Play fair, Songkhran revelers told

PHUKET: Police have issued a list of instructions to prevent next month’s Songkhran revels from getting out of hand. The list came with a plea from Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, for people to indulge in traditional water play from April 13 to April 15 without drunkenness or lewdness. In past years, people’s clothes have been discolored by dyes in water thrown at them, women have been harassed and motorcyclists have died or been seriously hurt in accidents. Police advise: – Merchants should not sell flour, white clay or dyes during the festival. – People should not throw water mixed with flour, clay or dye, or other objects that may be harmful. – Adults should supervise the water play of children. – People should not drink alcohol while playing with water. Police may conduct random alcohol checks during the festival. Col Paween said possible penalties for not following these pieces of advice range from a fine of 500 baht for disturbing the peace to a 20,000-baht fine and a long jail term for molesting females.