The case file for the 14-year-old shooter who shot and killed three and injured four in a major Bangkok mall in early October was rejected by prosecutors.

The investigation report was returned to authorities after the prosecution found that it was filed before police obtained a psychiatric evaluation from the Galya Rajanagarinda Institute, where the boy is receiving treatment.

Naken Thongpraiwan, deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General, told reporters that police failed to adhere to the Criminal Procedure Code by interrogating and charging the suspect before obtaining the psychiatric report. In accordance with the law, police must ascertain whether the suspect is mentally stable and able to stand fit for trial.

Pathumwan Police began interrogating the suspect on Nov. 3 and filed the psychiatric report on Dec. 20, though Naken said the report was filed on Nov. 21. The institute ruled that the boy was “found to have no understanding of the charges against him” and was unable to regulate emotions and therefore unfit to stand for trial.

Naken added that authorities are able to submit the report again before the case’s statute of limitations ends in 20 years.

It’s been almost three months since the shooting, during which the 14-year-old suspect killed two women – Chinese national Zhao Jinnan and Myanmar national Mor Myint – and injured four others. Among the injured, 30-year-old Penpiwan Mitthampak succumbed to her injuries 10 days after the incident.

Pathumwan Police filed five charges against the suspect, namely premeditated murder, attempted murder, shooting in a public space, possession of firearms, and carrying firearms in a public place without permit.

Here’s the final roundup of activities this weekend for 2023. For more NYE celebrations, do check out the list of where to celebrate here.

Thursday

New Year Comedy Showcase

Yuck it up at the Queen Bee in Phrom Phong to get the New Year’s weekend started out with a laugh. With a mix of international and visiting comedians, it’s a good chance to roast 2023—and it certainly has it coming. THB300, Queen Bee.

Neon Party

View Rooftop Bar is glowing up for 2024 with a neon party to kick off the new calendar year with live DJ performances, fluorescent decor, and more. More info here, View Rooftop Bar

Girl’s Night

Japan-ish made a big splash this year and they’re letting ladies know it every Thursday. DJ TaqTaqq takes the stage at 9pm, as ever, with a little eye candy for the ladies. Don’t forget their all-night drink specials. Reserve here, Japan-ish

Ladies’ Day Out

This every-Thursday even features a carefully curated “besties” experience starting at 1pm, so you can get your New Year’s Eve weekend started right by digging into their wide selection of vino. Reserve here, Trattoria Delina.

Friday

Salsa Bangkok Party

Join DJ Johnny O from Bangkok and DJ Reynan from the Philippines for a hot Latin party from Salsa Bangkok with two rooms for dancing. More info here, Quaint Bangkok

Last Friday

Fridays have certainly given us some memories this year—and this is your last one. Head down to this nightlife hotspot for a night of music featuring Palm the Voice, DJ Aris, and DJ Champ. Do Friday 2023 right, you don’t get another chance. More info here, Platform Thonglor

You and Me

Aneesh Medina and German music sensation YouANDme will be taking dancers on a musical journey at Mustache Bangkok starting at 9pm. Tickets here, Mustache Bangkok

Saturday

New Year Bunch

Get to the grill at the Grand Mercure this Saturday for a last chance to feast up with Benihana before the year ends, featuring a 10% discount to get the last Saturday of the year going with a bang. Tickets here, Grand Mercure

Max Club Bangkok

This New Year’s party is going for two days, so hit up the club for tunes, dancing, and a night at Max Club to send 2023 packing. Tickets here, Max Club

RockBar: Comfortably Numb

Are you good at the guitar, drums, or singing? Well, it doesn’t matter. Because all you need are the requisite fingers on your left hand and the confidence to think you can keep up with Bowie, Mercury, or any of the other superstars on offer at Arcadia. Free entry, Arcadia

Goated

Head into Sugar for a hip-hop party with DJ Gno, MC 808, and the Sugar babes starting at 9pm for the type of party this spot is famous for hosting. Book here, Sugar Club.

Naira Night

It’s a night of Afrobeats at Bafros this Saturday, featuring live DJs, that swank dance floor, and everyone looking their snazziest. Booking at 061 391 3111, Bafros

Sunday

3, 2, 1…Opa!

