Nationwide Songkran Celebrations

[george]

Nationwide Songkran celebrations

BANGKOK: -- Thais across the nation, especially children and youths, are joyously celebrating the Songkran, or traditional Thai New Year, festival.

Although the official Songkran period falls on 13-15 April, Thais in many parts of the country, including those in the North and Northeast, have begun to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year since last weekend, while those in some provinces, Samut Prakan on the outskirts of Bangkok in particular, will continue to enjoy the 'water throwing festival' until next weekend.

Though splashing water to each other is the highlight of the Songkran festival in the midst of the summer in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year celebrations includes families' reunion and merit makings.

As a result, tens of thousands of Thais working far away from the hometowns, most of whom are in Bangkok--the country's capital--have been flocking back to their provinces, causing buses and trains packed with the crowds.

Concuring the Songkran festival is the National Elderly Day on 13 April when people pay respect to their eldery relatives and their seniorities by dropping water on their palms and ask for their blessings. (TNA)--E002

City residents to be big spenders during Songkran: KRC

BANGKOK, Apr 12 (TNA) – City residents are expected to spend more than 18 billion baht during the Songkran, or traditional Thai New Year, Festival this year although overall celebrations will not be active like that of every year, according to the KASIKORN Research Center (KRC).

In an analysis report on “Songkran 2005: City Residents Likely to Spend 18 Billion Baht,” the leading think tank projected that the tourism atmosphere during the Songkran Festival this year would not be cheerful although there are five consecutive long holidays.

Local and foreign tourist markets continue to be sluggish as a result of many negative factors facing the country since last year.

However, the number of people, who go back home or visit their relatives in provincial areas during the festival, is expected to continue to be high. So is the number of people who plan to make overseas trips in that period.

In short, the spending on various activities by city residents during the Songkran Festival this year will be as high as 18 billion baht.

KRC stated that confidence among local and foreign tourists would be restored unless any untoward or undesirable incidents occurred in that period, as many were worried.

It would help boost the country’s tourism in the rest of this year, KRC said.

It added that strict security measures issued by all agencies concerned must be maintained during the festival and all Thai people should have a participating role in keeping vigilance and reporting anything suspicious to security officers.

--TNA 2005-04-13

[taxexile]

Thais across the nation, especially children and youths, are joyously celebrating the Songkran, or traditional Thai New Year, festival.

not all of them joyously.

i've just come home from some water throwing in soi cowboy in bangkok , and the fantastic and exuberant atmosphere was suddenly brought to a close by a very nasty fight between some drunk thai youths , from out of nowhere a group of about a dozen youths leapt off the back of a pick up and seemed to set on another guy and proceeded to punch him , kick him and hit him with bottles until he was down , and then they got seriously stuck in. other mini - fights were also taking place around the main one. i dont know what started it.

when they had done with him they drove off in the pick up.

he was left unconscious with wide staring eyes and being given mouth to mouth by some onlookers. the whole street stopped water throwing and suddenly the party atmosphere vanished.

the police arrived and one of them actually pulled a gun out (wrapped in a tesco bag to keep it dry ! it was a comical moment in otherwise horrible situation ) and threatened some angry thais who seemed to be friends of the downed man.

needless to say , one falang proceeded to get involved and threw a few punches but he was quickly pulled away.

the speed with which it erupted and the intensity of the violence was shocking.

eventually the injured / dead man was driven away by his mates to hospital.

the police did nothing to take control or offer aid to the victim.

a nasty end to what had been a great street party.

[bambob]

heres a report from the Post today !scary if true !

SONGKRAN HOLIDAY

Authorities step up security after Chao Phraya bomb plot reported

MANOP THIP-OSOD AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Authorities have stepped up security measures following the report of a plan to bomb passenger boats on the Chao Phraya river during the Songkran festival.

A police officer at the Metropolitan Police Bureau revealed yesterday that an officer at the bureau's information division received a phone call from a man who spoke in a Central Plains accent on Friday.

The man, who refused to identify himself, was quoted as saying that a group of about three or four men, including one identified as Abdul Dama, had recently approached a relative of his who was a taxi motorcyclist in front of Assumption Thon Buri School in the Sethakij housing estate on Buddha Monthon 3 road.

The group offered the taxi motorcyclist a million baht to place bombs on passenger boats of the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co during the Songkran festival.

