports as registration documents. They will be invited to wear a
Lanna wedding costume, and the ladies will be provided with make-up and
hairdressing services. We were not informed what happens if a foreigner
wishes to marry a Thai.
Interested couples could contact the Chiang Mai
Provincial Public Health Office; 053 211 048 ext. 141 and 053 211 740 or
aidsempho@hotmail.com before April 20 this year. Priority is accorded to the
earlier applicants.
How big is your sausage?
Chiang Mai’s is enormous!
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
A very large Nam Pa Yon (Chiang Mai’s famous fermented
sausage) has been made by the Chiang Mai Provincial Red Cross, with the help
of the Chiang Mai Municipality, the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Chiang
Mai, the National Genetic Engineering and Bio Technology Center, V Food Co.
Ltd., the Alumni of Yupparat College and Mae Jo University.
Assistant Prof. Arkorn Kanjanaprachot, vice president of
administration at Mae Jo University, created the bio-fermented sausage
project for the north’s New Year Songkran celebration.
The sausage, which weighs in at a whopping 2.5 metric
tonnes, is for sale at 50 baht per kilogram from April 12, with all the
proceeds from the sausage sales being given to the Provincial Red Cross.
It has been designed to promote traditional northern Thai
culture through northern food and the bio-fermented sausage is better than
other ways because the production is disease free and safe for consumers.
8th Northern Street and International Food Festival to be held during Songkran
Wear traditional clothes and take part in the fun
Nuttanee Thaveephol
The Chiang Mai Cultural Council has joined with the
provincial government and private organizations to organize an international
food festival on Rajadamnoen Road during Songkran this year, April 12-15.
The festival is to promote Chiang Mai’s cultures and
traditions as well as tourism attractions. The highlight this year is that
all participants, including the tourists, have to wear Northern style
clothes to become involved with the spirit of the traditional festival and
experience the atmosphere of old Chiang Mai.
This part of the Songkran celebration will run from 3
p.m. until midnight with many activities, including Lanna style
performances, folk dances and local drum playing. One Tambon - One Product
stalls are also provided with the local handicrafts and local industrial
goods.
The Chiang Mai Restaurants Club is providing a variety of
foods, both northern and international, supplied by more than 50 Chiang Mai
restaurants.
The roadside temples are participating in the fair by
holding traditional activities such as the bathing and respecting of Buddha
images and exploring the Wat’s local style architecture at Wat Pan On, Wat
Muen Lan, and Wat Sam Pao.
During the festivities, both Thai and foreign visitors
will be entered in the local costume contest. Winners of the most beautiful
northern style costume will receive plane tickets, silk textiles,
silverware, leather, enamel, and other prizes.
The opening ceremony will be held at 5.30 p.m. on the first day, presided
over by Chiang Mai Governor Pisit Khetphasook.
Great Silver Bowl Procession today
The Great Silver Bowl Procession (Hae Saloong Luang),
held annually to honor the Phra Kaew Don Tao Buddha image in Lampang, will
be held today (April 12).
It has been organized by Lampang Municipality and the
Kelang Nakhon Heritages Promotion Association to celebrate the Thai
traditional New Year festival from April 9-14.
This year’s grand procession will start at Wat Pratu
Ton Pueng, and then pass Tama-o Road and turn right to Boonyawart Road, to
connect to the Clock Tower and pass along Thipchang and Wianglakorn Roads to
end at the Kelang Nakhorn Public Park.
The procession will stop regularly to allow people to
decorate the image with som poi and kamin-scented water until it stops at
the Wang River for more bathing of a Phra Kaew Don Tao Buddha image.
The Great Silver Bowl is of exceptional size (49 cm x 89
cm wide, and 2,533 baht in weight) and of particularly fine workmanship,
featuring illustrations of the Buddhist legendary six heavens.
This parade features the most revered and respected
Buddha image, known as Phra Kaew Morakot, or the Emerald Buddha Image,
together with four other important Buddha images from four parts of Lampang.
