Thailand Prepares For Songkran 2007

[Jai Dee]

Nakhon Ratchasima prepares for security during Songkran 2007

Nakhon Ratchasima is carrying out procedures aimed at preventing road accidents during Songkran Festival 2007.

Nakhon Ratchasima governor Somboon Ngarmlak (สมบูรณ์ งามลักษณ์) said the province is carrying out procedures in 3 steps, comprising the preparation period between March 9-31, the drill period during April 1-10 and the operations period during the 7 dangerous days between April 11-17. The province will erect check points and provide emergency medical service during 11th - 17th April.

The Nakhon Ratchasima governor expects the number of accidents and fatalities to drop from last year and that the number of deaths will not be over 14, while the number of injuries would be under 188. The total number of road accidents during the 7 days is expected to be at 167.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Trat to definitely punish people violated traffic law during Songkran Festival

The Trat governor is urging provincial officials to stringently proceed against people who violate traffic law during Songkran Festival.

Trat governor Boonchuay Kerdsukhon (บุญช่วย เกิดสุคนธ์) presided over a meeting with heads of each state office in the province and reiterated to all officials to collectively conduct road accidents prevention during Songkran Festival 2007. The province targets to reduce the number of accidents by 15% from last year. This means there can be no more than 2 fatalities and 15 injuries.

The Trat governor urged related officials to care for this matter to the best of their extent and to also stringently proceed against traffic law violators.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Ranong to prevent and reduce accidents during the Songkran festival 2007

Ranong province is carrying out procedures to prevent road accidents.

Pol. Col. Lertsak Wittayaphand (เลิศศักดิ์ วิทยาพันธุ์), the Deputy Superintendent of Ranong Provincial Police, presided over a meeting of the commission of the roads accidents prevention center during the Songkran Festival 2007. Ranong officials has set a target of only one fatality, 14 injured and the accidents not over 12 cases during 11th - 17th April.

Furthermore, the deputy superintendent police at Ranong said he reiterated the provincial police to seriously enforce the law and sett up 14 checking points in every districts.

Regarding the statistics of the accidents in Ranong during Songkran 2006, the province had no dead victims with 26 injured and 19 accidents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Chiang Mai held a meeting to impose security measures during Songkran Festival 2007

Chiang Mai deputy governor Gong-Aek-Wi-Las Rujiwattanapong (กองเอกวิลาส รุจิวัฒนพงษ์) presided over a meeting of the committee overseeing the Chiang Mai road safety center. The Chiang Mai deputy governor reiterated to provincial officials to work tirelessly during the 7 dangerous days from 11th - 17th April.

Chiang Mai province has set a target to reduce roads accidents by 15 percent this year. This means there can be no more than 12 fatalities and 155 injuries, whereas accidents may not exceed 137 cases.

Regarding security measures, Chiang Mai officials have prepared 60 rapid response units to conduct patrols, while the Highway offices 1 and 2 have already surveyed the dangerous stretches of road in Chiang Mai and will put up warning signs for the immediate term. These spots will later be improved to foster greater safety. The province will compile an accidents report for the media everyday during the 7 dangerous days.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Phitsanulok emphasizes on officials effectiveness to accomplish roads accidents prevention during Songkran period

Phitsanulok governor is emphasizing the efficiency of officials in accomplishing the objective of road accidents prevention during this year's Songkran festival period.

Phitsanulok governor Pipat Wongsaroj (พิพัฒน์ วงศาโรจน์) said the 3 deputy provincial governors will be responsible for overseeing accident prevention in three districts each. They will also oversee the operations of officials working under the district level, but this responsibility would primarily fall on the local administrative organizations and heads of tambons and villages.

Mr. Pipat said Phitsanulok province has set a target to keep the number of fatalities during Songkran festival this year at under 6, but said that efficiency in the part of officials who were assigned certain duties will be emphasised.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Phrae Public Health to give service during Songkran Festival

Phrae Public Health Office is preparing to provide emergency medical service during Songkran Festival 2007.

Phrae Public Health Office staff, Md. Preeda Deesuwan (ปรีดา ดีสุวรรณ), said the office has been preparing to provide high-level emergency medical service during the Songkran Festival, by prepping medical gears and manpower. He aid the hospitals will provide specialist doctors for deployment to scenes of emergency, and they will collaborate with emergency rescue units.

Md. Preeda requested provincial residents to drive carefully and not drive while drunk. He added that accidents or emergencies can be reported to number 1669 or 0-5453-3428.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Mid]

to be commended as well and good ,

now about the rest of the year ...................................

spelling

Edited March 30, 2007 by Mid

[Jai Dee]

TAT Trat expects Songkran Festival will generate over 200 million baht to the province

Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 5 Trat (ตราด) expects the number of tourist during Songkran Festival will increase and will generate an income of over 200 million baht.

