Local News

Booze ban

Foundation wants a dry holiday

The Don't Drive Drunk Foundation has stepped up its efforts to convince the government to completely ban alcohol sales during the Songkran holiday.

Foundation official Taejing Siripanich told the Thai News Agency on March 15 that those supporting the ban should send a letter or email to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart proposed completely stopping alcohol sales from April 12 to 14. Others have suggested allowing licensed restaurants and entertainment venues to serve alcohol from 6 pm to midnight during the three-day period.

Taejing urged the government to impose an absolute ban, saying that it would save more lives and reduce accidents during the Thai new year.

Foreign invaders

Criminal gangs target Thailand

Foreign criminal gangs from nearly 50 countries are preying on Thai victims, according to Transnational Crime Coordination Centre official Phanthana Nutchanart.

Phanthana said on March 15 that Cambodians and Vietnamese gangs are involved in street pilfering, while Malaysian gangs have been hacking ATM card information. He also said that Pakistanis and Iranians have been responsible for robberies in luxury hotels.

Police have identified suspects in the crimes, but with so many cases to deal with, some officers fear that they are fighting a losing battle.

Phanthana said that the criminal gangs are an international problem, and that police in other targeted countries need to help crack down on the gangs.

Jumbo banquet

An elephant tries to break up a fruit-filled block of ice at a banquet prepared for 60 jumbos at an elephant shelter in Ayutthaya. The event was held to celebrate Thai Elephants' Day on March 13.

Easy news for M1-3

Teen trouble

Police arrest racers

Police arrested 47 people on Kaset-Navamin Road in Bangkok. It happened on March 15.

Police believe that the people were involved in illegal racing. The people were aged between 12 and 20 years old. Police also seized 51 motorcycles at the scene.

	convince (v): to persuade somebody to do something propose (v): to formally suggestion or plan or an idea that people can vote on impose (v): to introduce a new law, rule, tax, etc. prey on (phrasal v): to harm somebody who is weaker than you, or make use of them in a dishonest way to get what you want pilfer (v): to steal things of little value or in small quantities suspect (n): person who is suspected of a crime or of having done something wrong seize (v): to take illegal or stolen goods away from somebody