Si Sa Ket issues measures to cut accidents and gambling

[webfact]

Si Sa Ket issues measures to cut accidents and gambling
PONGPAT TRAIPIPAT
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FROM BEING an ancient tradition in the sixth lunar month, in which Northeasterners fire home-made rockets to ask the god of rain to supply water for farming, the Bang Fai rocket festival nowadays is often an excuse for gambling, and often yields news of accidental explosions claiming people's lives.

After a recent tragedy in Si Sa Ket, the province issued tougher measures to prevent gambling and accidents.

As time passed and technology progressed, the simple rockets made of bamboo and gunpowder changed to those made of plastic or metal pipes, with extra of gunpowder to ensure they soared to greater heights.

Most Bang Fai rocket makers were local craftsmen lacking scientific education, so

some of their products were substandard, leading to tragic news almost every year of |fatalities from accidental explosions. Meanwhile, Bang Fai gambling dens were reportedly popular, particularly in southern Isaan.

In the latest incident, a "Bang Fai Talai" circling firework exploded during a May 3 rocket festival in Si Sa Ket's Nam Kliang district, instantly killing Wat Ban Sabai deputy abbot Luang Por Sanuan Buasri, 65. Police investigation found that the monk set off the Bang Fai Talai at the annual event hosted by tambon Rung Rawee.

This case prompted Si Sa Ket Governor Pratheep Kiratirekha to issue preventive measures including stricter quality control of Bang Fai rocket manufacturing at household factories via temporary licences and the prevention of gambling at Bang Fai events.

The new measures require rocket-festival organisers to notify district and provincial officials at least 15 days before the events and to submit relevant documents, especially approvals of the events by the community and permission from the president of the district's cultural council.

It was also required that the event-organising committee comprised residents of the village where the event was to take place, or of nearby villages, and their names must be checked and certified by the district chief.

Each village could annual-|ly organise only one rocket festival - which could last up to two days, with the rockets |fired only during daytime - and only within the sixth lunar month.

Any village needing to host a Bang Fai rocket festival outside the given time frame because of ethnic beliefs is required to report this to the district office and the province first.

Subhead

The district chief must require event organisers to sign an agreement that they will be responsible for preventing gambling and for any injuries, deaths and property damage at the event.

If the authorities find |people gambling, the event |will be cancelled and legal action taken against not only punters but also members of |the event-organising committee, according to the new measures.

A source in Si Sa Ket's Bang Fai rocket-making business circle said all manufacturers these days tried to standardise their methods and advertise their products as reliable and meeting customers' expectations regarding height and how long they stay in the air.

Such predictable rockets would not be useful for gambling and thus were only for preserving cultural traditions, he said.

"If an accidental explosion occurs during an Isaan rocket festival, it is because of either recklessness when the Bang Fai rocket is lit or substandard manufacture, in which case |its maker is responsible [for |the accident]," the source |said.

Despite the strict measures, there is no certainty they could suppress gambling, because if any district office or province is too strict, villagers could rally to oust the officials responsible for the measures.

When a tradition is linked to gambling and competition, investors can use money to lure villagers or local leaders to bend the regulations. As has been seen in the past, well-meaning measures have often been defeated by the power of money. If that continues to be the case, tragedies from accidental explosions, as well as gambling, will continue.


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

[NongKhaiKid]

' preventative measures ', ' stricter controls ' Good luck with that, doesn't even sound good anymore, if ever it did.

[retell]

Why not ban the homemaking of these bombs , unstead let them build under supervision say army e

In a safe location away from houses , also the transport and the final launch is not something to let somchai do in his pickup with a bottle of laukau in his hand

[chainarong]

The local authorities should set aside an area for them to build their rockets , with some input from the military , perhaps in decades to come they could become the HUB of space travel.

[NongKhaiKid]

The local authorities should set aside an area for them to build their rockets , with some input from the military , perhaps in decades to come they could become the HUB of space travel.

I rarely disagree with you but don't you mean HAVEN, we must be up to date with buzz words and be completely PC.

[noitom]

Thai love "measures." They are always putting measures in place, taking measures, or in this case, "issuing measures."