If you’ve missed the news, Aesop’s is back in a big way. Hit up the Column Bangkok for their cool new revamp for some New Year rooftop plate smashing. More info here, Aesop’s Bangkok

Welcome 2024 at Cagette

Hey, it’s not all wild parties. Cagette can get your New Year’s Eve started off with a buffet of seafood, cheeses, cold cuts, roasts, and more. They’ve also got a free-flow deal to get you started early. Tickets here, Cagette

Smalls NYE

Smalls is one of the coolest bars in town, and with cocktails to match. DJs Fredrick Funk and Izzy Izzy will keep you dancing, and there’s a free glass of bubbly in the 30 minutes until the clock strikes midnight. Book here, Smalls

Stardust

Can’t decide between Sing Sing, Gigi, and Iron Balls? Well, this event is mixing them together. It’ll be the fancy, well-dressed, thumping party of New Year’s Eve at these locations. Click here for more info, Sing Sing / Gigi / Iron Balls

Exit to 2024

Where better to say goodbye to 2023 than Oskar Bistro, a spot that had been in Bangkok’s heart for more than 12 years. They’ll have DJs Jack Haze and Yvan spinning the year away. Book here, Oskar Bistro

Kiss Goodbye

Well, this is going to be one for the books. Finch knows how to party and this one is going to be epic. DJ Mamoun will kick things off before handing over to Cakezomm Band as well as DJ Peter Soul and MC Sunny. Look forward to live shows and late partying at this spot way past midnight. Tickets here, Finch

Game Over 2023

It’s the end of the world at Paradise Lost at Siam@Siam—or the end of the year at least. It’ll be a night of pink and yellow mayhem at this energetic spot, complete with special food offerings and live DJ performances to go with the wild vibes at this spot. Book via Line at @paradiselost, Paradise Lost

By Samanachan Buddhajak / China Dialogue. Photos: Luke Duggleby

“We don’t want our brothers and sisters in other parts of the country to face the impacts we have been facing,” says Thanawan Kainok, addressing a panel discussion on the ‘Past, Present and Future of Potash in Isan’ in Wanon Niwat district, in north-east Thailand’s Sakon Nakhon province.

In 2015, the China Mingda Potash Corporation, a Chinese company registered in Thailand, received a licence to survey this rural area for potential sites to mine potash – naturally occurring salts rich in potassium and sodium. To date, while the company has explored several locations, they are yet to commence commercial mining due to strong opposition from local communities in the area.

April 2, 2023 – Wanon Niwat, Sakhon Nakhon. Thanaworn Kainot, 47, talks about the problem of her community during a forum about potash-mining affected communities in Northeast Thailand. She is from a community in Dan Khun Thot district of Nakhon Ratchasima Province where Thailand’s only potash mine exists and the environmental impact has lead to the community trying to close to mine. © Luke Duggleby

Thanawan travelled more than 300 kilometres to join the discussion, held in April 2023, from her community in Dan Khun Thot district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. Dan Khun Thot is the location of the only active potash mine in Thailand, and has suffered extensive salinisation of land and water, allegedly as a result of mining activities.

Villagers in Wanon Niwat worry that a new potash mine could contaminate waterways that tens of thousands of people depend on for agricultural and household use with harmful chemicals and salt. In 2015, they formed the Wanon Niwat Preservation Group, which opposes potash mining with demonstrations, petitions, and direct action, such as physically blocking the company from surveying the area. As a result of the latter, the company filed several lawsuits against community members in 2018, accusing them of defamation and demanding compensation.

Wanon Niwat is one of three locations in north-east Thailand where companies have been attempting to mine potash, but have yet to start commercial extraction.

Of the four companies attempting to mine potash in Thailand’s north-east, only one has commenced commercial extraction. ASEAN Potash in Chaiyaphum province and Asia Pacific Potash in Udon Thani both have concessions to mine. China Mingda is reapplying for its exploration licence, which expired in 2020.

