Pol. Maj. Gen. Jeerawat Sukonthasap, acting
on behalf of the Municipal Official Chief, said officers will fine and
even arrest anyone found to be shooting off fireworks or sending
khomloys into the air.
Warunya Thongrod
Banning fireworks and floating lanterns on Loy Krathong usually
has as much effect as banning PVC water cannons on Songkran, but Pattaya
police are trying again anyway, promising to arrest anyone having
unlicensed pyrotechnic fun.
City hall’s Peacekeeping and Security Department said officers will fine
and even arrest anyone found to be shooting off fireworks or sending
khomloys (candle-powered paper balloons) afloat into the air. They claim
the crackdown is due to concerns about fires and child safety.
Every year area beaches are filled with people doing both, with the Loy
Krathong sky dotted with dozens of floating lanterns at any one point.
And each year at least a couple of those flaming balloons come down in a
wooded area, setting off brush fires.
Maj. Gen. Jeerawat Sukonthasap said only licensed vendors will be
allowed to sell the flammable merriments. Anyone else will be busted.
One of the city’s official Loy Krathong celebrations kicks off at 6 p.m.
at Lan Po Park with a krathong-judging contest and concerts. Another
celebration will be held at Bali Hai pier.