The director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central region 5 Trat Office, Mr. Chuchat Orncharoen (ชูชาติ อ่อนเจริญ), reveals the continual increase in reservation of hotel rooms on Koh Chang (เกาะช้าง) due to Songkran Festival. He says about 80 percent of hotel rooms have been reserved.

Mr. Chuchat says the number of tourist on Songkran days is higher than the previous year, especially Thai tourists. He says people will travel to eastern provinces because of the smog situation in the northern region.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Nakhon Si Thammarat trains bus and school drivers to reduce road accidents during Songkran

Nakhon Si Thammarat organized a training for all bus and school drivers in the province, with an aim to reduce the number of road accidents during Songkran Festival 2007.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Deputy Governor Arunee Kulnarong (อรุณี กูลณรงค์) presided over the opening of this training course. The Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Transport Office has launched a campaign to reduce road accidents during Songkran Festival. 522 road fatalities were recorded during Songkran 2005 while 485 deaths during Songkran last year. 200 bus and school drivers attended the session where they would understand traffic regulations. The training will prompt them to be conscience when driving at all times.

After the training, all drivers have vowed to behave properly as an honor to His Majesty the King's 80th birthday on December 5th, 2007.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 March 2007

[robhudd]

Lets hope it all works. So sad reading the newspaper every Songkran and seeing the terrible statistics. Everyone play safe!!

[Jai Dee]

Minister of Culture asks for more traditional practices during Songkran

The Minister of Culture is campaigning for a return to traditional Thai ways during the Songkran Festival.

Minister of Culture Khunying Khaisri Sri-arun (ไขศรี ศรีอรุณ) said that the Songkran Festival was reflective of the fine cultural traditions of Thailand, and encouraged family values and societal harmony. Khunying Khaisri said that the Songkran Festival normally included ceremonies to pay respects to ancestors, monks, and elders.

The Minister of Culture asked that Thai people, especially teenagers, conduct Songkran festivities in a culturally sound manner, by not using high powered water pistols, using only clean water, and dressing in an appropriate Thai way.

Khunying Khaisri asked that motorists exercise caution in their travels, and refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages in order to prevent road accidents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 April 2007

[Mid]

The Minister of Culture asked that Thai people, especially teenagers, conduct Songkran festivities in a culturally sound manner, by not using high powered water pistols, using only clean water, and dressing in an appropriate Thai way.

[andook]

^^ Spot on.

[Jai Dee]

Tourists are invited to Grand Songkran, Ancient City Festival in Samut Prakan

Samut Prakan Governor Anuwat Methiwibunwut would like to invite Thai and foreign tourists to visit the Grand Songkran, Ancient City Festival.

The Grand Songkran, Ancient City Festival is being organized by the authority of Samut Prakan province and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). It will be held from April 13th to 15th, 2007 between 8 AM to 5 PM.

Governor Anuwat says the festival has been held for three consecutive years, and it is aimed at preserving the local traditions of Samut Prakan people. Furthermore, the festival will allow people to value the local arts and cultural practices.

The Grand Songkran, Ancient City Festival will be held in the Ancient City of Samut Prakan. People can contact 0-2323-9253 or 0-2709-1644 for more details.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 April 2007

[george]

Extra day for Songkran?

BANGKOK: -- The Permanent Secretary for the Prime Minister's Office will seek Cabinet approval today to extend the Songkran holiday by a day until April 17, a source at Government House said yesterday.

The Thai New Year falls on April 13 to 15 every year, and according to a Cabinet resolution made on May 1, 2001, if a yearly holiday falls on the weekend, the next weekday can be made a holiday in lieu.

Therefore, this year's Songkran festival should last four days, from Friday, April 13, to Monday, April 16.

However, since this holiday period is when most people visit families in their hometowns, the office will ask the Cabinet to consider if it should give an additional day's holiday on April 17, the source said.

Commercial banks have said they would follow the Bank of Thailand's decision on the length of the break, while state enterprises will follow the State Enterprise Labour Relations Act 2000.

--The Nation 2007-04-03

[leisurely]

I've been to the ancient city for the songkran celebrations twice now, it is a lovely place with traditional stuff going on. BUT, there are some fools who attack you with a water cannon from the official buses that tour the place. If I wanted that, I would simply walk our soi

[patworld]

Extra day for Songkran?

BANGKOK: -- The Permanent Secretary for the Prime Minister's Office will seek Cabinet approval today to extend the Songkran holiday by a day until April 17, a source at Government House said yesterday.

