BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittiphan this afternoon (July 14) urged the public not to link State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) refusal to allow the screening of the movie “Sunset at Chaophraya” at Hua Lamphong station on Sunday July 17 to inter-departmental politics, Matichon newspaper said.
In an interview with ThaiPBS Chadchart said SRT refused to allow that event to be held at Bangkok’s old central railway station after considering appropriateness.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will now find another location to organise the event, he said, adding that he did not want this to be turned into a political issue across departments.
The intention was to diversity locations for the screening of free movies this month and give people travelling to Bangkok from the provinces a chance to also watch this film.
The head of SRT’s public relations centre Mr. Ekarat Sriarayanpong said BMA had not formally coordinated on holding this event at Hua Lamphong station and permission had not been granted.
This rejection was made after taking into consideration suitability especially where safety and convenience of people using the station is concerned.
This station is an enclosed area and currently Covid-19 is again on an upswing and safety of travellers is of paramount importance and SRT had stepped up control measures, he said, adding that there would also be more travellers during the current long weekend.
At 2 p.m. BMA officially announced the cancellation of the screening of this movie at Hua Lamphong station on Sunday while confirming the schedule for other films being shown during the long weekend as part of the “Movies in the Open Air” festival as follows:
July 14, 2022:
Indian movie: RRR (2019) at Khlong Toei Youth Centre, Khlong Toei district;
Thai movie: 4Kings (2021) at Suan Rot Fai, Chatuchak district.
July 15, 2022:
Thai movie: Transistor Love Story (2001) at Khlong Toei Youth Centre, Khlong Toei district;
English movie: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) at Suan Rot Fai, Chatuchak district.
July 16, 2022:
Thai movie: Boonchu Poo Narak (Cute Boonchu) (1988) at Khlong Toei Youth Centre, Khlong Toei district.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittiphan, right, and Hua Lamphong railway station, left.
Front Page: Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittiphan. Both photos: Matichon
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