British And Australian Embassies Issue Travel Warnings

[sriracha john]

Australian and UK embassies issue travel warnings

Australia and Britain yesterday issued travel warnings to their citizens, urging them to exercise a high degree of caution when visiting Thailand and to avoid demonstrations, political rallies and areas with concentrations of military personnel.

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," the Australian Embassy's advisory said.

"Reports indicate possible bombing attacks at crowded places such as department stores, and Skytrain and subway stations in Bangkok on February 23," it said.

The statement pointed to the two small explosions on January 30 at the Rama Gardens Hotel and the Daily News, as well as the series of bombings in various locations in Bangkok on New Year's Eve that killed three and injured more than 30 others, including six foreigners. It said further attacks could not be ruled out.

The Australian government also advised its citizens to reconsider any planned travel to Thailand's deep South.

In Bangkok, Governor Apirak Kosayodhin instructed all 50 districts in the metropolitan area to remain alert, saying now is not the time to be complacent.

Apirak ordered all districts to take utmost precaution following last Sunday's incidents, when suspected insurgents launched coordinated arson and bombing attacks on about 50 locations - including soft targets that included karaoke bars, hotels, power stations and rubber factories - in the far South.

At least seven people died in attacks on Sunday and Monday.

A senior officer at the National Intelligence Agency said the attacks may have put a "psychological dent" in the general public, but the choice of targets and the nature of the attacks illustrate that the militants are not doing anything different from what they have been doing over the past two years.

While soft targets were hit, said the officer, the militants had avoided areas with high concentrations of people, especially locations where people were gathering to celebrate the start of the Year of the Pig in the Chinese lunar calendar.

But the recent heightened alert came after Thursday's meeting in Parliament, when Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas told the National Legislative Assembly that the militants had infiltrated universities in Bangkok, which could be used as a launching pad for assaults.

The Police Special Branch said earlier it was closely monitoring southern Muslim student groups in Bangkok.

"Insurgent leaders have been trained abroad and they have given training to youngsters in the three border provinces. Training begins in schools," he told legislators. He said many militants had been recruited when they were 12, and are now in their mid-20s.

But Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said possible insurgent strikes in Bangkok were still a matter of "speculation".

Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya said that although Bangkok should be on the alert for terrorism, he did not anticipate any imminent attacks.

Surayud said the southern violence was his government's top priority and admitted there had not been much progress since he took charge in October.

He said possible peace talks with the separatist movements were being discussed, but Thai intelligence sources said that so far none of the militants on the ground had surfaced to take credit for any attacks - much less wanting to talk to the Thai government.

At most, according to these officials, Kuala Lumpur is expected to help facilitate a meeting with exiled leaders from long-standing separatist organisations who may or may not be behind the spate of violence in the Malay-speaking South.

In spite of gestures of goodwill from the Surayud government towards the region, violence continues to escalate.

"We won't see the results in three to four months, because the painful feelings of southern people over the past four to five years run deep. This is not easy to cure," he said.

- The Nation

[britmaveric]

Hmmmm nothing from the yanks yet.

[londonthai]

23.02 passed - it was a false warning

[sriracha john]

Add Canada to the list:

Canada warns travellers of threat in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Canada joined two other western countries Friday in updating its warning to travellers after Thailand's defence minister said Muslim insurgents in the south could extend their attacks to the capital, Bangkok.

The Canadian, British and Australian embassies all revised their advisories cautioning travellers to exercise caution in Bangkok as well as in the south _ the scene of a bloody three-year insurgency.

The U.S. Embassy, however, did not change its standing advice to exercise care in both areas.

Thai Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya said that although Bangkok should be on the alert for terrorism, he did not anticipate any imminent attacks, the state Thai News Agency reported.

Defence Minister Gen. Boonrod Somtad warned Thursday that Muslim insurgents could extend their attacks to Bangkok after the rebels demonstrated their strength this week with a string of high-profile attacks in the south.

He said the insurgents are believed to have 1,000 armed fighters and 10,000 hardcore sympathizers, and that the rebels were infiltrating universities in the capital, which could be used as launching pads for assaults.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Ministry "advised against non-essential travel to the capital, Bangkok,'' citing what it said was a Thai Interior Ministry security alert based on "reports of possible attacks targeting public places such as shopping centres and public transportation.''

The travel advisory from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the overall level of advice for Thailand _ suggesting a "high degree of caution'' _ remained the same.

But it said it continued to receive reports "that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.''