Throwing water on the images is said to bring good luck.
Apart from that there will be some 20 working agencies
taking part in the Songkran procession.
During the festival and celebrations, there will be local
food contests, the Man of the Sloong Luang model contest and Miss Songkran
beauty contest and a wide variety of shows and entertainment by famous
artists and stars.
Thai citizenship to be offered
to Chinese Haw people
But only for those who assist the drug suppression program
Ampai Kuntawong
Mae Hong Song Governor Supot Loawansiri has indicated
that the border Rak Thai village, Tambon Jampae, Muang District, Mae Hong
Song Province, is regarded as a transit route for drugs into Thailand. It
was known that some drug traffickers were living in the village, but they
have now fled to Burma.
The governor has requested the 17th Infantry Unit,
Special Task Force to patrol along the border and stop drug traffickers
coming into the Mae Hong Song area.
The governor also spoke about offering Thai nationality
to Chinese Haw immigrants who have settled in Rak Thai village who have
helped the province keep an eye on drug trafficking. Others who do not
assist, but instead try to persuade Burmese to come and settle down in the
Rak Thai village, will definitely lose their chances to achieve Thai
citizenship.
Chiang Mai - Lamphun “Twin City” proposal being worked out
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
The project of Chiang Mai - Lamphun Twin City is being
developed to produce growth and business and tourism prospects in the upper
north.
Thawatch Satheanam, the governor of Lamphun, presided
over the conference on the Twin City development project between Chiang Mai
and Lamphun provinces at Lamphun city hall.
The government has already proposed a policy to develop
this by using the two cities’ ancient heritage, develop town planning and
develop transportation by plane and make the cities centers for cargo
transfers.
The project for public utilities includes building two
way-railways lines from Chiang Mai to Lamphun, developing the road going
alongside the railways and building an overpass at the Northern Region
Industrial Estate intersection.
Part of the project includes education to establish
information technology and information communication technology. The
Communication Institute of Chiang Mai University is also planning to set up
in Lamphun.
Tourism would benefit by developing the ancient city
moats of Chiang Mai and Lamphun, Wiang Kum Kam (the underground empire), Pa
Sang (local woven cloth center), and national parks such as Khun Tan and Mae
Ping National Park.
Lamphun will present this project to the government to
ask for support.
THAI forced to stop flights as forest fires rage across Mae Hong Son
Thick smoke from forest fires ravaging the northern
province of Mae Hong Son on April 5 forced Thai Airways to cancel two of its
Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son flights.
Mae Hong Son Provincial Governor Suphot Laowansiri called
on farmers across the province to refrain from setting light to forested
areas, saying it caused immense damage to the province’s economy.
He conceded that it was sometimes necessary to burn
fields to prepare the ground for new crops, but that during the dry season
such fires could easily get out of control.
Thai Airway’s decision to cancel its Chiang Mai-Mae
Hong Son flights left several passengers stranded in Mae Hong Son airport,
with many deciding to hire coaches to take them to their destination. Mae
Hong Son’s valley location combined with lack of wind means that the smoke
is dispersing only very slowly. (TNA)
Driving standards will hopefully improve soon
Safe driving courses established
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
In an effort to reduce traffic accidents, the Public
Relief Operations and Disaster Prevention Department has begun teaching safe
driving courses in the region.
The
Public Relief Operations and Disaster Prevention Department has begun
teaching safe driving courses, hoping to reduce traffic accidents. Shown
here, the first group of students concentrate on their lesson.
Around 140 people turned up for the first training
course, held on April 3 at San Sai District Office.
Kosin Kedthong, the director-general of Public Relief
Operations and Disaster Prevention Department presided over this first in a
series of safe driving courses. The Department in Chiang Mai, along with the
Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transports Office, San Sai District Office and
the Motorcycle Shop Owners Association held the training course.
The main thrust of the training course was to cover
traffic rules, regulations and how to drive carefully. It is hoped that
after training, the trainees would in turn be able to transfer their
knowledge to other people.
