Bangkok governor promises to keep partygoers safe on Halloween, Loy Krathong
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has instructed all relevant state agencies to ensure the capital does not see a repeat of Seoul’s Halloween tragedy.
He said on Monday that all night entertainment venues had been checked three months ahead of Halloween as there was a concern about their entry points.
Many events are being held across the capital to mark Halloween today, and Loy Kratong on November 8.
Chadchart said the fatal Itaewon Halloween stampede took place because the venue was small and overcrowded. People had rushed to the event because it had been suspended for two years due to the pandemic, he said.
In Bangkok, he said, there are a few risky points that need to be looked at, such as Silom Soi 2, where the entry point is narrow and the lane is filled with shops.
“I coordinated with BMA advisers yesterday and have inspected the area. I urge all sides, including partygoers and operators, to help each other. Everyone is cooperating because they understand there will be a great tragedy if steps are not taken to ensure safety,” he said.
He added that he has instructed his deputies to ensure all safety measures are in place for the Loy Krathong festivities next week.
The governor said all entry points should be clear and the number of stalls reduced to ensure there are clear exit paths.
Chadchart has also ordered strict control on activities like fireworks and measures to stop people from falling into waterbodies while releasing their floats.
He also advised the authorities to install surveillance cameras and set up a command centre to keep an eye on entry points. All district offices have also been instructed to submit a preparation plan.
As a long-term measure, Chadchart said, training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will be provided to members of the public and BMA staff to ensure immediate help is available in times of crisis.
Thailand improves anti-money laundering law in bid to upgrade TIP rating
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022
Thailand’s law against money laundering is being improved in an effort to boost the country’s standing in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, the government said.
Spokesperson Ratchada Dhnadirek said on Monday that the amended version of the Anti-Money Laundering Act will focus on three points:
Compensating victims for damage done to life, body, mind, freedom, hygiene and fame via actions that are part of a larger crime.
Giving victims the right to seek compensation and appeal in court if they have unknowingly become involved in criminal activities.
Allowing the court to instruct the Anti-Money Laundering Office to sell wrongly accumulated assets, transfer the money to the country’s treasury, and provide compensations.
The amended law was published on the Royal Gazette website last Tuesday and will go into effect in 60 days.
Ratchada said these amendments were in line with the international anti-money laundering law and efforts to tackle the financing of terrorism. The law has also been amended to help improve Thailand’s TIP standing.
She said related state agencies were working on the organic law to set up criteria, processes and conditions. This way, she said, victims will have easier access to justice, while the authorities can deal with money laundering more efficiently and improve the country’s image.
Thailand has been working hard in its fight against human trafficking after it was downgraded to Tier 2 Watchlist in 2021 from Tier 2 in 2020.
The hard work has paid off because the country was upgraded to Tier 2 this year, though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said he hopes Thailand will be upgraded to Tier 1 soon.
Autopsy reveals plastic cup inside Phuket’s dead Bruda whale
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022
A plastic cup was found inside the corpse of a Bruda whale found floating off Phuket, the Marine and Coastal Resources director-general said on Monday.
Atthapol Charoenchansa, the department director-general, said the rotting carcass of the 13-metre-long female Bruda whale was found floating in Laem Sai Bay to the south of Koh Racha on Saturday.
Attapol said though it is not believed that the plastic cup blocked the whale’s digestive system, it was difficult to identify the exact cause of death because the organs were very badly rotted.
Two Nipa palm fruits were also found in the whale’s stomach as well as parasites in the intestines. Nipa palm is not part of a whale’s diet.
Atthapol said that though the plastic cup may not have been the main cause of death, people should still desist from throwing garbage in the sea because it kills marine creatures.
Instead, he said, people should help collect trash seen floating in the sea or call the 24-hour 1362 hotline to report if anyone is seen dumping garbage in the sea.
Attapol said the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre was alerted of the floating carcass by Koh Racha Yai’s network for marine resources conservation. He added that the centre dispatched two boats to tow the carcass to Phuket for autopsy.
Khaosan Road ups security for Halloween party after deadly Seoul stampede
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022
Bangkok’s tourism hub of Khaosan Road has tightened safety measures ahead of tonight’s Halloween celebrations after more than 150 people were killed at a similar event in South Korea on Saturday.
About 20,000 visitors are expected to party on the road tonight, Khaosan Road Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul said.
Local businesses will cooperate with police, Bangkok officials and volunteers to ensure safety in the crowded area, he said.
Sanga explained that ambulances would be stationed to tackle any emergencies, adding that Khaosan had dealt safely with much larger crowds in the past.
“Ensuring safety among 20,000 visitors is not a worry as Khaosan Road sees more than 50,000 visitors during the Songkran festival.”
He added that safety-awareness noticeboards in Thai, English and Chinese will be set up along the road.
Khaosan Road Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul
Sanga also pointed out that the layout of Khaosan Road is different from South Korea’s Itaewon district, where the deadly stampede took place on Saturday night.
“Itaewon district has uneven ground and a 6-metre-wide road whereas Khaosan Road is flat and more than 14 metres wide,” he explained.
He said visitors could be confident of their safety on Khaosan Road, inviting them to wear Halloween costumes and join the international party.
The death toll from Seoul’s Halloween stampede rose to 153 as of Sunday night. Two-thirds of those killed were women and 80 per cent of victims were aged 20-30.
Bangkok tightens tourism safety after Seoul Halloween crush kills 153
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022
City Hall has ordered all 50 Bangkok district offices to tighten safety measures to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s deadly stampede in South Korea.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said it has prepared a plan to deal with emergencies ahead of the tourism high season, when Thailand is forecast to receive over 2 million foreign visitors per month.
BMA spokesperson Aekwaranyoo Amrapal said officials in tourist-crowded Bangkok entertainment districts such as Khaosan Road, Ekkamai and Thonglor have been ordered to monitor safety provisions.
“District offices, police and volunteers are being deployed to create awareness of safety among building owners and users and ensure they obey safety rules,” he explained.
“Bangkok’s disaster prevention and mitigation department has also instructed entertainment venues to impose measures to prevent emergencies, especially fire.”
Entertainment venues have been told to ensure they have alarms, fire extinguishers and fire escape routes, and that customers are aware of safety measures, he said.
Meanwhile, Bangkok’s city law officers are partnering with police and volunteers to help with crowd control and prevent crime such as theft and deception.
“In addition, first-responders, ambulances and life-saving tools have been prepared to tackle unexpected situations,” he added.
Aekwaranyoo also expressed condolences to families of victims of the stampede in Seoul’s Itaewon district.
South Korea’s fire department told AFP news agency that 19 of the victims were foreigners. Yonhap news agency added that nationals from Iran, Uzbekistan, China and Norway were among the dead.
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Khaosan Road Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul
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