"Reports indicate possible bombing attacks at crowded places such as department stores, and sky-train and subway stations in Bangkok on Friday 23 February 2007,'' said the advisory, which did not specify the origin of the information.

Police Lt.-Gen. Thiradet Rodphothong, chief of the Thailand's Special Branch police division, said there was no intelligence information specifying that an attack could take place Friday, though rumours to that effect had circulated in the Thai media.

He added, however, that the authorities would take special precautions on a major Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha, on March 3, when there is the possibility of an attack "because there will be a large number of people gathering for religious events.''

There have long been fears and occasional warnings that insurgents might take their fight to other areas, including Bangkok. No such attacks are known to have taken place, although a series of eight bombings in the capital on New Year's Eve that killed three people remains unsolved, with some suspicion the insurgents may have been responsible.

Ian Proud, deputy spokesman for the British Embassy, said it had no information specifically suggesting an attack was likely on Friday. He said the embassy's increased concern was based on announcements by Thai government agencies that security was being increased.

"We are not referring to today as a specific risk but there remains a possibility of attacks happening at any time in the future,'' he said.

The separatist insurgency, which has led to about 2,000 deaths in the past three years, has been largely confined to Muslim-dominated provinces in southernmost Thailand bordering Malaysia.

Recent incidents include 29 co-ordinated bombings and 20 other arson and shooting attacks Sunday; a fire set to a large rubber warehouse Wednesday; and an ambush of the motorcade of a confidante of the Thai queen, also on Wednesday.

Canadian Press

ctv.ca

[sriracha john]

Thailand: Possible Bombings in Bangkok and the Real Threat

Summary

The Australian, Canadian and British governments issued warnings to their citizens Feb. 23 about possible militant attacks in Bangkok, Thailand. The move followed a wave of bombings in Thailand's southernmost provinces and a Thai defense minister's warning of a security threat to the capital from militants based in the region. Although a meaningful threat from southern militants is unlikely, the possibility does exist of attacks in Bangkok by rival political factions.

Analysis

Warnings of militant attacks in Bangkok issued by Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom on Feb. 23 came a day after Thai Defense Minister Gen. Bunrod Somtad warned that insurgents in Thailand's four southernmost provinces might extend their attacks into the capital. While the possibility exists of bombings in Bangkok, they likely would be the result of an ongoing power struggle between rival political factions in the wake of the September 2006 coup that deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Australian warning specifically stated that attacks on transportation targets and crowded areas would occur Feb. 23. The head of Thailand's Special Branch police division, Lt. Gen. Thiradet Rodphothong, said there was no specific intelligence suggesting that attacks will take place Feb. 23 in the capital, but rumors to that effect circulated throughout the city. The U.S. government did not issue a specific warning, leaving its standing advisory about security in Thailand unchanged (which essentially is to avoid nonemergency travel to the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla).

The warnings in Bangkok come amid a wave of militant violence in the southern provinces. On Feb. 21, suspected insurgents burned down the largest rubber warehouse in Thailand's Yala province. On Feb. 18, more than 30 bombing attacks against schools, karaoke bars and power stations killed eight people in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces. While roots of the insurgency in the south are varied and complex, the insurgents have not demonstrated the ability or desire to hit targets in Bangkok or Thailand's lucrative tourist industry. Bombing attacks have occurred in Bangkok -- most notably the New Year's Eve bombings in December 2006 -- but these attacks probably were related to internal political friction in Bangkok and not the insurgency in the south.

Currently, the competing elements of the military junta running Thailand are using the violence in the south and the threat of violence in Bangkok to discredit one another. Some of these officials are Thaksin loyalists, which adds to the schism, and the factionalization has made it hard for the ruling junta to get anything done since Thaksin's overthrow. Demonstrating progress in resolving the issues in the south would give credibility to whatever faction is able to accomplish it. A rival faction, on the other hand, would get credit for making it appear that problems in the south not only are not being solved but also are actually getting worse -- and are spreading to the capital. By making very public statements about potential militant bombings in Bangkok, a rival faction could be turning up the heat on those responsible for securing Thailand's political and economic center.

This infighting can be seen in the contradictory statements coming from the rival factions. The day after Bunrod warned foreign embassies in Bangkok about possible attacks by southern militants, Thai Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya said he believes the southern insurgents will not extend their campaigns to the capital.

