THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Big Mountain music fest organisers to face legal action for ignoring cancellation orders

Big Mountain music fest organisers to face legal action for ignoring cancellation orders

Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichian Chantaranothai said on Tuesday that the province’s communicable disease control committee has told the Nakhon Ratchasima public health chief to file a police complaint against the organisers of Big Mountain Music Festival 2020 for ignoring orders to cancel the event on Sunday.

The organisers was told to call off the festival, with the committee citing lax Covid-19 preventive measures. Wichian said the organisers had failed to limit the number of festival-goers or force them to wear masks, which led to people shouting and singing without their mouths covered and increasing the risk of virus transmission.

The cancellation order was issued at 6pm on Sunday, but performances continued until 10pm.

The music fest was scheduled to be held from December 13 to 24 at Ocean Khao Yai Golf Club in Pak Chong district.

Big Mountain has become one of Thailand’s biggest music and arts festivals over the past few years.

“Concerts and other entertainment events are allowed in the province, provided organisers apply for a permit and employ Covid-19 preventive measures under the Public Health Ministry’s standards,” Wichean said. “The province will send officials to inspect the event closely and immediately issue shut-down orders if preventive measures are lax.”

Nakhon Ratchasima police chief Pol Maj-General Pornchai Nonwachai said investigators have interviewed three witnesses, namely provincial public health officers and Pak Chong deputy district chief.

“We are awaiting additional documents from the provincial authorities before decided what charges should be filed against the organisers. So far the only charge we have is violation of Section 52 of Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558,” he said. “After this we will summon the organisers to notify them of the charges.”

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