While potash is mainly mined for potassium, which is used to produce fertilisers, the sodium it contains could soon prove equally attractive. Researchers at Thailand’s Khon Kaen University have recently successfully developed rechargeable batteries that use sodium, rather than lithium. This new technology, which is also being developed elsewhere in the world, looks set to make a big impact on the electric vehicle (EV) industry in particular. Sodium is cheaper and more readily available than lithium, and its use in batteries could help make EVs more affordable and promote their more widespread adoption. The Thai government is keen for this to happen, but anti-mining advocates worry it may trigger a boom in potash mining.

Growing pressure to tap Isan’s rich potash reserves

The north-east of Thailand, a region also known as Isan, has a long history of salt-making. Potash was first discovered in the area in the 1970s. While the size of Thailand’s reserves is not clear, the government claims they amount to the fourth largest in the world. Canada has the world’s largest known reserves, at 1,100 million tonnes, followed by Belarus and Russia at 750 million and 400 million tonnes respectively. There has been interest in mining Thailand’s potash since the 1980s, but very little headway has been made until the last few years, mainly due to a lack of financial viability and legal restrictions, as well as local opposition.

The recent push to mine potash is closely tied to changes in the global market for fertilisers. Thailand currently relies heavily on imports, bringing in more than 736,000 tonnes of potassium chloride in 2022 according to Thai customs data. But disruptions to trade in the commodity due to sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the suppression of peaceful protest in Belarus resulted in a significant rise in potash prices in 2022.

“The [Thai] government has been saying that the [mining] projects will reduce the import of potash and in turn reduce the price of fertiliser in Thailand,” says Santiparp Siriwatthanaphaiboon, a lecturer at Udon Thani Rajabhat University. Santiparp says the country has the potential to produce an estimated 3 million metric tonnes of potash per year. This exceeds Thailand’s current demand, leaving a healthy chunk that could, he says, be sold to China.

September 29, 2023 – Khon Kaen province. A worker seals bags of fertiliser at a local manufacturing plant just outside Khon Kaen city. Potash is largely used in the production of fertilisers and is an important mineral for the agricultural industry. Because of this and the fact that the Northeast of Thailand sits on an enormous deposit of potash, Chinese companies and other mining companies are eager to gain access to this resource. © Luke Duggleby

Despite having its own potash reserves, China, with its vast agricultural output, is the world’s third largest importer of the commodity, bringing in more than 7.5 million  tonnes of potassium chloride every year, mainly from Russia, Canada and Belarus. The country has long eyed Thailand’s reserves as a potential alternative source closer to home. In 1997, the two governments signed an MOU on Chinese investment in potash mining in Thailand. A few years later, in 2004, the China Mingda Potash Corporation applied for a licence to explore for potash in Wanon Niwat.

It wasn’t until after Thailand’s military coup in 2014 that this exploration licence was approved, however. Keen to make more economic use of the country’s natural resources, the new military government also granted mining concessions in three locations in the north-east provinces of Chaiyaphum, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima. So far, mining has only started in one of these locations – the Dan Khun Thot district project in Nakhon Ratchasima, operated by the local Thai Kali Company.

Dead soils and salty water

“I will keep this piece of land as it is, to be evidence of what the potash mine has done to the villagers,” Thanawan Kainok says while walking on salt-encrusted land back home in Dan Khun Thot. This piece of land, abutting the mine’s border fence, used to be a paddy field. After the potash mine started operating in 2017, community members say salt began seeping into the area’s water sources and the soil became so salinised that nothing would grow.

April 25, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. A villager from Pa Ob village stands on now unusable land due to severe salinisation. This was previously agricultural land growing rice and corn, but since the opening of the nearby mining facility nothing grows anymore. © Luke Duggleby

April 25, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. Thanaworn Kainot, 47, a villager and anti-potash mining advocate from Pa Ob village, stands on her now unusable land due to severe salinisation. This was previously agricultural land growing rice and corn, but since the opening of the nearby mining facility nothing grows anymore. © Luke Duggleby

April 26, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. An aerial image of Pa Ob village showing the brown coloured areas of farmland around the community which is now unusable due to severe salinisation. A nearby potash mine has been blamed by the villagers for causing the pollution. © Luke Duggleby

A process called solution mining is being used to extract the potash here. This involves injecting large quantities of water underground to dissolve the potash salts. The resulting brine is then pumped back up to the surface into large ponds, where the water is slowly evaporated off to leave behind crystals of potassium and other salts. The entire process is very water intensive, and the risk of contaminating nearby water sources is high.

