Picture: Thai PBS

 

Anyone who breaches strict rules put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 during the Songkran holidays faces hefty fines and even jail time.  

 

On Tuesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced three control measures would be in place in the Thai capital during this year’s Songkran.

 

Violators of the measures face fines of up 40,000 baht or even up to two years in jail, the BMA warned, Thai PBS reported.

 

The measures state that while religious ceremonies can go ahead, any event that has more than 300 attendees must have prior approval from a local BMA district office.

 

Picture: Thai PBS

 

Any event with more than 100 attendees must submit an event  plan and confirm what disease  control measures will be in place at the venue.

 

Any event that receives approval from the BMA will need to be held in a well ventilated room or open space. Events in confined spaces should be avoided. 

 

Lengthy eating and drinking in large groups should also be avoided. Water splashing or water fights, as well as foam parties, are prohibited.

 

The news comes as business leaders on Khao San Road, normally a key location for Songkran celebrations in the capital, bemoaned the ban on water splashing and large scale events.

 

Earlier this week, the head of the Khao San Road Business Association said the ban would result in around 70 million baht in lost revenue for Bangkok's famous backpacker hub.

 

Instead of large scale water fights, parties and round the clock drinking, Khao San Road will host a parade and cultural water tunnel to allow visitors to make merit.

 

This year’s Songkran holidays, which are preceded by a weekend, officially take place from April 12-15 inclusive.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-24

 

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Excellent news, now put it into Law for every future year

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Excellent news, now put it into Law for every future year

Spoilsport!

I agree it is not appropriate to allow the "full on" Songkran this year but the Thai's should be able/allowed to celebrate their festivals their way!

 

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Violators of the measures face fines of up 40,000 baht or even up to two years in jail

Yeah, right bunch of criminals, lock them all up

Only Bangkok? Make it countrywide!

It's a bit like all the other "rules" in this country...very few take note of them because very little happens if they break them. 

If the authorities were 'on the ball' and punished all violaters...we might see a difference - but I won't hold my breath.

Oh yeah, enforced by the same folks that keep such a close watch on the traffic rules!

1 hour ago, Crusader said:

It's a bit like all the other "rules" in this country...very few take note of them because very little happens if they break them. 

If the authorities were 'on the ball' and punished all violaters...we might see a difference - but I won't hold my breath.

Agree. Toothless threats issued on a regular basis.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Lengthy eating and drinking in large groups should also be avoided.

Isn't that what Thais do at Songkran?

„Instead of large scale water fights, parties and round the clock drinking, Khao San Road will host a parade and cultural water tunnel to allow visitors to make merit.“

Well, I think that this idea roots at the same desk of the fellow, who seriously proclaimed, that „Pattaya is usually visited for its temples!“

The government might want to reconsider building jail cells for all those law breaching children and likewise introduce the death penalty for the water-splashing parents. 

You cannot be a little bit pregnant, either cancel the entire thing as in the past or go ahead. A Khao San parade with a „cultural water tunnel“ (whatever that stands for?) might be bloody huge steps in the wrong direction? 

17 hours ago, JoePai said:

Excellent news, now put it into Law for every future year

Don't like it go home, not your country!

 

Sounds good...“Violator of measures”,  “years in hail”, “are prohibitibed”. “Ban of water”, “face hefty fines”, Mmmm...Wellcome to Songkran Festival. ????

15 minutes ago, Tookta said:

Don't like it go home, not your country!

Hooray! First one today!

22 minutes ago, Tookta said:

Don't like it go home, not your country!

OOPS looks like somebody is having a bad start to their day, go back to bed, rest for a while, then get out the other side,   maybe you will  feel better.????????????????????

22 minutes ago, sambum said:

Hooray! First one today!

Yes there is always one, but its still early days!! LOL

19 minutes ago, colinneil said:

OOPS looks like somebody is having a bad start to their day, go back to bed, rest for a while, then get out the other side,   maybe you will  feel better.????????????????????

 

I see that "doll" joined in 2005 & has made only 7 posts.

Makes one wonder...

4 minutes ago, faraday said:

 

I see that "doll" joined in 2005 & has made only 7 posts.

Makes one wonder...

He is still learning the "English language" or just a bit shy.

 

If I wash my car of water the flowers, am I risking jail?

Asking for a friend.

1 hour ago, Tookta said:

Don't like it go home, not your country!

Wow, you've been a member for 16 years and this is all you can manage to say.

 

Sorry Alf, I posted before seeing your, and others replies.

13 minutes ago, AlfHuy said:

If I wash my car of water the flowers, am I risking jail?

Asking for a friend.

Typo, or is it the forum doing it?     OR not OF.

23 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

 

Thailand, you love it or you leave it. (second today, I know..)

You have left a sad and gloomy country, where abusive regulations restrict any collective joy and you want to install the same rules here.

Once again come back, go home or elsewhere but do not come and pollute this happy country.

 

How do you know which country the poster just left?

17 hours ago, fangless said:

Spoilsport!

I agree it is not appropriate to allow the "full on" Songkran this year but the Thai's should be able/allowed to celebrate their festivals their way!

 

Disagree. As the name suggests, this pandemic is a global event and what Thais do, or what happens in Thailand, will have effect all over the world

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Earlier this week, the head of the Khao San Road Business Association said the ban would result in around 70 million baht in lost revenue for Bangkok's famous backpacker hub.

Which is devoid of back-packers at the moment.

1 hour ago, Tookta said:

Don't like it go home, not your country!

You're a little vocal for a Newbie, wait until you've been here a year to two

2 minutes ago, JoePai said:

You're a little vocal for a Newbie, wait until you've been here a year to two

He's been a member for 16 years!

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

He's been a member for 16 years!

What with 7 posts !

Do they not realize, with the rules for over 100 attendees, that it doesn't take that many to spread the disease? One person that has it can and will give it to any number of attendees, whether it's 5 or 300. Making an event plan might sound good on paper, but people here get very close to each other everywhere you go. Buses, bars, temples and especially eating sticky rice and sharing water glasses happens daily since the beginning of time and won't change. Thailand dodged a bullet earlier, where something positive happened here like a mild strain, extra sunlight, no hugging and a lot of face mask wearing. It could have been a disaster here with all the close eating that happens in every family, but the got lucky. Hopefully immunity plus the vaccine going around will ensure their, and our , luck stays good.

18 hours ago, fangless said:

Spoilsport!

I agree it is not appropriate to allow the "full on" Songkran this year but the Thai's should be able/allowed to celebrate their festivals their way!

 

Unless I'm reading things wrong, the Thais are allowed to celebrate their festivals their way, it is just the morons throwing water that is prohibited and rightly so.

10 minutes ago, JoePai said:

What with 7 posts !

Check his/her profile.

4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Unless I'm reading things wrong, the Thais are allowed to celebrate their festivals their way, it is just the morons throwing water that is prohibited and rightly so.

Are you saying that most of the kids around my area are morons?