Police recorded only six incidents, resulting in one death and six injuries, in all of Mon State over the Thingyan water festival, according to Mon State Police Office.
The incidents consisted of four road traffic accidents, one brawl and one death.
The Mon State Police Chief Win Aung explained that only incidents reported as taking place between 6am and 6pm during the Thingyan festivities were recorded as Thingyan crimes. Crimes taking part outside of these hours during Thingyan were recorded in the same way as normal.
At the Meeting for Organising a Traditional Burmese Thingyan Festival led by the Mon State Government fifteen Thingyan rules and regulations were laid down.
Amongst these were rules that said people should not: play with water in a way that would cause injury or harm to others; not disturb each other; and not carry sticks knives or other weapons that can cause harm.
Win Aung said that the public had happily let the police search them and had not created any trouble when the police had confiscated sticks, knives and flags, all of which had been banned.
He said that there had been no crimes or accidents reported as happening between 6am and 6pm on the final two days of the water festival and that most of the road traffic accidents occurring over Thingyan had involved vehicles carrying groups of pilgrims on their way to pay their respects at various pagodas.
The Mon State Police Force said that 35 crimes were committed after 6pm over the Thingyan period. These were: three homicides, 14 road traffic accidents, five brawls, two rapes, three deaths, one pickpocketing, one robbery and six other crimes.
Last year between the hours of 6am and 6pm over Thingyan there were seven road traffic accidents, one homicide, four deaths, two brawls and one other crime.
Win Aung said that next year groups of people who want to parade together on motorcycles in matching costumes over the Thingyan festival will have to apply for permission beforehand. Each group will also have to nominate a leader to help prevent fighting between groups.
Win Aung also urged public administration sector workers and members of the public to assist in preventing fights at next years Thingyan festivities.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
