National –
Eight vendors were charged for violating water-fight bans so far while Khaosan Road began to calm, at least in terms of water fights, as police tightened restrictions.
Yesterday, April 14th, Khaosan Road was significantly quieter than the day before (April 13th) as police had set up checkpoints at the entry points on Chakrabongse Road and Tanao Road to prevent people from bringing water-playing equipment into Khaosan Road.
According to reports, people who came to Khaosan with the expectation to play water yesterday either changed their plans to walk and drink instead or decided to leave when they discovered that water-playing was not permitted.
Moreover, it was reported that Pol Lt. Gen. Torsak Sukwimon, Assistant Commission General, personally visited Khaosan Road yesterday. He urged responsible authorities to pay more attention and not to let what happened on April 13th reoccur. He also revealed that eight vendors were charged for violating Covid-19 regulations of no water-playing in consequence to April 13th’s incident, and all business venues needed to close at 11.00 p.m. Police will continue to tighten up enforcement until the end of Songkran on April 17th.
Pol Lt. Gen. Torsak stated that he understood tourists want to have fun and relax and that Songkran was famous for the water fights with foreigners and tourists and that many people may not have known about the ban, now three years running, due to Covid-19 concerns. He added that the police were not “the fun police” but they had a responsibility to follow the orders set by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan O’Cha who ordered public water splashing and fights banned this year.
Thai authorities from the CCSA have suggested tourists wanting to experience Songkran visit local temples to make merit and participate in religious ceremonies instead, claiming it was just as rewarding and enjoyable for all tourists as drinking, partying, and water fights.
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