Either way, the threat of bombings, wherever they originate, gives each side a pretext to bring more security forces into Bangkok. Briefing foreign diplomats on the security situation in the capital, Bangkok police outlined heightened security measures that would be put in place, including more police checkpoints and more active intelligence gathering. These precautions might be intended to thwart militant attacks, but they also could be used to keep tabs on rival factions.

As internal battles in Thailand's post-coup government continue, more small-scale political bombings could occur in the capital over the next few months, but they are likely to have more to do with Thai politicians than Muslim separatists.

Stratfor

[aussiestyle1983]

I have seen some presenters on ITV and another Thai news channel complaining about these travel warnings being issued (this was an hour ago) They dont seem to know how our Embassies got the information about the POSSIBLE attacks.

If you read some of the topics in the Thai News forum:

Security in Bangkok to be tightened,

Several bombs rock southern Thailand,

High risk of civil war in southern Thailand,

and so on, it is quite clear to see why our Embassies have warned us of POSSIBLE attacks throughout Thailand, especially after the NYE bombings.

Seems like the Thais dont want to wake up to reality.

I wonder if the Thais will issue another travel warning about "Australia is dangerous because there are wild kangaroos and crocodiles all over the place" like they did afew years ago when Australia was issuing travel warnings for here.

[kmart]

Seems like the Thais dont want to wake up to reality.

I wonder if the Thais will issue another travel warning about "Australia is dangerous because there are wild kangaroos and crocodiles all over the place" like they did afew years ago when Australia was issuing travel warnings for here.

No kidding?

Given the lack of progress made in apprehending the culprits of the Bangkok bombings, the junta only has itself to blame for loss of tourist revenue. Because it looks either totally inept or even worse, complicit with the b@stards that were responsible.

[Little Black Duck]

And here was me feeling bad about having to go back to OZ..

So there's another good reason to leave...

[dutch]

Yesterday received similar warning from Dutch embassy.

To be carefull and avoid crowded places in Bkk

Edited February 24, 2007 by dutch

[qualtrough]

Speaking of these travel warnings, why does my country (the US) issue these for foreign countries, but never for the US? If any place needed travel warnings it would be the US. Almost every large city in the US has 'no-go' areas that travelers might enter unaware. If the US is so concerned about its citizens safety, and presumably the safety of others, why not issue travel warnings for those visiting the US? Same would hold true for the UK, which is rapidly catching up to the US as far as 'no-go' areas. Seems hypocritical not to. Or have I just missed those warnings??

[gummy]

Speaking of these travel warnings, why does my country (the US) issue these for foreign countries, but never for the US? If any place needed travel warnings it would be the US. Almost every large city in the US has 'no-go' areas that travelers might enter unaware. If the US is so concerned about its citizens safety, and presumably the safety of others, why not issue travel warnings for those visiting the US? Same would hold true for the UK, which is rapidly catching up to the US as far as 'no-go' areas. Seems hypocritical not to. Or have I just missed those warnings??

US is not alone in not warning people not to travel to the US. No such warning was given by the UK governement after the 2005 bus/tube bombings nor from Spain after the train bombs there. When they give warnings it is only to cover their backsides so if anything did happen the politicians, being similar to an amoeba and having no spine, can then claim "we told you so, hence we are not at fault".

For citizens of the US, UK, Bali, Spain, Turkey and elsewhere that have been at the bad end of terrorism, then 99.9% will/still go about their business as normal, to do anything else would admit you are as cowardly as the terrorists that carried out the attacks.

[sriracha john]

Australia, UK Renew Travel Warnings for Visitors to Thailand

Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian and U.K. governments renewed travel warnings for citizens visiting Thailand, urging a high degree of caution because of possible terrorist attacks.

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners,'' said Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs on its Web site yesterday.

Nine bomb blasts in Bangkok on Dec. 31 killed three people and wounded 42, including nine foreigners. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Jan. 1 blamed the attacks on "people who lost their political power'' after the Sept. 19 military coup that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Terrorism threatens the growth of tourism in Thailand, which accounts for 7 percent of the country's economy and is an important source of foreign currency. The government expects tourist arrivals to rise 7 percent this year to 14.8 million, generating revenue of $15 billion.

The Australian and UK governments also recommended their citizens reconsider travel plans to Thailand's southernmost provinces, where a violent campaign by Muslim militants has escalated. At least six people were killed and 53 injured in bombings in three southern provinces in Thailand on Feb. 18.

"We advise against all but essential travels to, or through, the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla,'' the U.K Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on its Web site yesterday. "There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand.''

