All Stop

[Big Boy]

Driving to work this morning I was listening to the radio. When the news came on, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary until the 'and finally' end section. They said that in an attempt to encourage democracy, Thailand's law makers were about to introduce a law whereby all traffic would have to stop twice daily while the Thai National Anthem was being played.

Has anybody else heard this?

[STEVE G]

I have now BB:

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A proposed new law to boost patriotism in Thailand would be "chaotic" because it would require motorists to stop when the national anthem is played twice a day, lawmakers said on Friday.

A vote on the Flag Bill proposed by a group of retired and active duty generals in the army-appointed parliament was deferred on Thursday to allow a committee to study it.

"It would be chaotic if the bill had passed as it is now. So the National Legislative Assembly decided to set up a panel to review it," NLA member Wallop Tangkananurak told Reuters. The bill's supporters say road traffic should stop nationwide when the anthem is played during the raising and lowering of the flag "to preserve tradition and instill patriotism in Thais".

"The national anthem lasts only one minute and eight seconds, so why can't motorists stop their cars for the sake of the country?," retired General and NLA member Pricha Rochanasena, 70, told Reuters.

"They already spend more time in traffic jams anyway," he said, referring to Bangkok's notoriously congested streets.

Most Thais already stop what they are doing and stand still when the national anthem is played on loudspeakers in train stations, parks and office buildings at 8 a.m and 6 p.m.

Pricha said the bill, which did not propose penalties for violators, would allow motorists to be patriotic too.

[Big Boy]

That's the one Steve.

Incidentally, I've always heard the National Anthem when I've been staying up North, but I can't say that I've heard it played in Hua Hin. Does it get played?

As its the home of HRH, I would have assumed it would be the first place that you would hear it.

[Rider]

Never heard it played once in Hua Hin.
Heard it played in Tescos once up here in Chiang Mai and that was it!

[Norseman]

Have to agree with Rider.
Never heard it played in HH, except in the radio/tv of course.

[STEVE G]

Never heard it in Hua Hin either, but get subjected to it in Issan as the house is very near the public speaker.
It’s nowhere near as bad as the annual village all-night Karaoke contest!

[DawnHRD]

It's played on certain UBC stations, on the radio & in the police & army barracks. I've heard it in all those places.
As for the traffic thing - wow! Who gets paid to think up these things? Traffic deaths increasing by a huge percentage due to patriotism? Fully agree that BKK traffic is probably at a standstill at those times. But Thailand consists of more areas than Bangkok...

[magobligin]

In the early 1980's I am pretty sure that I remember traffic stopping in Bangkok at 6pm whilst the national anthem was played. More recently I recall the national anthem being played at 6pm on loudspeakers at Hua Hin railway station

[hogus]

Brilliant idea!
If there is nothing else to be proud about try it with your nationality, it won't make you more clever, better educated or richer, but it's an easy and comfortable way to keep yourself busy!

Good luck TH !
Seems you found a great & smart way again to solve your problems!

[Farang]

So the retired generals are behind this? Generals as in "the guys who run the military"? Please tell me it's not true.

Who would ever take seriously any military force having commanders who come out with gems such as this?

[Randy Cornhole]

I was recently up north at a festival, and the Thai anthem came on. I stood up as a sign of respect and was virtually the only one. Not joking, they were all sitting around eating and sleeping!!!

[dtaai-maai]

Still can't see where the 'encouraging democracy' bit comes into it.

I remember as a youngster when the British Nat Anthem was played on tv as it closed down at midnight (though I'm not sure why I remember - I can't imagine I was up at midnight very often. Was it earlier?)

The Thais have more respect for their King than any nationality I've ever known, and I have no problem with that at all. But this smacks of trying to tie the 'establishment' (i.e. the military) into the same automatic respect thing, which doesn't bode well for democracy at all.

Having said that, I doubt it will come to anything, and if it does, I doubt anyone will take too much notice of it if it's voluntary.

[STEVE G]

It’s a silly idea anyway; just imagine the carnage on the expressways when Bangkok Thais, doing about 150 km/h in their Mercedes, suddenly hear the national anthem on the radio and slam the brakes on!

[wazzer]

if this new law does come in to force,i sure hope they dont
extend it to include aeroplanes

[norm]

Since I don't listen to the radio when I drive how would I know when to stop??