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Thai PM thanks people for behaving well in water festival

Xinhua, April 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thai prime minister thanked Thai people for behaving and dressing decently in the Songkran water festival, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha believes people would feel cool in the heat waves-hit water splashing festival this year as Thai revelers act well without misbehavior including indecent exposure, powder touches and taking advantages of foreign tourists.

Prayut has been reminding Songkran revelers about the strong position of the government against misbehavior since last week. In his messages to those who planned to act licentiously during the Thai traditional new year, laws governing improper exposure will be enforced and people are urged to refrain from harassing others in public.

Songkran officially runs from April 13-15 as part of a five-day weekend that ends on April 17. Recent Songkran festivals have featured an increase in boisterous celebrations involving soaking-wet, scantily-clad women and transgenders who dance proactively.

However, the behavior of men at Songkran is more of a worry. People enjoy to apply powders to other's face, as it's believed the white paste is a sign of protection and promises to ward off evil. With the powder, male celebrants get excuse to get close and touch the body of others during the festival. Although not all powder touches constitute sexual harassment, some do.

Metropolitan Police Bureau said all divisions has set up a special operations center to monitor the way revellers are dressed at party sites and in clips on social media. Police will take quick action to end any activities deemed to damage public morals or the country's image. Endit