A Japanese tourist was fined 3,000 baht by police in Chiang Mai province after he resisted their attempt to stop him from flying a sky lantern, in violation of a local ban on flying them on New Year’s Eve.
A clip of the incident was posted on social media and went viral. A police officer can be seen trying to stop the touristfrom flying a sky lantern, but he became angry and resisted,before someone among the crowd intervened.
An interpreter was brought to the scene to explain in Japanese about the ban on the use of sky lanterns and fireworks during the New Year countdown. The tourist was ultimately taken to the Mueang district police station and paid a fine of 3,000 baht before being released.
Identified as ‘Hirano’, 31, the man later told the media that he thought there was no ban on flying sky lanterns in area next to the Tha Pae ground.
He said he regrets getting angry and, after being told by an interpreter about the ban, he decided to meet the officer again last night at the Mueang district police station to offer hisapologies.
Hirano also said that he understood the charge of resisting an officer and agreed to pay the 3,000 baht fine.
Pallop Sae Jiew, acting president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Council, said that the police and local officials should make it clear to everyone that sky lanterns are not allowed and that shops are prohibited from selling them.
In neighbouring Phayao province, a car, which was parked in a village in Wiang sub-district, was completely burned out and the residue of a sky lantern was found nearby. It is believed that the fire was caused by the lantern.