The Thai New Year falls on April 13 to 15 every year, and according to a Cabinet resolution made on May 1, 2001, if a yearly holiday falls on the weekend, the next weekday can be made a holiday in lieu.

Therefore, this year's Songkran festival should last four days, from Friday, April 13, to Monday, April 16.

However, since this holiday period is when most people visit families in their hometowns, the office will ask the Cabinet to consider if it should give an additional day's holiday on April 17, the source said.

Commercial banks have said they would follow the Bank of Thailand's decision on the length of the break, while state enterprises will follow the State Enterprise Labour Relations Act 2000.

--The Nation 2007-04-03

Could i have the lastest one for this news? please give me the link of that page i really need to use for my work!

Thank you very much

[StrongView]

Link

[Jai Dee]

Khon Kaen aims to reduce number of road fatalities to nine during 7 Dangerous Days

Khon Kaen Governor Parnchai Bavornrattanapran (ปานชัย บวรรัตนปราณ) says the province aims to reduce the number of road accidents during the “Seven Dangerous Days” between April 11th and 17th to 105, with no more than nine fatalities and 118 injuries.

During the same period of last year, 95 road accidents occurred in Khon Kaen, killin nine and injuring 102. Most of the cases involved drunk driving and violating the traffic regulations. More than 80 percent of the cases involved motorcycles and many of them took place in suburban routes.

80 traffic checkpoints have been set up in all tambons of Khon Kaen, and volunteers have been trained to help the road accident victims. The province will set up the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center at Khon Kaen Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office on April 11th. The performance evaluation of officials will be conducted everyday from April 12th to 18th.

Khon Kaen had 141 road accidents during the previous New Year’s Festival, and the figure was the highest in comparison to all other provinces. The figure also exceeded the initial target by 34.29 percent.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 April 2007

[PhilHarries]

Khon Kaen aims to reduce number of road fatalities to nine during 7 Dangerous Days

Khon Kaen Governor Parnchai Bavornrattanapran (ปานชัย บวรรัตนปราณ) says the province aims to reduce the number of road accidents during the “Seven Dangerous Days” between April 11th and 17th to 105, with no more than nine fatalities and 118 injuries.

During the same period of last year, 95 road accidents occurred in Khon Kaen, killin nine and injuring 102. Most of the cases involved drunk driving and violating the traffic regulations. More than 80 percent of the cases involved motorcycles and many of them took place in suburban routes.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 April 2007

Sorry I might be having a bad day and am missing something so bear with me.

Last year 95 accidents, killed nine and injured 102.

This year's reduction aims for 105 accidents, killing nine and injuring 118.

Is it me or does dear old Parnchai need some maths lessons?

Besides which I have a problem with these targets overall. They set a figure for accidents, deaths and injuries below which it's back slaps all round, jolly good show old chap. Surely their target should be zero deaths? Zero accidents and zero injuries, while an ideal situation, remains a pipedream in any society during any period.

[Jai Dee]

BMA instructs security officials to patrol city around the clock

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared security officials to patrol the capital city around the clock and a ban on vehicles transporting water in the inner area of the city during the Songkran Festival. The splashing of powder onto other people is strictly prohibited.

BMA Permanent Secretary Phongsak Semsant (พงศ์ศักติฐ์ เสมสันต์) says the City Law Enforcement officials will be dispatched to monitor in risky areas and Songkran Festival celebration venues. BMA has planned to draw people to cooperate with the authority in observing the situation.

Mr Phongsak says further that BMA will work closely with police officers to ban vehicles transporting water in the inner area, especially in the Khao San and Ratchadamnoen roads.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 April 2007

[Mid]

BMA has planned to draw people to cooperate with the authority in observing the situation.

translation please ?

[Jai Dee]

Sales of high-pressured water guns banned during Songkran

The Office of the Consumer Protection Board has prohibited the sales of high-pressured water guns during Songkran.

Mrs. Rasamee Rassamee Wisawathawet (รัศมี วิศทเวทย์), the Secretary-General of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, says the ban is temporary and Section 36 of the Consumer Safety Act 1979 has been used to enforce this regulation during Songkran. She says a number of people were using high-pressured water guns in the previous festivals, causing injuries to others.

Violators will be fined no more than 500,000 baht, or be imprisoned for five years maximum, or both. People can call 1166 hotline if they see vendors who are selling high-pressured water guns.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 April 2007

[Tony Clifton]

Roadblocks, again. It may help but don't they notice the carnage never happens at the roadblocks but BETWEEN them?

Pure sillines when provinces make statements like "punish people violating traffic law", reduce road accidents, when they have 4 patrol cars that are mainly used to transport top brass or pick up lunch.

