Phuket Still Safe Despite Jakarta Bombings

[LivinginKata]

Friday, July 17, 2009

Phuket still safe despite Jakarta bombings

Asean Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan speaks to reporters at Phuket International Airport this morning.

PHUKET: The bomb blasts which shattered Jakarta’s Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Hotels this morning, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more, have sent the topic of terrorism rocketing to the top of the agenda at the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting which got underway in Phuket today.

Asean Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan said officials and delegates were confident the tight security measures in place in Phuket, especially around the host venue Laguna Phuket resort, would be enough to ensure the meetings were not disrupted.

News of the blasts at the luxury resorts in Jakarta have shifted the focus from the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the ability of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajava’s Democrat led Government to show it can host the summit after the disruption of the Asean Summit in Pattaya earlier this year.

Dr Surin said stability between North and South Korean was also high on the Asean agenda, and delegates from both nations would attend the meetings.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pikat Tantipong said contingency plans were already in place to secure all resorts on the island.

“Phuket’s security is now in the hands of the Thai army after the Internal Security Act was enforced to ensure the Asean meetings went soothly,” he said.

A high-ranking army chief said the five-kilometer security cordon around Laguna Phuket provided sufficient protection for the Asean delegates and would not be extended any further.

“The Jakarta bombings are not a problem for Phuket,” he said.

“There is no need to bring in any extra troops. Tight security measures are already in place.”

The bombing of the JW Marriott in Jakarta has created extra concerns for American security officials with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expected to stay at one of the island’s luxury resorts.

Mrs Clinton is expected to arrive in Phuket with her own security team, but it is not known if that security will be beefed up as a result of this morning’s Jakarta bombings.

According to Asian hotel market analyst Bill Barnett of thephuketinsider.com, many political analysts viewed the US top agenda items as Human Rights in Myanmar where Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and the recent missile tests by North Korean supreme leader Kim il-Sung.

“The Jakarta bombings are certain to consign those issues to the back burner, and the spotlight will now focus on terrorism,” he said.

“Indonesia had reaped the benefits of the red-shirt protests in Thailand, which closed airports and forced organizers to postpone the Asean conference earlier this year,” he said.

“During the past six months, Bali has overtaken Phuket in hotel occupancy rates and seized the crown as Asia’s leading resort destination. However, the latest round of bombings would have a drastic affect on Indonesia's tourist industry,” he said. – Gazette Reporters

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-07-17

[animatic]

Friday, July 17, 2009

Phuket still safe despite Jakarta bombings

[/b] PHUKET: The bomb blasts which shattered Jakarta’s Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Hotels this morning, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more, have sent the topic of terrorism rocketing to the top of the agenda at the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting which got underway in Phuket today.....

News of the blasts at the luxury resorts in Jakarta have shifted the focus from the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the ability of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajava’s Democrat led Government to show it can host the summit after the disruption of the Asean Summit in Pattaya earlier this year.........

The bombing of the JW Marriott in Jakarta has created extra concerns for American security officials with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expected to stay at one of the island’s luxury resorts.....

“The Jakarta bombings are certain to consign those issues to the back burner, and the spotlight will now focus on terrorism,” he said................

– Gazette Reporters

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-07-17

These bombings are not hardly coincidental, perfectly timed to disrupt ASEAN's meetings,

and shift the focus of those meetings. Making it more International not just Indonesian.

I have not had a problem with the Internal Security Act lockdown in Phuket,

because todays happenings don't surprise me in the least.

It always seemed to be a target for multiple groups.

Sympathies of course for the families and injured.

Edited July 17, 2009 by animatic

[QED]

Seems strange to even consider linking the Jakarta bombings to ASEAN or Phuket - total non story.

I'm off to Bali next week though which is a bit concerning in light of these events.

[bkkjames]

Seems strange to even consider linking the Jakarta bombings to ASEAN or Phuket - total non story.

I'm off to Bali next week though which is a bit concerning in light of these events.

Perhaps you should go to Phuket then?

[johng]

“Indonesia had reaped the benefits of the red-shirt protests in Thailand, which closed airports and forced organizers to postpone the Asean conference earlier this year,” he said.

the Red Shirts closed airports ??????

[webfact]

“Indonesia had reaped the benefits of the red-shirt protests in Thailand, which closed airports and forced organizers to postpone the Asean conference earlier this year,” he said.

the Red Shirts closed airports ??????

Maybe an explanation..

A lot of colorblind people see no recognizable difference between red, orange, yellow, and green.

Ask an oculist whether its true or not...

Edited July 17, 2009 by webfact

[animatic]

“Indonesia had reaped the benefits of the red-shirt protests in Thailand, which closed airports and forced organizers to postpone the Asean conference earlier this year,” he said.

the Red Shirts closed airports ??????

Maybe an explanation..

A lot of colorblind people see no recognizable difference between red, orange, yellow, and green.

Ask an oculist whether its true or not...

Give him a break, he's from out of town!

[roamer]

Methinks that if Phuket thinks it stands to reap the benefits of a downturn in tourism to Bali its a little bit pie in the sky, bombings like this tend to increase the perception that the whole region is unsafe due to either terrorist activities or political protests.

Actually thinking about the above statement it's a reality rather than perception...

[kmj]

Seems strange to even consider linking the Jakarta bombings to ASEAN or Phuket - total non story.

I'm off to Bali next week though which is a bit concerning in light of these events.

mmm Bali, going myself next month, 6 months I live here and 6 months Bali, but I stay well clear of Kuta when there's potential trouble on the horizon, In general I think Bali is safer than here (I'm not talking about bombings)

[AnaisNin]

Every where (including Jakarta) is safe until the bomb went off.

Then it is too late.

[paulfromphuket]

Every where (including Jakarta) is safe until the bomb went off.

Then it is too late.

The CIA did it to make sure nothing is achieved that might better man kind this week.

those sneaky billderdurgers!