Security heightened for Songkran holiday

BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 (NNT) - The government has stepped up security for the Songkran festival mid April after it found that officers often loosened up security for foreigners during the long holiday.

Spokesman of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) Col. Banphot Phunphian said security in at-risk areas would be intensified and the general public would be encouraged to help keep monitoring the situation and warn against potential danger during Songkran.

He added that national security units had expressed concerns over the current statistics of higher transnational crime in Thailand such as money laundering, economic crime and computer crime.

The spokesman also stated that there had been no report that Thai citizens had traveled to the Middle East to join ISIS. The Thai government would cooperate with ASEAN in preventing outside threats and the use of social network to recruit people for terrorism, he said.


-- NNT 2015-03-13

Security heightened for Songkran and ISIS?
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Instead of loosening up enforcement for the annual national party that is Songkran, police said they’re going to be especially vigilant this year.

Security forces will “intensify” internal security during the mid-April festival and ask the public to help monitor the situation, according to state media in a report which for no clear reason then changes topics to the Islamic State.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2015/03/13/security-heightened-songkran-and-isis


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-03-13

No alcohol until 5 pm ?

Isn't there a water shortage up and down the country ?

Droughts , only one crop , no water today in ........

Whatever that means.... Security heightened...

Songkran would be a much more civilised affair if alcohol was banned entirely for the duration. Oh well "Fuddy Duddy" here can only live in hope that the worst behaved farangs can ever learn to have a good time without needing to be fuelled with the dreaded toxins.

IN Chiang Mai, buy your beer one day in advance, keep it chilled in a tightly closed ice chest. Drink in plastic colored cups.

Downtown: If your on the second floor do not throw water down at the crowd. Don't act like an idiot. Respect others. Stay away from nearby kongs, that water harbors filth and possible Emboli contaminates. Don't spray water in peoples faces.

Keep your wallet in your front pocket. When Police say move back or away, don't argue, Just comply. And above all of this, don't act like a smart ass pimple faced teenager, that is belligerent to authority of the police or security. Alway remember you are a guest here, and your laws back home are meaningless here, but their Laws are! Obey them!