Bkk Governor Apirak Says Safety Is Main Concern

[Jai Dee]

BKK Governor Apirak says safety is main concern for this year's Loy Krathong Festival

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin indicated that this year’s Loy Krathong Festival will be slightly different from the previous years. This time, the authority will put more emphasis on public safety as the water levels in Chao Phraya River and other canals remain high. People are also strictly prohibited to play with firecrackers during the festival.

Mr. Apirak said the officials continue to monitor the water situation in the capital closely, and they will consider whether the public parks will be opened for people to float their banana vessels during the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival. Officials have been dispatched in different pontoons and seaports along Chao Phraya and canals in Bangkok to ensure public security. The officials will announce whether certain ports or pontoons will be closed before the festival starts.

The Bangkok Governor added that people are also strictly prohibited to play with firecrackers and dynamites during the festival, and he would like the producers and distributors to cooperate with the authority on this issue. However, children can still play with cool fires only if they are being closely supervised by their guardians.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 October 2006

[john b good]

What are the dates? There have been conflicting posts as to what they actually are, ranging from early November to as late as the 24th

[Jai Dee]

Dates for Loy Krathong around the country can be found at the TAT website.

Click here.

[john b good]

Dates for Loy Krathong around the country can be found at the TAT website.

Click here.

Thank you for the thread

[Bananaman]

However, children can still play with cool fires only if they are being closely supervised by their guardians.

Well y'know what they say about if you play with fire....

and since when was a fire ever "cool"?.....bizarre!

[Jai Dee]

Warnings of Firework Uses Implemented during the coming Loi Krathong Festival

Department of Labour Protection and Welfare called on firework manufacturers to be careful not to add too much chemicals in fireworks during Loi Krathong Festival.

Department Chief Padungsak Thephasdin na Ayutthaya (ผดุงศักดิ์ เทพหัสดิน ณ อยุธยา) said as Loi Krathong Festival is approaching, all fireworks manufactures should be more careful with their production, and not to add too much chemical components including aluminum powder or ammonium chloride to the fireworks. These chemical substances are inflammable and explosive. They can negatively affect firework workers who are the most susceptible to these toxic substances.

Firework entrepreneurs must follow authority’s regulations concerning firework production and storage. At the same time, Mr Padungsak suggested that people should be very careful when using fireworks because they can produce heat as high as 1200-1800 F. The users are also warned of fireworks’ sound effects which can damage ears.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 October 2006

[BPayette]

The Bangkok Governor added that people are also strictly prohibited to play with firecrackers and dynamites

Good idea not to play with dynamites.....DUH!

TIT

[fourbaht]

Funny, yet every Chinese holiday Thailand rings to the sound of fire crackers from dusk till dawn. I thought Mr T had gone, obviously not taken his Chinese influences with him.. Lets see if the same rules apply to the next Chinese holiday.

[mcfester]

However, children can still play with cool fires only if they are being closely supervised by their guardians.

Well y'know what they say about if you play with fire....

and since when was a fire ever "cool"?.....bizarre!

Yet as children still play openly with gunpowder, and ex goverment officials fire rockets at villages, we can not hold an organised display?

[OzMan_Bkk]

FourBaht...you are surprised at the Chinese influence in Thailand. Hmmmm.......perhaps a couple of history lessons on Thailand might make you less amazed...

[unforgettable_thai]

Funny, yet every Chinese holiday Thailand rings to the sound of fire crackers from dusk till dawn. I thought Mr T had gone, obviously not taken his Chinese influences with him.. Lets see if the same rules apply to the next Chinese holiday.

is this any different then past years? every year there is a ban on firecrackers and every year they are available in the market (if you know witch market where to look). they will still be on the street and available and annoying

[bri1guy]

Funny, yet every Chinese holiday Thailand rings to the sound of fire crackers from dusk till dawn. I thought Mr T had gone, obviously not taken his Chinese influences with him.. Lets see if the same rules apply to the next Chinese holiday.

is this any different then past years? every year there is a ban on firecrackers and every year they are available in the market (if you know witch market where to look). they will still be on the street and available and annoying

What does having a higher river water have to do with fireworks? I hope this will not be true and fireworks make all these holidays rememberable. New years in Thailand with out Dynamite too ? It goes back as long as I can remember and hope it continues and they should do other precaqutions to make it safer but not eliminate it all together !! Happy holidays

[isaanbrit]

This year no dynamite, next year they'll be banning bombs, tnt, and who knows whats next????? What IS the world coming to?

[FrootLoop]

Where can i buy this "dynamite" you speak of?

[PhilHarries]

Where can i buy this "dynamite" you speak of?

Sorry, right out of dynamite. There's no call for it these days, you know how it goes with al these fads and fashions in one year out the next. Semtex, on the other hand no problemo I just get onto my mate at the bin Laden fireworks factory and it's next day delivery.

Seriously, I wish they would crack down on the bluddy fireworks. I used to love Loy Krathong but the fireworks have increasingly made it a time to avoid LOS, especially Pattaya. L.K. in Pattaya is like an evening out in downtown Bagdad but that's the stupid farangs for you, "to hel_l with the culture we are going to have a good time our way".

[Spenthouse]

Semtex, on the other hand no problemo I just get onto my mate at the bin Laden fireworks factory and it's next day delivery.

didn't that factory close down due to a labour shortage?

[kmart]

Lets have a ban on bans for a while, shall we? "We're going to ban this, ban that, prohibit this, blah blah!" It just makes the people who utter these halfbaked decrees seem utter fools.

I seem remember a "No Smoking Day' edict a few years ago when some pompous blowhard ceremonially cut a cigarette in half with a sword on live Thai tv. The "cigarette" in question was a balloon effigy filled with,... you guessed it, - Hydrogen! This guy brought the sword down and the cig exploded in flame and put him in hospital with major burns.

