http://www.theage.com.au/world/thai-...12-go49mm.html
from Lindsay Murdoch
Bangkok: Thailand's military rulers have warned that people wearing "too sexy" clothes or performing sexy dancing will be banned or face arrest during this week's Buddhist new year festivities.
In the northern city of Chiang Mai authorities have banned "X-ray pants" which turn translucent when soaked during street parties and water fights where locals and tourists douse each other with buckets and pump-action waters guns.
A foreign tourist holds a water gun as she takes part in a water fight during traditional Thai New Year celebrations or ...
A foreign tourist holds a water gun as she takes part in a water fight during traditional Thai New Year celebrations or Songkran festival in Chiang Mai Photo: AP
And repeat drink-drive offenders caught on the roads risk being sent by the country's courts to work in hospital morgues to shock them into changing their behaviour.
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Thailand has the world's second-worse record for traffic fatalities, and health and safety experts fear the situation is getting worse.
The Songkran holidays, which start on Wednesday, traditionally involve locals visiting temples to pour water on Buddhist statues as a symbol of purification and washing away sins and bad luck.
Then huge water parties break-out at 96 concert and party sites across the country to celebrate.
However, this year authorities are calling for restraint as Thailand faces its worst drought in decades amid some dire predictions that taps could run dry in some cities later in the year.
Celebrations in the backpacker area of Bangkok's Khao San Road and other tourist districts have been cut from four days to two.
Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former army general and now prime minister who seized power in a 2014 coup, warned that displays of sexuality by Thais would send foreigners the wrong message about the country.
"This Songhran won't have women or ladyboys dressing inappropriately and dancing on a truck," he said, referring to past scenes of skimpily-clad party-goes dancing on top of parade vehicles to booming techno music.
"Don't do anything that makes farangs (foreigners) think they can do anything," he said.
"They come here for Thainess. Please don't do anything that shames the country and please conserve water."
Thai authorities have in the past required convicted repeat drink drivers to perform community serviced like cleaning roads, cutting trees or helping hospital personnel look after patients.
Anurak Amornpetchsathaporn, director of the emergency response for the Bureau of Public Health, said a court-approved stint cleaning up and transporting bodies in hospital morgues should bring home the pain to reckless drivers in a way that community service such as tidying up parks has failed to do.
Drink-drivers will also face having their vehicles impounded and driver licences suspended.
Drinking alcohol has also being banned in some party areas.
Last year's Songhran holiday saw 2.3 people die per hour and 160 others injured on the roads.
-With agencies
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Originally Posted by lonelywombat
