Tourists in Phuket exposed breaking the water splashing rules - police are nowhere

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Caption: Breaking water throwing rules

 

Daily News reported from Soi Bangla, Phuket, on the eve of the official start of the Songkran holidays yesterday. 

 

Towards evening large groups of foreign and Thai tourists were throwing and shooting water contrary to Covid-19 rules. 

 

Yet there were no police in sight.

 

People on the holiday island cannot throw water in the traditional sense this year because of the fear of the spread of infection. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

But they can in the ultra-traditional sense - dribbling a bit of water on the head of a respected granddad for example.

 

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Deputy governor Pichet Panapong put another term into the debate when asked for his reaction to the watern throwing scenes. 

 

Sprinkle.

 

Pichet said that throwing water - using water guns and vehicles to get about - was a no-no. But sprinkling, that was alright.

 

He said he'd have a word with the police. 

 

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[Will B Good]

I can see wave after wave of this happening.....it will begin as a trickle, but quickly turn into a torrent.

 

I think the police might be way in over their heads trying to control it.

Edited April 13, 2022 by Will B Good

[Dmaxdan]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said he'd have a word with the police.

Why, have they been spotted breaking the rules?

[foreverlomsak]

7 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

Why, have they been spotted breaking the rules?

they don't break the rules do they?????

 

the government stated no water fights during Songkran, but as this event must have taken place before 13th - 15th (this being the first official day) the police couldn't stop it, besides they might have got wet.????

[toofarnorth]

I am a respected grandad  but if anyone dribbles water on me I may forget that. Songkran ...PAH !

75 yo and grumpy.

[Mickc]

I was in bangla last night, i can confirm it was as wet and water guns being sold everywhere. Not as busy as it was a couple of years ago but still a lot of water and a lot of people. 

[sammieuk1]

A water festival without water then eat some chicken instead and have a frying festival ????

[Skallywag]

Temperatures still 30-33 degrees at night here in Pattaya. 

Just wear your swimsuit and enjoy

Only see police here at ~16:00 when they take their photos at shift change on Beach Road Soi 9

[richard_smith237]

The shock… the outrage !!!!

 

Water throwing at Songkran…

 

Hang ‘em high & throw away the key !! ????

 

Thailand… killing tourism one step at a time…. 

 

[ikke1959]

If there were no foreign tourists it would not happened????

[madmitch]

I'm totally confused as to what the rules actually are. The good thing is I can at least go to the local 7-Eleven without getting a soaking.

[DFPhuket]

I expect there to be a lot more water throwing and people will be out in full force now that they know there is no enforcement. Bangla is crowded. But I know of no science that says adding water to a crowd increases the risk of transmitting Covid. 

[tonysilly]

Police? Busy collecting Tea Money from their own people and Farangs. Police don't care!!! Only the Hospitals and Doctors care. 

Making $$$$ 100% 

[tonysilly]

2 hours ago, Skallywag said:

Temperatures still 30-33 degrees at night here in Pattaya. 

Just wear your swimsuit and enjoy

Only see police here at ~16:00 when they take their photos at shift change on Beach Road Soi 9

I see them when pulling people over for nothing. Collecting $$$

[IamNoone88]

From the photo in this article, not only were the police not on the scene but the tourists were missing as well. Hardly representation of larges groups on Songkran.

[prakhonchai nick]

4 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I can see wave after wave of this happening.....it will begin as a trickle, but quickly turn into a torrent.

 

I think the police might be way in over their heads trying to control it.

The police have guns!

[Harveyboy]

4 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Why, have they been spotted breaking the rules?

haven't they always ?

[mancub]

5 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I can see wave after wave of this happening.....it will begin as a trickle, but quickly turn into a torrent.

 

I think the police might be way in over their heads trying to control it.

Time to send in the water cannons then !!!

[ThailandRyan]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Pichet said that throwing water - using water guns and vehicles to get about - was a no-no. But sprinkling, that was alright.

 

He said he'd have a word with the police. 

Mr RTP Officer his is the Guberanator, those sprinkling water are OK as long as the brown envelopes dont get wet, if they throw water the Brown envelope must be fatter and all placed in a ziplock baggie like the cell phones....

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy governor Pichet Panapong put another term into the debate when asked for his reaction to the watern throwing scenes. 

 

Sprinkle.

 

Pichet said that throwing water - using water guns and vehicles to get about - was a no-no. But sprinkling, that was alright.

Seems the governor is the law..

[Caldera]

I applaud the police for their sensible decision not to interfere with "criminals" guilty of trying to have fun while on holiday. Well done. 

[ThailandRyan]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Seems the governor is the law..

You mean he says it like Stallone in Judge Dredd

 

[BadSpottedDog]

COVID loves water apparently. ???? 

[rwill]

It's time to get over this.  If people want to have fun and enjoy themselves let them.  If you don't want to participate then don't.

[gerritkaew]

ow no,, wat a disaster.  people who do this have to do some jail time..

Its so dangerous...

 

[Tarteso]

Empty your mind… Be water ???? 

[Grusa]

2 hours ago, prakhonchai nick said:

The police have guns!

Guns rust if they get wet.

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

dribbling a bit of water on the head of a respected granddad for

[simon43]

Hmm, are there any aged folks involved in the water fights?  Probably not.

 

Are there any morbidly obese or critically ill involved in the water fights?  Probably not.

 

Thailand, please stop trying to do a "Shanghai" on your population and tourists.  Covid is endemic throughout the country, and for the vast majority of people, it is nothing worst than a cold.

[shackleton]

Can't get to worked up about it as long as they are not throwing or spraying me with water or powder

I usually stay away from places where they are doing it 

So carry on enjoy ????