Within two years of Thai Kali commencing mining operations in Dan Khun Thot’s Nong Sai sub-district, residents of the adjacent village of Sai Ngam began to see their crops fail, and traces of salt beginning to appear in the soil surrounding the mine.

What had been productive farmland growing rice, mangoes and corn is now covered with the white residue of salt for much of the year. Dead trees and bushes stand where healthy ones once grew.

“I always thought that they [the mining companies] would bring development to us. I was really shocked to see this much negative impact,” Thanawan says.

At the villagers’ request, the Environment and Pollution Control Office, a Thai government agency, tested soil and water samples from around the mine in May 2022. It detected very high salinity – so high that residents have noted erosion to their walls and buildings caused by the salt.

September 27, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. Anti-potash mining villagers survey a map showing the area surrounding the mining project.

But located just a few kilometres from Pa Ob village, this community has seen the effects of the pollution that has allegedly come from a nearby potash mine. The mining company previously came to survey several new mining sites around this village but having seen the effects on their neighbour have strongly opposed any mining projects. © Luke Duggleby

Krue Kainok, who lives in a village located more than 10km from the potash mine, says that running water in his village became salty in 2019. “We were showering and suddenly felt itchy. The shampoo no longer produced bubbles. When we tasted the tap water, that’s when we knew that the running water had become salty,” he says, explaining that salinised water from the area around the mine flows down through natural waterways into the public pond used by his village.

The villagers bought drinking water for almost a year before they demanded someone take responsibility. Eventually, Thai Kali laid pipes to connect the village to another water source, but the price they had to pay for water ballooned.

In early 2022, when the company started to explore other possible mining locations in the area, residents in the village of Sa Khi Tun quickly saw environmental impacts in the immediate vicinity of a test site. Rice that once grew in abundance stopped growing, and fish in a nearby pond died. Fearing they would face the same fate as Sai Ngam village, residents came together to form the Dan Khun Thot District Preservation Group to oppose the mine and demand compensation. Thanawan, who had returned home from working in Bangkok during the Covid-19 pandemic, decided not to go back to the capital, and became a leader of protests against the mine.

September 28, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. Villagers who oppose potash mining from Sakhitun and Pa Ob villages hang new large anti-potash mining banners at the entrance to their village. The slogan reads ’The villagers of Sakhitun don’t want mining’. Located just a few kilometres from Pa Ob village, this community has seen the effects of the pollution that has allegedly come from a nearby potash mine. The mining company previously came to survey several new mining sites around this village but having seen the effects on their neighbour have strongly opposed any mining projects. Now they work together to oppose the mine. © Luke Duggleby

September 27, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. An aerial image of Sakhitun village surrounded by farmland growing corn, rice and sugarcane.

located just a few kilometres from Pa Ob village, this community has seen the effects of the pollution that has allegedly come from a nearby potash mine. The mining company previously came to survey several new mining sites around this village but having seen the effects on their neighbour have strongly opposed any mining projects. © Luke Duggleby

September 27, 2023 – Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima. Jongdi Minkhunthot, 47, a local villager and anti-potash mining leader stands on what was a road leading to a new potash mining excavation site. The mining company had acquired the land to excavate for potash here until the local villagers of Sakhitun village protested, ultimately closing down the mining site themselves in June 2023. They subsequently re-grew corn on what was the road. Located just a few kilometres from Pa Ob village, this community has seen the effects of the pollution that has allegedly come from a nearby potash mine. The mining company previously came to survey several new mining sites around this village but having seen the effects on their neighbour have strongly opposed any mining projects. © Luke Duggleby

“If we don’t fight, the impacts are going to get worse,” Thanawan says. Thai Kali bought much of the land surrounding the mine from residents, but Thanawan refused to sell hers. “We are fighting so people will see what is happening to us. We want to be an example so the same thing will never happen in other areas in Isan.”

