BANGKOK (NNT) - On the occasion of Songkran, Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has wished Thai people physical, emotional and intellectual strength and asked them to love each other and stay united.

 

Today (Apr 13), Gen. Prayut delivered an address on the occasion of the Songkran holiday via the Television Pool of Thailand, and sent his best wishes to the Thai people in the kingdom and abroad.

 

The Prime Minister said the Songkran festival is a distinctive part of Thai culture and is celebrated differently in each region. It is a tradition that fosters love and unity in families and communities, as these are the characteristics of all Thais.

 

However, the COVID-19 situation still has an adverse effect on all sectors. Thai people, together with the public and private sectors, are encouraged to continue Songkran traditions under New Normal conditions and in accordance with their ancestors’ intentions.

 

They are encouraged to follow the government’s measures, to make the festival a happy and safe celebration. With cooperation from all sides, this year’s Songkran will be a valuable experience.

 

The Prime Minister said he wishes Thai people happiness and prosperity as well as strong physical, emotional and intellectual health, while calling upon them to be united and travel safely.

Deputy Government Spokeswoman, Traisuree Taisaranakul, said today that Gen.

 

Prayut is concerned about the general public, hoping that they stay free of COVID-19 during Songkran by taking precautions. Travelers are advised to refrain from gatherings, especially gatherings that involve drinking alcohol, as they will likely be in close proximity for a long time, which poses a risk of transmission of COVID-19.

 

The Ministry of Public Health is concerned that drinking will lead to more people getting infected, in addition to road accidents caused by drink driving. People are encouraged to take precautions for the benefit of themselves and those around them.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-13

 

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5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has wished Thai people physical, emotional and intellectual strength and asked them to love each other and stay united

What a wonderful man and so full of deep sentiment to want to bring the country together in this time of his and his governments abject failures. So sweet of him, really.

10 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

What a wonderful man and so full of deep sentiment to want to bring the country together in this time of his and his governments abject failures. So sweet of him, really.

How wonderful it must be to be so isolated from reality.

 

It reminds me of the story and song about the "Emperor's New Clothes".

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor's_New_Clothes

 

 

 

is he going ever apologise for his subordinates spreading covid from Krystal and other hostess clubs to the masses, hiding info about scale of infection and causing the 3rd wave?

 

he did bar media from reporting on this connection.

there are calls, also from within coalition, to disclose info on whereabouts of ministers and ownership of those clubs (they are hiding behind not important names)

 

Inter-provincial travel back and forth. Quarantine? What quarantine?

"Songkran traditions under New Normal conditions" unfortunately does not describe the prevailing situation.

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Songkran traditions under New Normal conditions

 

Normal conditions - go and see your relatives and give them Covid.

 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

drinking will lead to more people getting infected

Err no.

Travelling and spreading Covid is the killer.

I drink at home and I infect no one.

 

PM Prayut wishes Thais good health over Songkran

As the sick in Red Zones are allowed cart-blanche to travel and infect the healthy. 

2 hours ago, Fromas said:

Inter-provincial travel back and forth. Quarantine? What quarantine?

Has anyone seen Covid roadblocks enforcing quarantines at the provinces borders.  Chiang Mai stated that they require quarantine for Red Zones but - no Covid road block, so no enforcement. 
When the cases start increasing to a few thousand a day, people should look directly at their negligent government and point a finger.  It could have been contained but they willingly let to rip.

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Travelers are advised to refrain from gatherings, especially gatherings that involve drinking alcohol,

I'm pretty sure there is a law somewhere that goes something like : When Thai men gather in more than numbers of 2, alcohol must be consumed in great quantities.

Songkran could have been celebrated in near normal circumstances if this Government had pulled its finger out in January and started mass vaccination then, and Thailand wouldn't be living on a knife edge waiting for the infected to increase.... 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

love each other and stay united

And spread C19 even further

Pray harder for more vaccines so we can have good health!!!

HYPOCRITE! (without the hip) Every new infection, every new death, is on YOUR head.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

On the occasion of Songkran, Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has wished Thai people physical, emotional and intellectual strength

They're going to need it.

He is reported to have particular concern for the wellbeing of the more socially active ministers in his cabinet.

Quote

PM Prayut wishes Thais good health over Songkran

I prefer to read some wishes Thais have for their PM

Says the guy who's been vaccinated.

????????????????

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It is a tradition that fosters love and unity in families and communities, as these are the characteristics of all Thais.

He's living in cloud cuckooland.  He should take a look at the numbers of pregnant ladies abandoned by their men at the onset of morning sickness.  How many of these children are rescued by farangs who provide health care/education/holidays/housing for them?

always in good temper, not only during his press conferences, but also during songkran celebrations.

Surely she screamed with happiness

 

 

6 minutes ago, internationalism said:

always in good temper, not only during his press conferences, but also during songkran celebrations.

Surely she screamed with happiness

 

An old(er) photo, from that time prior to the good general bringing Happiness to all...

 

 

That's nice.

Then maybe he should finally start doing something about a couple of very pressing health issues, like the extreme high number of deaths in Thai traffic (easy, just tell the police to start doing their fracking job!) and the horrible air pollution, which probably kills more people in the long run than all the traffic accidents.

Gave me a warm feeling in my stomach...

 

????

 

 

Then, up came my breakfast!

 

????

 

 

18 hours ago, internationalism said:

is he going ever apologise for his subordinates spreading covid from Krystal and other hostess clubs to the masses

 

How can this be? The enlightened Hero General and his loyal Hi-So comrades would never dream of associating with the low-class, disease-ridden, untouchable masses.

 

 

Thoughts and prayers only.  No vaccines or meaningful measures to keep the people safe from COVID. How cute!

20 hours ago, internationalism said:

is he going ever apologise for his subordinates spreading covid from Krystal and other hostess clubs to the masses, hiding info about scale of infection and causing the 3rd wave?

 

he did bar media from reporting on this connection.

there are calls, also from within coalition, to disclose info on whereabouts of ministers and ownership of those clubs (they are hiding behind not important names)

 

Why beat around the bush.

They are NOT hostesses they are prostitutes.

1 hour ago, overt2016 said:

Why beat around the bush.

They are NOT hostesses they are prostitutes.

I was reading about the HH cluster, which is now linked to a girl from Krystal, who joined a pop concerts down that way.

 

I had to chuckle when she was referred to as a ‘public relations officer’.

 

More seriously though, there is a mix of women in this type of place, many of which will not be providing extra services, so you are making a generalization. 

22 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

What a wonderful man and so full of deep sentiment to want to bring the country together in this time of his and his governments abject failures. So sweet of him, really.

Back in the old Soviet Union, there was a huge parade in every October. Hundreds of thousands of people were marching in front of their beloved leader (Stalin) while he was receiving the love from his people by standing on a high podium. People pointed out how nice he was by waving them back because he could have just ordered fusillade instead. This is why no army personnel should be leading any country. Are you listening Myanmar?

The reality of Prayut's best wishes is that Thailand has been surpassed by about 80% of the world's nations (by my estimate) in the rate of covid 19 vaccinations. Despite maintaining a preventative bubble from covid 19 infections for throughout most of 2019-mid 2020.

Ref. Tracking Coronavirus Vaccinations Around the World by The New York Times through April 13, 2021 :

In terms of vaccination doses per 100 people:

Thailand 0.08 vs worldwide 10.0 or :

#1 Israel 11.0, UK 60.0, US 57.0, Singapore 30.0

Brazil 13.0, Russia 9.9, India 8.0, Indonesia 5.8, Australia 4.7, South Korea 2.4, Myanmar 1.9, Japan 1.3, Philippines 1.1