20K fine and two years in jail - police warn public not to step out of line at Songkran

[webfact]

Picture: INN

 

As the official first day of the Songkran festival got underway yesterday, the Thai police were warning the public to obey all the rules.

 

Or else.

 

RTP spokesman Maj-Gen Yingyot Thepjamnong told INN that the Thai new year was a joyous time. 

 

But there are still Covid-19 protocols in place and infections are rising - even if different areas have their own spin on what is acceptable. 

 

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He said there was a ban on organized water fights, foam and soapie Songkran style parties.

 

The only big events allowed are cultural ones. Even then an entry/exit point needs to be monitored and all the rules followed.

 

Yingyot warned violators that they could fall foul of Article 51 meaning up to 20,000 baht in fines or even Article 18 - prison for two years. 

 

He urged everyone to follow the rules at Songkran. 

 

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[Will B Good]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said there was a ban on organized water fights, foam and soapie Songkran style parties

Just a ban on organized water fights, etc?

[mtls2005]

So the first rule of Water Fight Club is...

 

 

[Dmaxdan]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

RTP spokesman Maj-Gen Yingyot Thepjamnong told INN that the Thai new year was a joyous time. 

Thai new year was (once) a joyous time.....in years gone by!

[jaltsc]

"A large number of locals and foreign tourists flocked to Bangkok’s Khaosan Road last night (Wednesday) to engage in Songkran water fights, despite the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ban on the usual widespread splashing of water for the third year, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19...The only big events allowed are cultural ones. "

 

Both the jails and government coffers should be overflowing by now. Unless tourists breaking the law is now considered a cultural event. 

[Bluespunk]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

But there are still Covid-19 protocols in place and infections are rising - even if different areas have their own spin on what is acceptable. 

And therein lies the problem

[ezzra]

So why not cancel Songkran all together and be done with that? and with Songran cancelled, the penalty can be even bigger and a 100 years jail for people who just want to unwind and celebrate a holiday like they couldn't do for 2 years I wonder if this is the general's own idea or an order from way above?...

[mtls2005]

An example of how poorly Cannabis Tourism/Sandboxes will fare.

 

 

[TheScience]

Two years in jail lol.

 

Murder often nets less time.

 

By stepping out of line I presume they mean anti government activity?

[TheScience]

This is just such harsh authoritarianism. 

 

Draconian, not based in any law.

 

Meanwhile, the roads are of course as bloody as ever ????????????????

[herfiehandbag]

And next week they will be wailing that tourists are not coming!

 

The welcoming face of the Land of Smiles!

 

[daveAustin]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Even then an entry/exit point needs to be monitored and all the rules followed.

????????

[richard_smith237]

Spray someone with water and risk a 20,000 baht fine and 2 years in Jail. 

 

Drive while absolutely hammered and face a few points on your licence and risk the same fine but without the jail sentence.       erm... .

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Headline: 20K fine and two years in jail - police warn public not to step out of line at Songkran.

 

 

So what about this ??? (below)....  This government is exceptional at confusing the populace with completely contradictory messages... 

 

Quote from the below article: [The prime minister has strongly advised anyone attending water-throwing celebrations to get their booster vaccinations and take an ATK test both before and after traveling.]

 

 

[IamNoone88]

It would be better if the police obeyed all the rules for which they are responsible  ... wouldn't it.....

[crazykopite]

One of the biggest water / plastic guns , hose pipes and buckets was 10 metres from a check point it went on for hours and not one official tried to stop it as I was heading home at 10 pm I was given yet another good soaking here on the islands nobody took a blind bit of notice to the government warnings I don’t even recall seeing a policeman during the celebrations 

[Iamfalang]

just saw a kid buy a toy (of course) water gun...

 

fine all stories selling such "illegal" objects.......100,000 baht per offense.

 

bottom line.....our job is to make life easier for falang!!!!!   if you want to stay long, long time, don't get Thais to hate falang!!!

 

100 million Thais (not possible) can have a water fight, but it will be falang's picture!!  we know this!!!

 

you want an easier future for falang???  it starts today.

 

I'm staying in my mom's basement!!!!  helping one falang at a time...

 

oh, wait, my mom doesn't live in Pattaya on Soi 666!!!  

[Zack61]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

So the first rule of Water Fight Club is...

 

 

There are no rules 

[itsari]

A Thai woman at a small local bar tipped water from a glass down my back yesterday for celebrating songkran.

I do hope she is not at risk of a 20 thousand fine .

[Jerno]

Retarded rules. Unenforceable. Should have just canceled everything.  Bars closed, no water play....great celebration.  Tourists flocked to Thailand for what?  Sheesh.

 

[zyphodb]

20,000 Bht fine??? 

 

2 years jail???

 

****in Muppets...

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai police were warning the public to obey all the rules.

Yes, if we see you have fun and splashing water and drinking and all that, we will fine you 20,000 baht because you could spread the flu, even after most people followed your rules and have been vaccinated.

 

We can't bare to see you having fun, otherwise the next thing we will have to do is open up bars and entertainment venues after two plus years and we don't wants that.

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Yingyot warned violators that they could fall foul of Article 51 meaning up to 20,000 baht in fines or even Article 18 - prison for two years. 

They don't listen to you because you never do it, same goes for your false we'll get tough on DUI's... 

Do what you say or don't say anything.

[Mr Meeseeks]

The authoritarians and their wives of a certain religious persuasion are going to hate not having COVID-19 as an excuse to manifest their anti-alcohol, anti-fun agenda in a few months. 

 

Will be interesting to see what they will attempt to do once they can't hide behind the COVID excuses any more.

[NorthernRyland]

I have friend in New York City right now and he says it's basically gone back to normal yet Thailand still feels like it's April 2020. When will it end with these people???

[Thailand]

15 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I have friend in New York City right now and he says it's basically gone back to normal yet Thailand still feels like it's April 2020. When will it end with these people???

Be thankful you are not in China.

A total  cluster<deleted> and no sign of any improvements.

[khunjeff]

15 hours ago, zyphodb said:

20,000 Bht fine??? 

 

2 years jail???

 

****in Muppets...

If he's going to blather on about punishments that will never be handed out, he might as well repeat the example of the authorities who threatened the airplane photographers in Phuket and say that everyone will get the death penalty ????

[ThaiFelix]

Hilarious to see the side by side headlines in this afternoons newsletter:

 

Thai police were warning the public to obey all the rules.

 

and next to it:

 

Tourists ignore Songkran water-fight ban on Khaosan Road

 

Same thing in Phuket yesterday with

 

Crowds of tourists in waterfights but Police nowhere to be seen!

 

and the beat goes on.......555555!

[ThaiFelix]

54 minutes ago, Jerno said:

Tourists flocked to Thailand for what?

The legal marijuana wasnt it?

[Uroller]

Thats the way to attract much needed tourists back, threaten them with fines and jail???????????? Building tourism back up the military way????????Too many hot destinations to go to that don’t have all these military rules and regulations????????????