I've never stopped laughing at that yet. It was f*cking priceless!

[PhilHarries]

Semtex, on the other hand no problemo I just get onto my mate at the bin Laden fireworks factory and it's next day delivery.

didn't that factory close down due to a labour shortage?

No, this is the Bradford division operating out of a mosque behind the disused glue factory. They tried to shut it down but the courts ruled that it would be an infringement of human, ethnic and religeous rights. The resulting claim for compensation netted 32 million GBP from the government, 28 million from the lottery and they were awarded massive tax breaks due to the fact that they employed a high proportion (100%) of people from disadvantaged ethnic minorities.

[kmart]

Semtex, on the other hand no problemo I just get onto my mate at the bin Laden fireworks factory and it's next day delivery.

didn't that factory close down due to a labour shortage?

No, this is the Bradford division operating out of a mosque behind the disused glue factory. They tried to shut it down but the courts ruled that it would be an infringement of human, ethnic and religeous rights. The resulting claim for compensation netted 32 million GBP from the government, 28 million from the lottery and they were awarded massive tax breaks due to the fact that they employed a high proportion (100%) of people from disadvantaged ethnic minorities.

They used the money to form a "Single-Parent Lesbian Theatre Group Workshop & Sharia Bombmaking Co-Operative?.....

(Note: Anyone who ever uses the word "workshop" without referring to light engineering or carpentry should be given a severe thrashing. )

[FrootLoop]

Well everyone knows there's nothing like a 1/4"stick of dynamite to enhance the festival atmosphere....

Edited October 28, 2006 by FrootLoop

[topdogdk]

So,------- we can still use nitroglycerin?

[Jai Dee]

OCPB warns children to be careful when playing with fireworks

The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) advises members of the public to warn their children to be careful of playing with firecrackers during the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival for their own safety.

Mrs. Rasamee Vittavet, the OCPB Secretary-General said the Loy Krathong Festival is considered as a noble Thai tradition, and Thai people believe that it is the period to ask for pardon from the Goddess of Water. However, she said the festival is currently being held just for entertainment, and accidents frequently happen while people are playing with fireworks and fire crackers. Besides, they create disturbances to others, and if they are not being used properly, people can get injured from them.

Therefore, the OCPB would like people to caution their children when they play with firecrackers, as they can cause explosion and fire hazards due to their hydrogen content. If necessary, firecracker producers are advised to use helium gas instead of hydrogen.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 October 2006

[Tony Clifton]

The problem is not with the fireworks but with risking your life on the roads to get there.

[Jai Dee]

100 Marine officers taking care of public safety during Loy Krathong

The Marine Department has deployed over 100 officers to watch over the public safety during this year’s Loy Krathong Festival.

Mr. Thawal Onsira, the Marine Department Director-General, 122 officers will be dispatched to 44 pontoons to supervise the situation during the Loy Krathong Festival, which will begin on November 5th. Public boats have been prepared to patrol along Chao Phraya River during the festival between 6 AM to 12 AM. Officials from other provinces will also keeping a close eye on their respective seaports, especially the ones that are located near tourist destinations such as Samui, Pattaya, and Phuket.

Today (Oct 31), the Ministry of Transport is working with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Rescue Foundation, and the Marine Police in setting the measures to prevent accidents during the Loy Krathong Festival.

This year, the festivities of this event have been called off in Bangkok this year, as the water situation has not returned to normal yet. Nevertheless, officials are anticipating that about 400,000 people will float their banana vessels during this year’s festival even though the figure is lesser than the events in the previous years.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 October 2006

[lingling]

Therefore, the OCPB would like people to caution their children when they play with firecrackers, as they can cause explosion and fire hazards due to their hydrogen content. If necessary, firecracker producers are advised to use helium gas instead of hydrogen.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 October 2006

Hydrogen content? Helium gas? ehhh... I think they have been sniffing a bit too much dinitrogen oxide over at the OCPB, and at the news bureau that wrote this down...

[Jai Dee]

Ministry of Transport tightens security measures during Loi Krathong Festival

Deputy Transport Minister has ordered the Marine Department to outline special security measures along the Chao Phraya River banks during the Loi Krathong Festival.

In response to the preparations for the Loi Krathong Festival, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม) said he had emphasized to the Marine Deaprtment and other relevant units to tighten security measures, especially for the Chao Phraya River banks as the water level is still high. It might be dangerous for the celebrants along the river if authorities are not cautious enough.

Mr Sansern also ordered all relevant units to check whether their security equipments are in good condition and monitor locations where a lot of people come to float krathong such as pontoons and river banks.

Moreover, he warned that people should be careful when floating their krathong and avoid drinking alcohol, adding that he will call a meeting on security measures for the Loi Krathong and other festivals again in near future.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Parents and all involved institutes ought to look after their kids during Loy Krathong

The Ratchaburi Provincial Social Development and Human Social Security Office has warned the parents, educational centers, and all involved institutes in the province to keep an eye on the behaviors of teenagers during this year’s Loy Krathong Festival.

Mrs. Nanthana Wattanaprayul, the Social Development and Human Security Officer, surveyed 8,317 teenagers’ behaviors in Thailand during Loy Krathong Festival in 2005. The results showed that 5,928 of them went out during the festival with 68 percent out of that group went with their friends, lovers, and other people outside their families. About 14 percent of the teenagers had sexual intercourses, 1.68 percent lost their virginities, and 19.63 percent got drunk during the festival. According to the survey, 15.3 percent of them to engage in sexual relationship for the first time as well.

Therefore, parents, guardians, all educational institutions, and all involved parties should strictly look after those teenagers to prevent them from conduction inappropriate behaviors. In addition, alcohol beverages must not be distributed to youths.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 November 2006