BANGKOK, 5 November 2014 – The Thai police gave a serious warning to the public that anybody found to be releasing floating lanterns or aiming laser beams into the sky near airports during the Loy Krathong Festival is susceptible to face the death penalty or lifetime imprisonment.
According to Acting Provincial Police Chief Region 1 Pol. Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano, such action is deemed very dangerous to the safety of aircraft and is a violation of the Act on Certain Offenses Against Air Navigation B.E. 2521 (1978).
Violators may face execution or a life sentence or serve a lighter sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, if damages done were not too severe. In addition, such offenders are also guilty of violating Section 232 of the Criminal Code and that alone carries a sentence of 6 to 7 years in prison and a fine up to 1,000 to 14,000 baht.
Members of the public have been requested by the police to refrain from releasing sky lanterns or balloons into the sky. The police will be strictly monitoring the airports to ensure that such activities do not take place.
