Crowds of people packed the Chong Chom market during the long weekend holiday in Thailand.

Chong Chom border market has become a huge trading point for local Thai’s and Cambodians as well as tourists and visiting families during long weekends. This border crossing is in Surin province approximately 50 kilometers from the heart of Surin city.

The number of tourists was reported to have doubled. The market offers a good selection of things to buy, like cheap clothing, plants, kitchen and garden tools and electrical items, second hand bikes and so on.

Mr. Pattana Cheunyong, Ching Chom border market’s manager said that the market has extended its hours of operation to 10pm during busy holidays when the place is crowded with tourists, causing a shortage of parking spots. However cash flow is in the millions during such times.

Surin province invites the public to visit Chong Chom border market for its more comfortable access and transportation and its very reasonable prices.

The MOP is cooperating with public and private sectors in assigning medical units to prepare for Monday’s royal event as they expect many people to gather to witness the royal audience. Hua Hin is decorated with flags, lights and images of His Majesty the King in the region of Klai Kangwon Palace which is the primary royal summer residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand.

Narong Sahametapat, the permanent secretary for public health ha advised that all related unit and agencies are ready to asset the Thai crowds on the Coronation Day anniversary celebrations. Around 50,000 citizens are expected to gather to greet, and try to get a glimpse of His Majesty the King. Mobile medical units are ready for any emergency incident. The medical units will respond to people in two distinct zones : inside and outside the palace grounds.

On coronation day, MOP has assigned five free medical service points along the procession way of His Majesty the King every 50-100 meters distance. The medical personal will wear a green arm band to be easy to recognize among the crowds of people.

At Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Office of Public Health, Doctor Paisarn Keuaroon said that every sector is now ready for the event. He urged the public to get enough sleep, and to carry water and an umbrella. The elderly should also carry their personal medication and candy. All are urged to carry a piece of paper with an emergency phone number on it. In any emergency, please contact 1669.

The Consumer Northeast Network in collaboration with the Foundation for the Consumer, and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation has organized a seminar for provincial volunteers who help monitor the safety and security of public transport services in the Northeast. Deep concern over the increasing number of public transport accidents, especially public van accidents, in Northeastern provinces was the main focus of discussions by the Consumer Northeast Network in an attempt to find solutions to help all consumers.

Now the Consumer Northeast Network has issued a statement and made a proposal to the government sector to raise the safety standards of public transportation service providers. In order to do that, the government needs to enforce laws and regulations strictly, give appropriate, quick and fair compensation for loss and damage, and support those non-government organizations that obtain legal authority to help protect consumer’s rights according to the constitution.

Patiwat Chalermchart, a representative of the Consumer Northeast Network, said the proposal will be handed to every provincial land transport office across the Northeast region. Unless the relevant sectors take immediate action, the network will ask to hold discussions with them before invoking the law to push the government sector and the public transport companies to respond to the proposal.

The Ministry of Energy has said that natural gas power plants in both the western and eastern sides of Surin will shut down for maintenance and natural gas will not be supplied from 13 June–10 July 2014.

Surin Province is asking for cooperation from the public to consume less power during this period. Also, less consumption will reduce the expenses for families.

The Religious Affairs Department has clarified the regulations that Haj pilgrimage providers must follow, to protect the rights of pilgrims equally.

Twenty eight Haj pilgrimage service providers who visited the director-general Krisayapong Siri on April 29, 2014, made a request to replace pilgrims in the 2014 quota since some applicants had been affected by online registration on January 3, 2013. The request was not allowed since going on a Haj pilgrimage is an individual right.

Moreover, as of January 31, 2014, there are 28,862 applicants on waiting lists. Replacing Haj pilgrims would therefore affect applicants and names on waiting lists unfairly. The registration requirement allows four pilgrims per single operator, so they can apply this quota to a group of relatives wishing to travel together.

They also asked whether 37,000 baht of the air ticket cost can be paid directly to the carrier rather than via the Religious Affairs Department; the director-general said he would discuss this point with the carrier and relevant authorities.

He added that Haj pilgrimage affairs must comply with the intentions of the Haj Promotion Act B.E. 2524, while the Department is prepared to offer convenience to the Haj pilgrims. For more information, please contact Tel 0-2422-8895-6, Fax 0-2422-8897, or http://www.hajthailand.net

People from all corners of Thailand are gathering together in Hua Hin now in Prachuab Khirikhan Province to mark Coronation Day, which is tomorrow (May 5).

They are wearing yellow shirts, holding pictures of the king and sitting along Petchkasem Road amid high humidity and serious heat in order to welcome His Majesty the King tomorrow.

Some of the well-wishers said they were afraid that they would not find seats tomorrow so they have come today and have brought along small mosquito nets.

Meanwhile, the traffic in Hua Hin has been running smoothly, although Petchakasem Road in front of Klaikangwon Palace will be closed from 03:00 p.m. onwards.

The Ministry of Public Health Permanent Secretary Narong Sahamethapat visited Ayutthaya’s blazing rubbish site today in Baan Pom sub-district and instructed medical teams to checkup on the health of nearby villagers.

Thanin Siwaraponsakul, director of Ayutthaya Hospital, said the smog from the dumpsite fire is affecting villagers in Village 8 in Baan Pom sub-district, which is adjacent to the dumpsite.

An aid center was established at Tha Garn Rong temple in Baan Pom sub-district, and children, elders, and pregnant women are advised to avoid the risk areas. Residents living in those areas should close their doors and windows tightly, turn on fan and air-conditioning for ventilation, and go outside only when necessary.

Surin is still experiencing drug smuggling through its border provinces.

Surin Deputy Governor Yutthana Wiriyakitti said that drug use is considered a national problem according to the government, so it needs collaboration from every sector to combat. Surin province has investigated the illegal drug issue seriously and found that over 1,000 drug dealers and 17,000 amphetamine pills have been seized during the past six months. Nevertheless, the province continues to implement various prevention plans to tackle the problem.

Recently, it’s been found that drugs are being smuggled through border provinces to be sold to target groups including workers, jobless persons and school and college students in the area. Drug-prone places such as entertainment complexes, snooker clubs, apartments, hotels and resorts as well as school areas are being monitored, as a result.

Takua Pa District Chief Manit Pienthong and representatives from the Border Patrol Police Region 425, Takua Pa District, Pang-Nga Province have distributed the King’s life aid bags to locals residing in Bang Krak village.

The cyclonic wind disaster on April 30 devastated houses and agricultural lands; His Majesty the King thus kindly distributed life aid bags including rice, dried food, and clothes.

Meanwhile, Tambon Administration Organization President Somporn Kasirak also distributed roof tiles to the residents to assist in repairing their damaged roofs.

Nong Khai police have seized 800,000 pills of methamphetamine before they were smuggled to another province.

Nong Khai police arrested 2 men identified as Pitchaya Sakulkasikorn (26) and Mana Saesong (27) who were trying to smuggle 800,000 meth pills out of the province. According to authorities, the drugs were wrapped in a fertilizer bag that was hidden in the truck of a car.

The two confessed they had been hired by a drug supplier in Nong Khai to deliver the package to a drug ring in Nakhon Sawan Province and that they would receive 200,000 baht upon the delivery of the pills.

Thai Police have been working hard to crack down on drug smuggling in accordance with the government’s policy to eradicate drug problems in the Thai society.