Electric cars and a new reason for more potash mining

In 2021, the Thai government announced its ambitious ‘30@30’ vision, which aims to ensure that 30% of the country’s vehicles will be electric by 2030. This push has put wind in the sails of Thai efforts to develop affordable rechargeable batteries using sodium, a cheaper alternative to lithium. The sodium-ion batteries so far developed by Khon Kaen University – the first of their kind in Southeast Asia – are not yet ready for use in electric vehicles. But the government hopes they will play a key role in the development of Thailand’s own EV battery industry. It seems there are also hopes this will, in turn, boost the potash industry. Official communications on the subject often mention the country’s potash reserves as a source of sodium.

Similarly, internal efforts to push potash mining also point to the potential growth in demand for sodium thanks to this new type of battery. This can be seen in a Ministry of Finance document presented to cabinet in January 2023, which states: “There are investors in energy who are interested in investing in the [proposed] potash mine in Chaiyaphum province. These investors are not interested in producing potassium fertiliser but in using potash as a raw material to produce batteries for EVs.”

September 29, 2023 – Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. A research centre located in Khon Kaen University is developing a sodium ion battery which can utilise the vast deposits of salt and potash below Northeast Thailand.

It is seen as a cheaper and more sustainable version of the lithium battery already in production but it lead to an increased demand for salt and potash in the region. With development almost complete they hope to go in to production in 2024. © Luke Duggleby

September 29, 2023 – Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. Inside the lithium battery production plant at Khon Kaen University. They are developing a sodium ion battery which can utilise the vast deposits of salt and potash below Northeast Thailand and will be produced in a room identical to this that is currently being prepared.

It is seen as a cheaper and more sustainable version of the lithium battery already in production but it lead to an increased demand for salt and potash in the region. With development almost complete they hope to go in to production in 2024. © Luke Duggleby

However, experts have questioned the need for new potash mines to meet demand from the EV industry.

Nonglak Meethong, head of the sodium-ion battery research team at Khon Kaen University, explains that the technology needs very pure sodium. New mines focused primarily on potassium production may not be able to provide this.

The battery they developed used sodium extracted from rock salt mined in Thailand. At current levels of demand, Nonglak does not believe an additional source of the mineral is needed. But demand is likely to increase substantially over the next decade, she says.

“The technology to produce batteries from sodium will be coming in for sure, which is good progress. However, we will need to manage the resources and control the environmental impact,” says Nonglak, noting the need to limit repercussions on communities who live near mines.

April 2, 2023 – Wanon Niwat, Sakhon Nakhon. Anti-potash mining community members set up banners with anti-potash mining slogans on and information boards during a forum which invited members from all the affected communities in Northeast Thailand. © Luke Duggleby

Lertsak Khamkhongsak, an anti-mining advocate and founder of activist group The Project for Public Policy on Mineral Resources, agrees that current quantities of rock salt mined in Thailand are adequate for the needs of the battery industry. He fears EVs are being used as a green excuse to push for more potash mining.

Claiming you are trying to be environmentally friendly is a way to get projects “approved more easily,” says Lertsak, adding that “what happens in reality is different”. “At the end of the day, potash will mostly be used by China to make fertiliser.”

“There needs to be a more complete explanation of how they will take care of the pollution and [map out] appropriate mining areas, not just coming out and saying that we will have enough materials to produce batteries,” Lertsak says. “Even with just the potash mine in Dan Khun Thot district, there are already many impacts. If there is more demand from other industries, how will they be able to control the impacts?”

China Dialogue reached out to the Thai Kali Company for their response to the issues raised in this article, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

This article originally appeared in China Dialogue.

Ready to experience a holiday season that sparkles brighter than the stars above? EMPORIUM Department Store is inviting you to join their “The Star of Bangkok” All Stars Grand Celebration 2024, a dazzling extravaganza that promises to transform your year-end festivities into an unforgettable journey of joy, surprises, and exclusive privileges.