According to the officer who asked not to be named, the informant told police that Mr Abdul's group had prepared three boxes of explosives and was looking for someone who would place them on passenger boats running the Chao Phraya river.

After being approached, the motorcyclist met the caller to form a group to take up the plot. But the caller decided not to take part on the grounds that many people would be killed. He decided to report the matter to the police.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau was alerted on Monday and the bureau chief, Pol Lt-Gen Pansiri Prapawat, ordered all his deputies, Pol Maj-Gen Jirasit Mahintarathep, the commander of Metropolitan Police Division 9, and the chief of the Lak Song police station that supervises the area of the alleged contract, to investigate.

Pol Maj-Gen Krisada Pankhongchuen, deputy Bangkok police chief for investigation, yesterday ordered his subordinates to question the motorcyclist thoroughly.

Police wanted to know if the man had a criminal record, why the group had contacted Mr Abdul for such a violent plan, and if the report from the phone caller had any grounds.

Senior city police officers have also ordered Bang Kho Laem, Somdet Chao Phraya, Bang Phong, Bowon Mongkhon and Pak Khlong San police stations that oversee areas along the Chao Phraya river to step up their patrols and inspections on all passenger boats.

Pol Maj-Gen Jirasit was contacted by phone yesterday. He declined to comment but did not deny the report.

Parinya Rakwatin, managing director of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co, said yesterday he already learned of the bombing plot. He said it was the duty of his company and the Marine Department to guarantee the public's safety.

He had ordered his employees to clean all his company's piers, remove all garbage bins from the piers and lock the toilets on the boats where bombs could be planted.

He had already had a meeting with about 200 employees and told them to look out for anyone or anything suspicious.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit was also aware of the report. He said yesterday the Marine Department was coordinating security measures with the marine police.

[bambob]

heres a report from the Post today !scary if true !

SONGKRAN HOLIDAY

Authorities step up security after Chao Phraya bomb plot reported

MANOP THIP-OSOD AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Authorities have stepped up security measures following the report of a plan to bomb passenger boats on the Chao Phraya river during the Songkran festival.

A police officer at the Metropolitan Police Bureau revealed yesterday that an officer at the bureau's information division received a phone call from a man who spoke in a Central Plains accent on Friday.

The man, who refused to identify himself, was quoted as saying that a group of about three or four men, including one identified as Abdul Dama, had recently approached a relative of his who was a taxi motorcyclist in front of Assumption Thon Buri School in the Sethakij housing estate on Buddha Monthon 3 road.

The group offered the taxi motorcyclist a million baht to place bombs on passenger boats of the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co during the Songkran festival.

According to the officer who asked not to be named, the informant told police that Mr Abdul's group had prepared three boxes of explosives and was looking for someone who would place them on passenger boats running the Chao Phraya river.

After being approached, the motorcyclist met the caller to form a group to take up the plot. But the caller decided not to take part on the grounds that many people would be killed. He decided to report the matter to the police.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau was alerted on Monday and the bureau chief, Pol Lt-Gen Pansiri Prapawat, ordered all his deputies, Pol Maj-Gen Jirasit Mahintarathep, the commander of Metropolitan Police Division 9, and the chief of the Lak Song police station that supervises the area of the alleged contract, to investigate.

Pol Maj-Gen Krisada Pankhongchuen, deputy Bangkok police chief for investigation, yesterday ordered his subordinates to question the motorcyclist thoroughly.

Police wanted to know if the man had a criminal record, why the group had contacted Mr Abdul for such a violent plan, and if the report from the phone caller had any grounds.

Senior city police officers have also ordered Bang Kho Laem, Somdet Chao Phraya, Bang Phong, Bowon Mongkhon and Pak Khlong San police stations that oversee areas along the Chao Phraya river to step up their patrols and inspections on all passenger boats.

Pol Maj-Gen Jirasit was contacted by phone yesterday. He declined to comment but did not deny the report.

Parinya Rakwatin, managing director of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co, said yesterday he already learned of the bombing plot. He said it was the duty of his company and the Marine Department to guarantee the public's safety.

He had ordered his employees to clean all his company's piers, remove all garbage bins from the piers and lock the toilets on the boats where bombs could be planted.

He had already had a meeting with about 200 employees and told them to look out for anyone or anything suspicious.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit was also aware of the report. He said yesterday the Marine Department was coordinating security measures with the marine police.