Prayuth: Not opening bars and pubs is necessary - threatens action against violators, praises self. Nightclubs look set to stay shut in Thailand until at least mid-January, notes ASEAN NOW.

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that it was necessary to delay the reopening of pubs and bars from his original December plan.

 

Nightclubs look set to stay shut in Thailand until at least mid-January, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

The PM said that there were not enough protocols in place to allow such venues to reopen next month.

 

He said  Ministry of Health advice on what to do next would inform subsequent decisions.

 

Then with a militaristic flourish he warned pubs, bars and nightclubs breaking the law that they would be found out and prosecuted.

 

Softening the rhetoric slightly he said that everyone should get out and enjoy themselves at Loy Krathong on Friday though it was everyone's responsibility to follow the rules.

 

Then he went into standard positivity and self-praise mode. 

 

After his timely reopening more and more hotels were being booked, he claimed.

 

He said he had personally intervened to make sure that tourists' experiences at the airport were speeded up with more electronic means to save their valuable time.

 

He claimed that tourists were thrilled with these measures instigated by him.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that more tourists might be thrilled with Prayuth if they were able to get a drink after 9pm or even go to a bar.

 

Online forums are full of people saying that while such draconian measures exist they will not come to Thailand and perhaps seek elsewhere for their holidays.