Happening this December and into January, the event not only marks the dawn of the New Year, but also celebrates the grand opening of EMSPHERE, the final piece completing the world-class shopping center EM DISTRICT. EMSPHERE is a stunning architectural masterpiece that offers a variety of lifestyle experiences, from dining and entertainment to wellness and art.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

To celebrate this momentous occasion, EMPORIUM Department Store has transformed itself into a fantasy land under the theme “The Rhythm of the Star,” where you can immerse yourself in a dazzling atmosphere of joy and surprises. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, the latest fashion trends, or a memorable experience, you’ll find it all at EMPORIUM Department Store.

Unwrap (and wrap up) a universe of delights

One of the highlights of the festive season is the joy of giving and receiving gifts. At EMPORIUM Department Store, you can find a wide range of products from local and international brands, suitable for every occasion and budget. Whether you’re looking for something elegant, trendy, or quirky, you can be rest assured that EMPORIUM Department Store has it.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

Here, you can also elevate your gift-giving experience with EMPORIUM’s exclusive Star Service, a gift-wrapping service featuring uniquely designed themed wrapping paper and bags that capture the essence of the celebration. Discover an array of patterns and textures to suit your every preference, including the distinctive Furoshiki gift wrapping service, which includes a stylish wooden handle valued at THB1,490 that transforms the wrapping into a trendy bag. This exclusive offer is available for those who spend THB5,000 or more.

Visit the dedicated gift wrapping service station at EMPORIUM Department Store, SportsMall department, 2nd floor, from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1.

Surprises await under the starry sky

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

Every weekend throughout December, prepare to be showered with delightful gifts and surprises with Star Surprise! For no minimum purchase, you can engage in the entertaining “Star Hunting Tree” game for a chance to win substantial prizes and discount coupons — and there are over 4,000 goodies worth more than THB1.3 million to snag. You can improve your chance of getting that lucky surprise by spending THB2,000 or more at the store.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

On top of all that, you can witness captivating performances by EMPORIUM Stars, inviting everyone to dance and revel in the festive spirit.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emporium Department Store (@emporiumdepartmentstore)

Exclusive offers to light up your shopping spree

Through Star Offer, enjoy a constellation of special promotions on a curated collection of products, ensuring a spectacular shopping experience for every taste. Explore gift sets from world-class beauty brands, limited editions of fashion and lifestyle items, and premium gift baskets crafted for that special someone.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

Plus, M Card holders have the opportunity to win a Toyota Camry 2.5 Premium worth THB1,599,000 with every spending of THB2,000 at the department store. Those who have a UOB, CITI, AEON or Muang Thai Smile Club credit card can double their chance to win, while those who hold a Bangkok M Visa credit/debit card can triple their chance to drive away lucky.

PHOTO: EMPORIUM DEPARTMENT STORE

This promotion, inclusive of Power Mall and Gourmet Market, runs from Nov. 27 to Jan. 7.

So go where the three stars align and create unforgettable moments with “The Star of Bangkok.” Let EMPORIUM Department Store illuminate your New Year’s festivities with joy, surprises, and endless possibilities. The stars await you from Nov. 27, 2023, to Jan. 7, 2024.

Follow EMPORIUM Department Store on social media,

https://www.facebook.com/emporiumdepartmentstore

https://www.instagram.com/emporiumdepartmentstore

It was 3am on a Sunday, and exhaustion couldn’t dim the vibrant hues of tens of thousands who’d danced since noon at the annual Wonderfruit boutique festival. They thrummed with anticipation, a sea of faces formed like a neon dragon at the entrance of the festival’s Quarry stage where German DJ Helena Hauff was about to unleash a two-hour-long raw techno closing set that would send them off into the sunrise pulsing full of energy.

A security team attempted to hold back against the sea of humans before they overflowed the stage, even as a steady stream of people continued to exit the stage every waking minute while neon strobes and pulsating rhythms continued inside.

Three nights in, under the velvet sky, this was Wonderfruit at its peak.

“You can’t get in! It’s too packed right now,” one security staff told Coconuts. “There’s too many people down there, it’s too dangerous.”

