No sexy Songkran outfits, junta insists

Revellers wearing clothing considered “too sexy” will be barred from 40 water-playing zones, including the popular “Khao” walking streets nationwide, while booze will be prohibited at 96 Songkran concert and public sites nationwide, deputy police spokesman Krisana Pattanajaroen warned yesterday.
Krisana said Prayut has instructed police to strictly enforce the law.
Women wearing revealing clothes will be barred from walking streets, including Bangkok’s Khao San Road, Pattani’s Khao Yam Road, Nakhon Phanom’s Khao Poon Road, Chon Buri’s Khao Lam Road and Khon Khaen’s Khao Niew Road. Ang Thong’s Khao Suk Road will not be affected, as the area does not have enough water for festivities.
As roads leading to upper Thailand were clogged with holidaymakers heading to their hometowns to celebrate the holiday, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda yesterday officially opened a road safety centre to monitor motorists’ accidents during the long holiday period.
To reduce the number of road accidents with a multi-agency integrated approach, the centre will monitor road tolls from April 11-17, during which time the concept of “Safe Songkran, promoting Thai culture and respecting traffic law”, would be emphasised via various activities. They included the setting up of “one checkpoint, one village” and Songkran water-playing zones where alcohol consumption will not be allowed. Drivers caught drunk or found to be involved in speeding or reckless driving will be subjected to harsher punishments than usual, including temporarily impounding their vehicles and driver’s licences. The centre would also use the data collected during this period to formulate appropriate measures to curb road casualties and encourage traffic discipline in Thais.
Nakhon Ratchasima’s Mitraparp Highway yesterday saw a greater number of cars, as many people took days off yesterday and today to leave Bangkok before the official holidays began.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has launched a “drug-free Songkran” campaign at Suvarnabhumi Airport and randomly conducted urine tests on public transport drivers, particularly taxi drivers to prevent accidents. Of the 120 cabbies tested, one yielded a positive result for drugs. He has been sent to a nine-day rehabilitation programme at Kwan Phaendin Centre. A total of 1,000 cabbies yesterday underwent alcohol tests and the condition and meters of their vehicles were also checked.
Land Transport Department deputy chief Jirut Wisanjit said 836 out of 1,000 taxis were found to be in a poor condition and their meters also did not function normally.
ONCB deputy chief Narumon Chuangrangsi warned travellers against obliging requests from strangers to carry luggage, as |they may turn out to be drug gangsters.
The director of Suvarnabhumi Airport insisted that there would be enough taxis for people during the Songkran period when demand peaks to 9,000-10,000 trips a day. Although the airport had 3,000 registered taxis, more taxis would be enlisted to cater for passengers during this period, he said, adding that details of the temporary cabbies would be recorded to boost the confidence of tourists.
Meanwhile, acting city police chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn led 300 subordinate police officers to donate blood at Rajavithi Hospital under a project to aid those injured in Songkran road accidents.