[Thaiisnotrequired]

The local authorities should set aside an area for them to build their rockets , with some input from the military , perhaps in decades to come they could become the HUB of space travel.

Do you actually think a 'local authority' should be encouraging home made rockets at all, in this day and age? Well, forget the latter, sorry, it doesn't apply to Thailand.

But really, these things should be professionally manufactured, and sold available in various sizes to meet customer demand. OUT OF each thousand made, there could be an explodable dud, which goes where it wants and explodes where it wants, placed and sold amongst the thousand at random - that's the gamble. ...

[lovetotravel]

There is a lot of money involved here. The police are getting their normal cut. Why would they want to stop this?

[mijan24]

Once again a waste of time and effort - the reporter must be assessed on the amount of copy he/she provides to the editor - the storyline repeated itself several times adding or deleting as needed to give it more "air" (sic) time - the crux or meat of the story was contained in the following excerpt:

Despite the strict measures, there is no certainty they could suppress gambling, because if any district office or province is too strict, villagers could rally to oust the officials responsible for the measures.

[jaltsc]

"This case prompted Si Sa Ket Governor Pratheep Kiratirekha to issue preventive measures including stricter quality control of Bang Fai rocket manufacturing at household factories via temporary licences and the prevention of gambling at Bang Fai events."

As usual, Darwinism will win out one more time. There is no way to stop some idiots from getting drunk and then seeing how much gun powder they can cram into a pipe. Who needs safety measures when you can buy a few more amulets in order to prevent such disasters from occurring again?

"Temporary license? We don't need no stinkin' temporary license". .

Edited May 12, 2014 by jaltsc

[h90]

Why not ban the homemaking of these bombs , unstead let them build under supervision say army e

In a safe location away from houses , also the transport and the final launch is not something to let somchai do in his pickup with a bottle of laukau in his hand

Just coming back from Europe, I would prefer to have things less regulated....Regulating starts with things that make sense and at the end the times there a laws about when you are allowed to mow the lawn.....

[Don Aleman]

Hmn ? Lets see, accidents cause injuries and deaths and gambling causes what ? Usually a good time and lots of laughter .

[belg]

ah... so many laws in this country, and the people in charge are doing ..... nothing to enforce them

[55Jay]

Hmn ? Lets see, accidents cause injuries and deaths and gambling causes what ? Usually a good time and lots of laughter .

Good times, laughter and drinking...... which can and does often turn those smiles upside down.

People run out of money, empty the ATM if they can, start putting car and house notes on the table, loan sharks fill the gaps with outrageous vigs. The results can be ugly - despair, thievery, suicide, murder.

[marko kok prong]

"This case prompted Si Sa Ket Governor Pratheep Kiratirekha to issue preventive measures including stricter quality control of Bang Fai rocket manufacturing at household factories via temporary licences and the prevention of gambling at Bang Fai events."

As usual, Darwinism will win out one more time. There is no way to stop some idiots from getting drunk and then seeing how much gun powder they can cram into a pipe. Who needs safety measures when you can buy a few more amulets in order to prevent such disasters from occurring again?

"Temporary license? We don't need no stinkin' temporary license". .

Agree,when a lot of people don,t even bother to get a driving licence, why would they worry about this.

[Morch]

A missile defense mega project ftw!.

[chotthee]

North Korea would love to but this Thai technology.

[Rorri]

NongKhaiKid, on 12 May 2014 - 07:08, said:

' preventative measures ', ' stricter controls ' Good luck with that, doesn't even sound good anymore, if ever it did.

Well, it doesn't actually state there will be "strict" controls on rocket "manufacturing," In many countries you would need a licence to produce and an explosives licence a long with knowing what you are doing...lol What I see is the local admin making more money but there same dangers will exist.

[Rorri]

NongKhaiKid, on 12 May 2014 - 07:30, said:

chainarong, on 12 May 2014 - 07:25, said:

The local authorities should set aside an area for them to build their rockets , with some input from the military , perhaps in decades to come they could become the HUB of space travel.

I rarely disagree with you but don't you mean HAVEN, we must be up to date with buzz words and be completely PC.

lol..input from the military, didn't they recently blow themselves up at a grenade demo.