Despite his futile attempts at warning the throngs of people still gathering, many attendees continued to wait to gain entry. Suddenly, about four guards clad in yellow jackets emerged from the stage signaling the crowd to make way. Another four guards or so ran from the security area nearby, each clutching flashlights as they hurriedly ran and began to escort an Asian couple who was just inside.

They began to carry the woman to the nearby medical station a few feet away while they threw a bucket full of ice at the man.

The swift response to aid attendees in trouble comes after the festival was criticized by those in attendance last year, who said that it had been ‘ill-equipped and negligent’. Attendees commented that medical personnel were unprepared to treat those with substance-related issues and were concerned at the lack of critical equipment at its medical facilities. Medical tents were also few and far between, preventing any urgent care from being undertaken.

Additionally, at least two people died at the festival held southeast of Bangkok in Chonburi province, in the vast sun-drenched fields of Siam Country Club.

Since ticket sales went live back in May, which came with a price hike, a number of people asked for more transparency regarding how attendance would be capped and what measures would be taken to improve the experience, especially in regard to transportation.

With Wonderfruit 2023 having finished its five-day run by Monday noon, was there anything the festival improved upon?

Clear visible signs

Last year, Coconuts reported that there were only seven water refilling stations across The Fields, but they were poorly lit and difficult to find. There were no apparent signs that would direct attendees where to find water.

Conversely, this year the organizers seemed to reflect upon that feedback. Water refilling stations were plenty this time around. Approximately 17 stations can be found throughout the festival this year. Each station was indicated by a bright blue water droplet sign to help attendees find the station at night with ease.

Each station included sinks to wash cups, refill faucets, and interestingly, electrical outlets where revelers can charge their phones. A welcome addition.

It wasn’t only the refill stations that had visible signage. Most importantly, there were an abundant number of medical stations indicated by bright crosses.

A total of nine medical stations can be found as opposed to last year’s meager four. Medical staff, the Iyara medic team, were seen sitting on standby at each station with ambulances parked. Some stations even included an inflatable pool for attendees to cool down.

Medical and water refill stations were now clearly marked and visible at this year’s Wonderfruit Festival. Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

Resting spots and quick response

For this year, Wonderfruit placed strict security checks. Metal detectors are now in place at the entrance with eight queues. There were both male and female guards to conduct searches.

Security this time was very thorough. Similar to airport checks, many attendees were told to empty their bags. Guards thoroughly checked every pocket with their flashlights. All outside food and drink were disposed of.

Cigarette packs were sometimes emptied to check for illegal substances. One attendee was caught with substances. The guard confiscated the illegal items but did not take any action or arrest. The attendee was able to walk in after confiscation.

A Coconuts reporter on site witnessed a guard unwrapping gum and forcefully chucking it into the bin despite the attendees pleas.

Medical teams and guards patrolled the festival grounds throughout. As previously observed, they were able to rush with immediacy to anybody in need of medical attention.

Staff were quick to observe any dangerous action undertaken. People who were seen relaxing or sleeping on the open fields were routinely checked by staff to make sure they were okay and conscious.

“I see people actively going around checking on people resting in the area, lying down on beds. That’s definitely an improvement in access to medical care,” festivalgoer Tristan Singh, who attended Wonderfruit for the second time, told Coconuts.

The Solar Village stage, which in the past  included a modular wooden structure for attendees to climb up and relax, had been scaled down by half. Attendees were also no longer allowed to climb to the top like they could before.

Coconuts witnessed several instances where staff yelled at attendees who climbed the structure, before they were urged to go back down to prevent any accidents.

There were now clear resting spots in between stages where attendees could sit down and rest. IV drip stations are also near these resting spots, another welcome addition where attendees from last year said that there was a lack of basic medical equipment.

As previously mentioned, the Quarry stage saw massive droves of people attempting to enter on a very busy Saturday night. Security were vigilant in getting more people to get in out of fear that it could get overcrowded. Minor improvements were made at the entrance of the stage. In previous years, the stage was accessed by a sloping downhill path where people could potentially trip and fall. Now there were wooden stairs in place for people to walk easier.

Throughout the festival, signs were put up urging attendees to “wear good shoes” due to “uneven ground, rocks, debris, holes & ruts.”