If nothing else, the Public Relief Operations and Disaster Prevention
Department expected that this project course would give people awareness on
vehicle safely and reduce accidents. With even more luck, initiatives such
as this might even get motorcyclists to wear helmets!
Storm warning for electricity users
Ampai Kuntawong
Chiang Mai Provincial Electricity Authority has issued a
warning to be careful during windstorms this summer.
The authority says the general public should be
particularly alert during April, as at the start of April each year,
windstorms occur which damage the electricity supply system and public
properties like electricity poles, lines and streetlights.
To avoid accidents, people should carefully check and
repair any kind of electrical equipment installed outside their buildings
and cut off tree branches which are close to power lines.
In addition, should windstorm damage happen, consumers
affected should immediately turn off the main switch and inform the
provincial electricity authority concerned as soon as possible.
If electrical property is damaged in a way which can
cause danger, the authority should be informed by calling 1129 or 053 241
226 twenty-four hours a day.
Denchai district battered by tropical storms
Houses, schools and farms suffer damage
A tropical storm hit Denchai District, Phrae. More than
thirty houses, temples and some agricultural and farming land and products
were damaged. Houses and school buildings lost their roofs from the strong
wind that preceded the storm. Many villages in Saiyoi Sub-district, Denchai
District were also heavily damaged by the storm and further damage was done
by heavy rainfall that lasted all night on March 30.
The storm also destroyed ten fishponds, three pig farms
and a rice mill. Flooding resulted in more than four hundred rai of soybean
fields being inundated by the floodwaters.
Muak Thungngen, a villager of Ban Pak Pan said many trees
were uprooted and the storm also damaged 15 rai of his soybean fields.
Doi Saket District celebrates 100 years at Bua Phra Chao Luang Lake
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
Doi Saket District is celebrating their 100th
anniversary, and celebrations will be held April 15-17 at Bua Phra Chao
Luang Lake in Tambon Choeng Doi, Chiang Mai.
Surapol
Panasarnpol, Doi Saket district chief, held a press conference to announce
the festivities planned for the district’s 100th anniversary celebration
this coming week.
On the first day of the Doi Saket ceremony 109 monks will
tie sai sin (a protective thread for preventing evil influences) to every
house in the village.
Doi Saket District was established in 1902 from Tambon
Nam Phrae, when it changed its name to Doi Saket District.
The local monks, district and administrative
organizations and the Doi Saket Club, the village headmen, the Seniors Club
of Doi Saket, and Women Development Club of Doi Saket are jointly holding
the 100 years anniversary celebration.
On the second day and the last days there will be
traditional Thai folksong concerts and light and sound shows. One of the
more interesting displays at this fair is the biggest lotus in the world (to
be approved by Guinness Book Records). The giant lotus will be located right
in the middle of the Bua Phra Chao Luang Lake.
Organizers hope to develop the Bua Phra Chao Luang Lake area into an
important tourist attraction for Chiang Mai and help preserve traditional
Lanna culture.
Air quality takes top priority for Chiang Mai Environmental Office
Director proposes martial law!
Ampai Kuntawong
The director of the Environmental Office, Region 1,
Aphiwat Kunarak, is prepared to propose and impose environmental laws to
help control air quality in Chiang Mai City. He said that in every hot
season, air pollution seems to be a serious problem in the Chiang Mai and
Lamphun provincial areas, particularly produced by burning waste problem
since it creates oxides which are a danger to health.
The director said that an example of the ongoing campaign
to improve air quality is the Sunday Bicycle Club which will begin on
Charoen Prathet Road, as there are several schools such as Regina Coele
College, Montfort College and Sacred Heart College which are located in that
area.
The Environment Office has received numerous complaints
from residents about polluted air and are looking for some solutions.
“After receiving many complaints, we collect all information to offer some
sustainable solutions to the provincial governor Pisit Khetphasook. There
will be an announcement of martial law, if necessary,” said the director.
