In hot water over dam prophecy

BANGKOK: Thai police have summoned a 73-year-old man to face charges of causing public harm by publicising a prophecy that one of the country’s largest dams would burst on New Year’s Eve, reports said yesterday.

Police in Tak province gave Thongbai Khamsi until January 10 to acknowledge the charge or face arrest, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thongbai last month informed local media of a prophecy made by his son, a purported five-year-old psychic, that the Bhumibol Dam would burst on December 31, 2011. It did not. The boy made the prophecy 37 years ago, shortly before his death. Provincial officials said the false prediction caused a drop of 90 percent in tourist arrivals to Tak during the holiday season. – Sapa-dpa