Security beef-up ordered for Loy Krathong, festive season

Government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prayut had instructed security agencies and the ministries of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Culture to be extra vigilant.

Sansern said the prime minister instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, operating under the Ministry of Interior, to be the lead agency coordinating with other agencies in stepping up security measures under the agenda “Safety Thailand”.

“The objective is to make Thailand a nice place to live and travel with high security and safety and the capability of handling any disasters immediately and efficiently,’’ he said.

Sansern said Prayut had ordered concerned agencies to launch campaigns aimed at making people behave during Loy Kratong and other upcoming festive activities.

There has also been call for people to respect the environment during the |festive season. 

Pollution Control Department director-general Vijarn Simachaya said Thailand was the sixth worst country in terms of garbage ending up in the ocean after China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

Plastic and foam take hundreds of years to decompose. 

A meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment resolved that the Department of Pollution Control would handle garbage management at tourist sites during the festive season. 

The aim is for all sectors of society to play a part in managing garbage in order to improve the environment and tourist sites as part of a sustainable development push.

The public is urged to select materials that easily decompose when making krathongs such as banana leaves, orchids and other leaves. People are urged to refrain from using foam and plastic, which pose threats to marine life. 

Vijarn said a krathong made from bread could cause water pollution if the water did not flow as it is composed of protein, carbohydrates and fats that deprive water of oxygen, which was needed for natural decomposition.

Sansern said the government had set the ultimate goal of zero public transport accidents during the festive season.

Agencies in charge of piers and places where people float krathongs have been told to check safety equipment to ensure they function well.

The government wants the public to co-operate by wearing polite clothes to preserve and uphold Thai culture and prevent danger from ill-intentioned groups.

The government has assign security officials in an effort to prevent the public from floating lanterns near airports.