Almost 1,900 people have been killed in near-daily attacks including shootings, bombings and beheadings since January 2004 in Thailand's three Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia, according to Thai police. The previous government blamed the violence on a campaign for a separate Muslim state. Thailand's 65 million population is 95 percent Buddhist.

- Bloomberg

[PeaceBlondie]

These travel warnings are issued by the embassies or their bosses (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Dept. of State, etc.) to their citizens travelling abroad. They can say that domestic warnings are not their domain. However, there are domestic agencies (such as the Homeland Security Dept. in the USA) who issue colored warnings for the entire country, as if a slum/ghetto area is just as safe as some empty ranch in the far west.

[ercorn]

This is really quite funny when I just read a thread about Bangkok wining an award for "The Best City Of Leisure"

[BigSnake]

A hint to the WISE from the Embassies. BE CAREFUL!!

[Artisi]

Be aware - be very aware.

[SeanBangkok]

"23.02 passed - it was a false warning"

Just because it didnt happen does not make it a false warning. i imagine that the embassy need solid evidence to issue these types of warnings. also, if they were planning something and the warnings came out, they probably want to wait for a better day.

[Dupont]

"23.02 passed - it was a false warning"

Just because it didnt happen does not make it a false warning. i imagine that the embassy need solid evidence to issue these types of warnings. also, if they were planning something and the warnings came out, they probably want to wait for a better day.

23.02 is too late for the great jihadi warriors.... not enough women, children and babies about to attack!

Balls to em, Thailand is still the best place on earth, and I for one am not changing my plans for a few baby killers.

[seagull]

This is really quite funny when I just read a thread about Bangkok wining an award for "The Best City Of Leisure"

Yeah! The people and politicians are merely hanging around......leisure, you know what i mean?

[aznyron]

Speaking of these travel warnings, why does my country (the US) issue these for foreign countries, but never for the US? If any place needed travel warnings it would be the US. Almost every large city in the US has 'no-go' areas that travelers might enter unaware. If the US is so concerned about its citizens safety, and presumably the safety of others, why not issue travel warnings for those visiting the US? Same would hold true for the UK, which is rapidly catching up to the US as far as 'no-go' areas. Seems hypocritical not to. Or have I just missed those warnings??

we yanks have no fear we are can carry guns legally in most of the USA with a few exception and they seem to be the highest crime areas LOL place were guns are legal no crime that must say some thing about carring a gun I my self have two back in the USA one small 38 and a 12 gauge shot gun (mooseberg) short barrel nice weapon to blow some one a way if neccessary when the good guys are armed the bad guys go else were AMEN

[Scott]

Different embassies use different criteria to issuing an advisory. Some, such as the US embassy, which usually issues them, just to be on the safe side, does so based on intelligence reports. Sometimes they will state things like "unsubstantiated" reports, or reports from a "credible" source. Sometimes they are issued because of a lot of "chatter" and increased activity between known and suspected terrorists that indicate something is being planned.

It would be interesting to know why/how the British and Australian (and later Canadian and others) issued them and not the U.S.

I personally don't pay excessive attention to them--I take them pretty much with the same attitude as I do the weather report. If they say it might rain, I bring an umbrella. If they say there's going to be a bomb, I wear a flap-jacket (No just kidding)!

[turnip]

Speaking of these travel warnings, why does my country (the US) issue these for foreign countries, but never for the US? If any place needed travel warnings it would be the US. Almost every large city in the US has 'no-go' areas that travelers might enter unaware. If the US is so concerned about its citizens safety, and presumably the safety of others, why not issue travel warnings for those visiting the US? Same would hold true for the UK, which is rapidly catching up to the US as far as 'no-go' areas. Seems hypocritical not to. Or have I just missed those warnings??

we yanks have no fear we are can carry guns legally in most of the USA with a few exception and they seem to be the highest crime areas LOL place were guns are legal no crime that must say some thing about carring a gun I my self have two back in the USA one small 38 and a 12 gauge shot gun (mooseberg) short barrel nice weapon to blow some one a way if neccessary when the good guys are armed the bad guys go else were AMEN

Did you manage to read the handbooks that came with your guns? Or did a squirrel teach you about law and order, US style?

Edited February 28, 2007 by turnip

[dee123]

still more danger getting killed traveling by bus or car........or even falling coconuts ......don't panic....london tv members are quite used to looking out for packages /unattended bags etc......worldwide problem.....don't let the bastards grind you down.....