Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the government’s thank-you party, originally scheduled for Aug 1, to be postponed indefinitely because many of the guests are currently taking part in relief efforts to help Lao people affected by the collapse of an auxilliary dam of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Attapeu province, Prime Minister’s Office permanent secretary Patcharaporn Inseesong said on Saturday.

The thank-you party is intended for the government to thank all people who had taken part in the operation to rescue 12 players of the Moo Pa Academy football team and their coach who were trapped by flooding inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai.  

Mrs Patcharaporn said that since many of those who have been invited to attend the thank-you party are now busily involved in the ongoing relief operation to help Lao people affected by the dam disaster, Gen Prayut ordered the event to be postponed definitely, after consulting with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana.

She said the party will still be held at the same venue, the Royal Plaza.