Director Aphiwat believes that enforcement of the law
would not destroy Chiang Mai’s tourism image, as many people are
concerned. A good example, he said, is Phuket, since it has been a Pollution
and Environmental Control Zone for almost eight years, and it remains a most
attractive province to tourists. However, there must be emergency
discussions to consider whether or not martial law should be imposed, he
added.
He also admitted that the air pollution levels in Chiang
Mai and Lamphun areas are currently not serious but that everyone should
take very good care of Chiang Mai’s air quality before it is too late.
Doi Tao officials want district to be a drug-free zone by August
Declaration in honor of H.M. the Queen’s birthday
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Doi Tao District, Chiang Mai is preparing to establish 42
drug-free villages to combat the drug problem and are erecting a “Power of
the Land to Combat Drug Problems” Center to honor HM the Queen on the
occasion of her 72nd birthday celebration on August 12 this year.
Adul Songchaikul, Doi Tao district chief, stated that
they have been very successful in their war against drugs, with 640 drug
dealers and addicts entering rehabilitation camps.
The camps provided for the drug dealers and addicts were
built during February - March. Participants have come from all 42 villages
of the six tambons and the district chief is convinced that Doi Tao will be
a drug-free zone by the end of the 3 month campaign period.
The government officers and local administrative offices
have supported this project by making 758,400 baht available from funds. The
participants’ wives and families also took part in this program supplying
food and daily necessities.
Forest fires still very prevalent
Helicopter firefighters to be used this year
1,600 forest fires have occurred this year, damaging over
9,000 rai of land. Pisarn Wasuwanich, the director of the Forest
Conservation Administration Office 16 released the details.
The Forest Fire Operation Center has launched a fire
prevention campaign aimed at the general public, as most of the forest fires
are caused by human beings.
Director Pisarn has also released 150 forest firemen for
training in helicopter firefighting to hopefully produce an early warning
and aerial extinguishing service.
The Forest Conservation Administration Office director
hopes that there will be fewer forest fires than last year because of the
earlier than expected rain. However, the Northern Meteorological Center
reported that during this period, the westerly winds still prevail over
upper Thailand, which will decrease the rain in this region. With the advent
of westerly and southeasterly winds that will lie across northeastern and
eastern Thailand, widely scattered thundershowers with gusting winds in some
areas are likely during the afternoon to evening.
American antique dealer busted on heroin charges
Autsadaporn Kamthai
Benji Straus, a 32-year-old American, was arrested on the
charge of possession and selling heroin. Police from Muang District Police
Station, led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Narich Sorndith, told Chiangmai Mail
that they arrested the American man who was allegedly selling heroin at the
Ratchadanont dormitory on Moonmuang Road, Chiang Mai.
Following a tip-off, a team of undercover police
pretended to buy 3 small packets of heroin and then the arrested the seller.
Police also found 20 packets of heroin in his possession and one of hashish
hidden in his clothes. The police information came after they had arrested
Supanrat Suebjaktik, who had bought some heroin from Benji Straus.
Strauss confessed that before being arrested in Chiang
Mai, he had stayed in Phuket and been investigated by Phuket police. To
escape the heat, he had come to stay in Chiang Mai, where he sold heroin to
both Thais and foreigners.
He has an antique shop, which mainly sells Buddha images,
in the United States. He went through Thailand to buy ancient Buddha images
and send these to be sold at his own shop in the United States.
After his arrest, police raided his rented home in Tambon
Pa Tan and confiscated 12,500 baht in cash, a television, a video game, and
a bank account book, credit card and many ancient Buddha images.
Inbound tourism from SARS high-risk countries to stop?
Tourism road shows cancelled
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways
International have been ordered to stop the promotion of tourism to Thailand
from the high-risk countries China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and
Vietnam.
The Tourism and Sports Minister, Sontaya Khunpluem, said
the number of tourists were expected to fall by 10 percent because of the
war in Iraq and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus flu
spreading out in some Asian countries. Promotion of inbound travel to
Thailand had to stop from affected countries because of SARS.