On social media, the Wonderfruit Instagram page posted reminders for people to stay hydrated.

Wonderers waiting to go back home. Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

Parking and the perils of going back home

Although the festival saw welcome improvements, ease of transportation took a dire backseat. At night, there was a big traffic jam that took up the narrow road leading to the festival grounds. Many attendees were seen dropping out of taxis, and decided to take motorcycle taxis nearby. Some decided to walk.

Whereas taking a Grab to the festival was easy enough with reasonable prices, going back home was definitely not a pleasant experience.

In the early morning hours and every sunrise, hordes of people gathered at the taxi zones in unorganized queues. No proper system was put in place for the taxis driving in to pick up festival goers.

Many taxi drivers from all over Pattaya were rushing to accommodate the innumerable amounts of people in need of a ride. Because of this, they were charging exorbitant prices.

On the first night, heading back to nearby accommodations cost around THB600-700. By the second and third nights, festival goers reportedly had to pay up to around THB1,200, and by sunrise, THB2,000.

That means attendees could potentially pay up to THB4,000 in total to leave the festival.

Several drivers cite that it was difficult for them to enter the festival grounds due to the long traffic jams clogging up the narrow road that led to the venue.

“Personally, I am sorry for charging this much, but we have to wait for hours to pick someone up,” one driver said. “It is already difficult for us to drive into the festival.”

An anonymous post made in the Wonderfruit Facebook group earlier this week voiced concerns with the taxi fees.

“Please address the issue with the local taxi services,” the anonymous post read. “They charged us between THB1000 to THB1500 for short, 15-minute trips, which seems excessive. Perhaps establishing a partnership with reliable transportation services at fixed rates could be a solution or simply blocking the taxi mafia and [allowing] Grab access to the fields.”

On a separate instance, a driver who’s been driving attendees every year to Wonderfruit attributed the disorganized queues to the event severing partnerships with Grab. Now regular taxis were left, enabling them to mark up prices.

“Previously, in the first year of Wonderfruit, the pricing depends on designated areas assigned by the app. Within Pattaya prices are at THB800, but once you cross the boundaries set by the app even for 500 meters, prices can jump up to THB2,500,” the driver said.

And what about those with a car? The festival now required commuters to fork over THB350 a day for a parking space.

Noise pollution

Wonderfruit saw the addition of new stages including the Japanese DJ-focused Catch 428 stage featuring the likes Yousuke Yukimatsu and Wata Igarashi, as well as Detroit pioneer DJ Stingray 313.

One minor complaint is the spacing between DJ stages. Sound bleeding between stages was quite apparent; at one stage, you could hear molam music on one side and hard-edged techno on the other.

Wonderfruit would probably need to think about expanding and spacing the stages especially as it continues to gain prominence . Again, it is a relatively minor complaint that can easily be remedied next year.

RelatedAfter deaths at Wonderfruit, attendees complain festival ‘ill-equipped and negligent’At least 2 revelers confirmed dead at Wonderfruit Festival

What do Bangkokians want? Well, this survey might answer that question, and it’s certainly going to be food for thought for Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

The survey, which was carried out by the Traffy Fondue complaints platform, featured 337,208 respondents. It showed that road-related problems were of the highest concern, chosen by  more than half of respondents (52.8 percent)

Following that were all the usual suspects, namely flooding (10.94 percent), zebra crossing safety (9.10 percent), PM2.5 and toxic pollutants in the air (8.59 percent), working CCTV cameras that cover wider visibility (5.60 percent), lack of green spaces (5.50 percent), high cost of living (4.28 percent), traffic jams (1.97 percent), polluted water (0.62 percent), and street vendors blocking footpaths and sidewalks (0.60 percent).

These numbers may reflect the city’s unpreparedness to accommodate the daily lives of its residents.

Chadchart, who assumed the gubernatorial role in May 2022, is quite popular in the city. In a May survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Bangkokians said they were largely happy with the 57-year-old’s performance, citing his hard work and dedication to the job.

However, the survey found that 10 percent of Bangkokians were “dissatisfied” with his efforts on the first anniversary of his Bangkok tenure, and 14.8 percent were “somewhat dissatisfied”.