New license plate graphics

A week ago, five new provincial license plate graphics were announced in the Royal Gazette.

• Trat [Gazette]
  
  The graphic refers to the Franco-Thai war (1940-41), more specifically the battle of Ko Chang on January 17 1941. Three Thai ships were sunk during the battle, thus probably the ships to the right in the graphic are depicting the HTMS Chonburi, HTMS Songkhla and HTMS Thonburi.
  This seems to be first design for a license plate for Trat, there were no previous designs announced.
• Phetchabun [Gazette]
  
  To the left of the design are the fruits of the Tamarind tree, an important local product of Phetchabun province. The tamarind is also the provincial symbol tree for Ühetchabun. The star above and next to the tamarind fruits refers to the name of the province - Phetcha (เพชร) means diamond. The temple on the hill to the right is Wat Phra Son Kaeo (วัดพระธาตุผาแก้ว), one of the most spectacular Buddhist temples in the province.
  While the tamarind was present in the 2005 and 2009 designs as well, the temple was newly added, also the background was made much more colorful than before.
• Amnat Charoen [Gazette]
  
  To the right are rice ears, as (sticky) rice is the major agricultural product of the province. The flowers to the right are from the Butea monosperma tree, the symbol flower of the province. The background shows Khit cloth, a traditional woven fabric still produced in the traditional way in some areas of the Northeast, including Amnat Charoen.
  This seems to be first design for a license plate for Amnat Charoen, there were no previous designs announced.
• Chiang Mai [Gazette]
  
  As the 10 year loan of the to Panda to Chiang Mai Zoo has ended, the new license plate graphic - unlike the previous one from 2011 - no longer show any Panda. Again, Butea monosperma flowers are depicted, as this is also the provincial flower for Chiang Mai (and also Udon Thani and Lamphun). On the hill in the background the temple Wat Prathat Doi Saket is shown, one of the most famous temples in Thailand. To the left is a traditional Lanna house, with two Thais celebrating Songkhran by splashing with water. At the river another two persons celebrate Loi Krathong by floating the little candle boats. I am just not sure which temple is shown in the middle of the graphic.
• Maha Sarakham [Gazette]
  
  Again, Khit cloth is shown, as it is also a local product for Maha Sarakham. The flowers on top of the cloth are from the provincial flower, the White Frangipani (Plumeria alba). The river is the Chi river. The temple silhouette in the background probably is the pagoda of Wat Phra That Na Dun, located in Na Dun district.
  The 2006 design showed only the cloth and the flower.

As usual, I have added these graphics to the web album, where one can find all the recent graphics and many of the older as well - if times allows I will slowly complete it with all the old ones as well. If there is one specific missing, please let me know. After this announcements, there are still five provinces which seem to have such graphic yet, I don't know whether the announcements were not published in the Royal Gazette, or there is really no such designs yet for Nong Bua Lamphu, Mae Hong Son, Samut Songkhram, Ranong and Yala.

Local governments renamed

Today, four local governments name changes were announced in the Royal Gazette.

• Nong Saeng subdistrict municipality (เทศบาลตำบลหนองแสง), Wapi Pathum district, Maha Sarakham province renamed to Wapi Pathum (เทศบาลตำบลวาปีปทุม) to match with the name of the district. It also gives the TAO Nong Saeng, which shares the area of the subdistrict Nong Saeng with the municipality, the ability to be upgraded to a municipality without changing name. [Gazette]
• TAO Huai Thap Mon (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลห้วยทับมอญ), Khao Chamao district, Rayong province, renamed to Khao Chamao (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลเขาชะเมา), as it is the local government unit which contains the district office.
• TAO Bang Rachan (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลบางระจัน), Khai Bang Rachan district, Singburi province, renamed to Khai Bang Rachan (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลค่ายบางระจัน), as it is the local government unit which contains the district office.
• TAO Mai Ai (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลแม่อาย), Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, renamed to Doi Lang (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลดอยลาง), to avoid confusion with the subdistrict municipality Mae Ai (เทศบาลตำบลแม่อาย), especially once the TAO gets upgraded to a municipality.

All name changes took effect on October 18, the announcements were all signed on September 19 by the deputy minister of interior Pracha Prasobdee (ประชา ประสพดี). And all were discussed by the Board to consider draft laws in their meeting on August 21.