[Mid]

Sales of high-pressured water guns banned during Songkran

The Office of the Consumer Protection Board has prohibited the sales of high-pressured water guns during Songkran.

Mrs. Rasamee Rassamee Wisawathawet (รัศมี วิศทเวทย์), the Secretary-General of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, says the ban is temporary and Section 36 of the Consumer Safety Act 1979 has been used to enforce this regulation during Songkran. She says a number of people were using high-pressured water guns in the previous festivals, causing injuries to others.

Violators will be fined no more than 500,000 baht, or be imprisoned for five years maximum, or both. People can call 1166 hotline if they see vendors who are selling high-pressured water guns.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 April 2007

more of the same self serving waffle ..............

so you buy 'em before the ban , already described as temporary , is enforce and you know to do this cause it's the same every year .

and there's no mention of using them being illegal just selling .......................

ho hum

[Jai Dee]

Culture Minister wants all sides to understand the true objective of Songkran

The Culture Minister, Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon, asks all sides to help preserve the traditional practices of Songkran as she wants the Thais to understand the true intention of this festival. She would like people to give food offerings to monks, listen to Buddhist prayers, and give more importance to the family institution by being grateful to them.

This year, the Office of the National Culture Commission has publicized a book about the origin of Songkran. The book comes in Thai and English languages. It aims to educate Thai people about the true meaning of Songkran.

The Culture Minister says she wants to see Thai people join the festivities of Songkran in an appropriate manner. She says she does not want to see people using high-pressured water guns, throwing ice cubes, or splashing water violently. She says it is improper for women to wear little clothes when they are joining the water-spraying activities.

Khunying Khaisri says officials will be dispatched to look after the order of the festivities in Khao Sarn and Patpong areas. She has asked the private sector to help campaign Thai culture as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 April 2007

[Jai Dee]

National Road Safety Center prepares for Songkran Festival road incidents

The National Road Safety Center has set a maximum road fatality of no more than 9 and maximum road injuries at no more than 106 during the 7 days of the Songkran Festival.

The Director of the Songkhla province Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Mr. Wichit Chantharapan (วิจิตร จันทรปาน), said that during Songkran Festivals each year, extended holidays and heavy road usage as citizens returned to their home provinces, often lead to higher than normal road accidents.

The National Road Safety Center has therefore set a ceiling on road accident rates during the 7 day high risk period of the Songkran Festivals from April 11-17. Officials have established a maximum road fatality figure of 9, a maximum critical road injury figure of 106, and a maximum road accident toll of 94.

Provincial, district, and local administrative officials have been instructed to set up Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Centers during the Songkran Festival period, and to establish checkpoints in high risk areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 April 2007

[Mid]

well I guess the numbers quoted may help in choosing your lottery picks ................................

[Jai Dee]

Cadet joins police house safeguarding project during Songkran holiday

The Royal Police Cadet Academy is sending its students to participate in the police’s project to safeguard homes during the Songkran Festival this year.

The Commander of the Royal Police Cadet Academy, Pol.Lt.Gen.Pongsapat Pongcharoen (พงศพัศ พงษ์เจริญ), reveals that by attending a police project to safeguard homes, 255 fourth year police cadets will have the opportunity to protect assets of people who entrust their homes to police during the holidays. The commander expects that there will be more people participating in the project during the Songkran Festival this year.

The home safeguarding project is carried out yearly by the Royal Thai Police to assure citizens who travel out of town during long holidays that their residence remain safe. The academy hopes that fourth year students would facilitate police work and make the project more efficient. The academy previously sent its students to join the project during last year's New Year holidays, and has deemed their performance highly successful.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 April 2007

[Jai Dee]

Phathalung sets up road checkpoints to prevent accidents during Songkran

Phatthalung Province sets up road safety checkpoints to prevent road accidents during Songkran Festival this year.

Phatthalung Governor Suthep Komonphamorn (สุเทพ โกมลภมร) says road safety checkpoints would be established throughout the province for the Songkran holidays from April 11-17. Officials stationed at the checkpoints will include members of local administration organizations and public volunteers. The checkpoints are located at both main and minor roads across the province.

Roads in Phatthalung connect to many provinces in the southern region, including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, and Trang. The governor adds that the checkpoints have coffee, refreshments, and restrooms available for commuters. He affirms that officials will treat commuters who use the checkpoints with gentleness and friendliness.

In addition, the province will campaign against drunk driving and sleepy driving to assure the safety to all commuters. During the Songkran holiday last year, Phatthalung had 242 road accidents, 92 severe injuries, and 7 deaths. The most accidents occured on April 13th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 April 2007