Plans to organize a road show in China this month have
been postponed and the TAT has changed the focus to Japan and South Korea
instead. The TAT also held an urgent meeting for tour operators and airlines
on April 2 to encourage them to promote domestic tourism until the SARS
epidemic is finished. Despite all the problems, tourism officials are still
confident that the visitor target for this year would be 11.4 million as per
the original and promotional plan.
Hard case against Chinese sex drug trader
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
A Chinese man was arrested by Chiang Mai police at the
Waroros Market this week for illegally selling medicine reputedly for
erectile dysfunction (ED).
Ms. Raweewan Preedisanit, the deputy secretary of the
Food and Drug Administration, together with undercover police from the
Chiang Mai Muang Police Station charged Wang Woo Xian, a 28-year-old Chinese
man after they had purchased the fake patent medicine from him at his stall
at the Waroros Market in Muang District, Chiang Mai.
According to the police investigation, he was selling
medicine claiming that it would treat sexual problems. The tablets were
manufactured in China. Police confiscated 1,500 Viagra copy tablets.
Wang was charged with selling drugs without the correct
license. Ms. Raweewan stated that analysis of the fake drugs showed that
they were dangerous to anyone who might have allergies, and the pills were
not of a suitable standard for human consumption.
Mother and daughter carry out double suicide
Motive still unclear
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
A 52-year-old woman and her 26-year-old daughter last
week jumped out of a high-rise condominium building in downtown Lampang. The
mother died immediately, while the younger woman died on the way to
hospital.
Police were alerted to the situation after the Khe Lang
191 radio center was informed that the two people had jumped from the 3rd
floor of Park View Condotel Condominium on Wangkhwa Road, Tambon Sobtui in
Muang District. Rawesak Ungsirimonkol, a Park View Condotel employee, said
that after he came back from lunch, he found the dead body of Mrs. Intira
Limsintaropas behind condominium building with Miss Aunchana Limsintaropas,
her daughter obviously very seriously injured.
Police Lt Pana Saithong of Muang District police station
is leading the investigation. According to police sources, the mother worked
as a private financier and the daughter worked for Thammasart University,
Lampang Campus. The police also found 10 bank account books with the list of
her debtors. The motivation for their suicide is still not known and it has
been reported that neither of them had any problems which might explain the
double tragedy.
White dorm project wants student spies
Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
Last year’s successful White Dormitory Project, one
element of the war on drugs, will be repeated again beginning May 1.
The Chiang Mai Social Development and Welfare Office and
the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security says the latest
initiative will continue from last year’s Dormitory Order Project.
The project seeks the cooperation of the dormitory
owners’ network to keep a close eye on the students who stay with them to
ensure they are not selling, trading or taking drugs.
The project provides three steps towards drug
suppression. The first is to arrange a seminar for the dormitory owners’
network in five private university dormitories in San Sai Mae Ping, Phu
Ping, Chang Puak and Muang areas. Next, the dormitories are checked by five
teams of inspectors. The final step is to use the students who stay in the
dormitories as “spies” to watch for drugs and drug-related problems in
their residences.
Government bans water pistols and water guns during Songkran
A serious legislation - or just a wet piece of paper?
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Sale of water pistols and water cannons is prohibited
during the Songkran Festival, says the Consumer Protection Committee led by
Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbarangsri, to avoid the danger from these
aggressive items. These kinds of toys can inflict injury to many parts of
the body and severely damage the eyes. Sellers are warned not to sell any
kind of water gun or risk arrest and heavy fines.
To protect consumers, the committee has invoked section
36 of the 1979 Consumer Protection Code by temporarily prohibiting the sale
of water guns during this water festival, until the goods are approved as
being safe.
Those in violation of this order face a maximum of 6
months imprisonment and / or a maximum fine of 50,000 baht. Those in
contravention of this act who are manufacturers or importers can face
imprisonment of up to 5 years and a 500,000 baht fine.
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