Phuket Tourist Safety Among Top Concerns: US Ambassador

[webfact]

Phuket tourist safety among top concerns: US Ambassador

US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney in Phuket today rated highly the work done by US embassy wardens throughout the country.

PHUKET: -- Highlighting the role of wardens as her embassy’s “eyes and ears” in Thailand, United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney today affirmed that tourist safety was among the top priorities of her mission.

Amb Kenney’s comments came during a day trip to Phuket, which included a visit to the offices of the Phuket Gazette and a closed-door meeting with the island’s top-ranking police officer, Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong.

Speaking to the press at the Software Park on the outskirts of Phuket Town, Amb Kenney touched on a wide variety of topics, ranging from women in high positions of responsibility and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s responsibility to her voters, to tourist safety in Thailand to Rohingya refugees.

With reference to the quarterly meetings of Phuket’s honorary consuls with the island’s top officials, Amb Kenney upheld the US Government’s system of “volunteer wardens”.

“The system of wardens works well for us. The United States does not use the honorary consul system anywhere in the world.

“Wardens often help in dealing with local issues. They are our eyes and ears,” she said.

She went on to highlight the role of embassy wardens in providing assistance to Americans in need.

“About half a million Americans come though here each year, and about 14 [uS Navy] ships [have called here] so far this year. That’s a lot of people coming here and we want to make sure that they are safe,” she said.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd is currently at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port. The Gazette has been told that the USS Kidd is due to set sail tomorrow, immediately before the arrival of the USS Ford.

Speaking on the plight of Rohingya refugees – and acknowledging that she was aware of a boat loaded with Rohingya refugees landing in Phuket earlier this year, Ambassador Kenney said, “People who are fleeing persecution need and require humane treatment. These are vulnerable populations.

“It is not easy for any nation to deal with people who cross your borders because your country is safer.

“With cases not handled well, we go in and talk about what needs to be done. Sometimes it is an awareness issue. Sometimes there are people in the military or the police who have no idea know what to do when a boatload of people who speak a different language show up on your shores.

“It is our responsibility to remind them that nations have a responsibility to be compassionate and caring, but these are not easy issues, particularly for Thailand, which has had decades of being a home to refugees because they have been a compassionate home for so many years,” she said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?id=10945

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-09-09

[StrandedBusinessPerson]

“It is not easy for any nation to deal with people who cross your borders because your country is safer.

Must be tough for the Canadian Government then, dealing with folks fleeing California and Texas.

[alant]

PR or real action? It would be good if it was that the world is finding out about some of the poor practises in Phuket, good for Phuket and Thailand I mean.

[brianb1944]

It was hardly a case of "the gloves coming off" obviously she either hasnt been told, or doesnt believe the many stories of thugs in the tourist industry who are apparently above the law, despite the massive documentation available.

[dude007]

tuk-tuk maffia has clearly not been discussed. Not connected to Al Quaida, so, what's the problem...

[Skorz]

Would it be too much to ask that before she sails USS KIdd could put some of those guided missiles to good use and take out HQ of the nasty jet ski Mafia?

Edited September 10, 2011 by Skorz

[steveyinasia]

Another load of dribble from another Ambassador, we dont they issue travel warnings......you only have to sneeze in the wrong direction and Manila gets a travel warning.

[BOS2BKK]

It was hardly a case of "the gloves coming off" obviously she either hasnt been told, or doesnt believe the many stories of thugs in the tourist industry who are apparently above the law, despite the massive documentation available.

Thailand is, and has been our staunchest ally in the region for 40 years. With the vast majority of Asia being governed by either communists, or Islamists, and an inevitable war with china looming sometime in the next few decades we can not afford to alienate any of our Asian friends.

Noriega, Saddam, The Shah etc... all ruled with impunity while allied with America. It wasn't until they stop doing what they were told that they became problems.

America has never been one to try to force a country to adhere to our morals, just our instructions.

[GrantPhuket]

To see 4 videos on US Ambassador Kristie Kenney's 1st visit to Phuket incl. Phuket International Academy, SoftwarePark, chat with press, PSU students at KanEang @ pier, Holland House orphanage, Police Chief, Gazette office, Outrigger Laguna & special interview before AMCham reception go to http://blip.tv/grantphuket

Edited September 10, 2011 by GrantPhuket

[jobsworth]

Is that really a US ambassador?

Comes across more as a the leader of a Christian NGO

dealing in human trafficking and child sex tourism

like Hillary Clinton.

But then they are all like that these days.

Obviously chosen as a good diplomat.

i.e someone who will not stir things up come what may.

The USA does some strange things to protect its own interests

which are definitely not in the interests of anyone else.

There will be nothing about jet ski scams or any other scams.

[geriatrickid]

"It is not easy for any nation to deal with people who cross your borders because your country is safer.

Must be tough for the Canadian Government then, dealing with folks fleeing California and Texas.

Interesting coincidence. CNN has a small blurb on American economic refugees trying to get into Canada. http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/08/america-canada-jobs/?iref=allsearch

As in Thailand, there are visa and work permit issues. Unlike Thailand, no one is getting extorted, beaten or exploited.

[HerbalEd]

Where

It was hardly a case of "the gloves coming off" obviously she either hasnt been told, or doesnt believe the many stories of thugs in the tourist industry who are apparently above the law, despite the massive documentation available.

Where is that documentation available?

[PatongPete]

Saety should be an issue. As long as tghe Government allows lawless Taxi/Tuktuk operators to act as roving street gangs the public is not safe. Why does the police holds talks about dangeroous activities..... the police should enforce and protect.. the people not the taxi.tuktuk mafia.

[IAMSOBAD]

High ranking police own gambling dens...tuk tuks...taxis...jet skis and whore houses. They let mid level management enforce with violence.

It will never change.

Dont blame the US Ambassador.

[fstarbkk]

Apparently this American ambassador follows in the footsteps of H.E. Hugh Wilson, erstwhile ambassador to Germany from 1938, whose maxim was "Above all, not too much zeal".