Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Prayers, parties see in New Year; HM wishes health, wealth and happiness; Road death toll climbs; Alcohol advertising arrests

– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: As an alternative to celebrate the New Year, temples nationwide offer “cross-year Buddhist prayer” for people who like to attend for good luck, while many others celebrated with friends and loved ones in cities or tourist destinations.

Acting Supreme Patriarch and abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Phra Maharajamangkhalajahn, yesterday granted a New Year blessing to the Thai public in rhyme, which in summary wished all to be happy and united.

The revered monk also urged people to practice self-control, seek knowledge, be kind to and unite with one another in society, perform their duties and be loyal so they could succeed, be happy and prosper in life.

Phra Maharajamangkhalajahn also said the Sangha Supreme Council had resolved that Buddhist temples in Thailand and abroad would host “cross-year prayer” last night and early today. Bangkok’s Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen and Wat Saket (Golden Mountain), as well as Buddhamonthon Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom were centres for such activity in Greater Bangkok.

Elsewhere, provincial head monks’ temples would be centres for such mindful activity.

The council also added the full “seven legends” prayer and the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta into the “cross-year prayer” programme for all temples to use, to enhance auspicious omens and help protect people from harm, he explained.

Amulets for the devoted

Many Bangkok temples planned to hand out amulets to participants. Wat Saket in Pom Prap area was due to hand out 100,000 “Luang Por Doungdee” amulets, holy water and talisman cloth, while Wat Thewarat Kunchorn in Dusit planned to hand out “Phra Kring Yai Thewarat” amulets, and Wat Nai Rong in Bangkok Noi was due to hand out “Bia Kae” talismans.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted on her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram a New Year 2014 message to wish Thais to re-unite and love each other and those with differences of opinion, belief and political ideology to turn to each other and talk to seek peaceful solutions for the country.

She affirmed she would work with determination and patience despite the anti-government protest, vowing to work hard to create unity and reconciliation while also protecting national, religious and monarchy institutions.

She also prayed for the power of the Buddhist Three Gems (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and the power of Their Majesties the King and Queen to keep the country at peace and to protect all Thais to be safe and healthy and have their wishes fulfilled.

Meanwhile, many opted to usher in the New Year at “countdown party” sites such as Bangkok’s Central World Plaza and Asiatique, plus Phuket and Pattaya. Others braved winter chills in the North and Northeast to celebrate amid nature and mountains.

The atmosphere at Chaiyaphum’s Phu Lankha National Park, featuring a prehistoric stone garden dubbed “Thailand’s Stonehenge”, was buzzing with over 20,000 campers setting up tents. It was so crowded many were forced to camp along a one-kilometre stretch of road to the mountaintop camping site.

PHUKET: His Majesty the King Tuesday night delivered a self-made New Year postcard, and addressed the general public in a televised announcement, in which he wishes for happiness, success and prosperity to the Thai people, and peace to the country.

“You all please well take care of your physical and mental health so that you can fully perform your duty. “More importantly, whatever you do, please think of the interest for the general public and Thainess. “Then the country’s work can go smoothly and achieve the happiness, prosperity and the peace as you wish,” His Majesty said.

PHUKET: Candidates in the South were once again stopped from registering for the February 2 election yesterday by members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) even though election officials agreed to host the registration at a police-run facility in one province.

Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it.

Police and constituency poll officials reportedly coordinated the move, which saw the ruling party and others register at a border police camp in Nakhon Si Thammarat at 3am.

“The decision to move venues was not unanimous. Some candidates registered at the 42nd Border Patrol Police Camp in Thung Song district at night, which is not fair for other candidates and might lead to legal problems later. So the provincial and constituency election commissions should report to the EC about this,” he said.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat 15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday.

The Pheu Thai candidates were then escorted to the Fourth Army Region Airport by the border patrol police, who also flew Chart Thai Pattana candidates into the registration venue in a helicopter.

With at least two parties registering, the candidates will no longer have to comply with the election regulation that requires them to win at least 20 per cent of eligible votes – otherwise they may have to undergo several elections until the meet the minimum votes required.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he and representatives of other parties will meet with the EC today to ask that the deadline for registration of candidates in the South – due to end today – be extended due to the disruptions.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut warned that the move to register candidates in different venues in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Thung Song district might result in the election being declared invalid.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The EC and members of the Democrat Party met yesterday to try and resolve the problem of failed candidacy registration in provinces in the South. The outcome was not available as of press time last night.

Chavanond also said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will give a speech at 8am today via the Blue Sky TV channel on a seven-point reform blueprint.

He said feedback to the blueprint would be sought from chambers of commerce and anti-corruption agencies tomorrow and on Friday before the reform plan is finalised.

Somchai said EC representatives would also explain to Democrat leaders today why the election must be held. They had wanted to explain this to the PDRC, he said, but an invitation for talks had yet to be accepted.

He said registration of candidates in Songkhla and Phuket has been cancelled.

Separately, an unknown gunman sprayed the house of Thanapol Sukpan – legal adviser to Pheu Thai candidate for Chumphon, Rujinart Srisuwan – with M16 bullets on Monday night. Thanapol believes this attack may be politically motivated.

In an

— Phuket Gazette Editors