U S Consulate In Chiang Mai Under Maximum Security

[webfact]

US consulate in Chiang Mai under tight security

THE NATION

CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai police have put the US consulate under maximum security in a move to shore up confidence that everything is under control.

newsjs"High-risk areas for US installations, tourism and public safety are under close watch," Provincial Police Region 5 commissioner Lt-General Suthep Detraksa said yesterday.

These security measures will stay in place while the Cobra Gold military exercises are being held in the northern province, he said.

Even though there are no immigration records of the 15 suspected terrorists entering the country, these suspects might have used aliases, he said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said the authorities should not have hyped up the warning on terrorism due to the sensitive nature of the issue. He said that though the United States had not initiated the warning, the Thai government had chosen to publicise the issue and trigger anxiety without any justification.

Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat said the security measures had only been put in place as a precaution, regardless of whether there is an actual terrorist attack.

National police chief General Adul Sangsingkaew said the authorities were in the process of verifying the information.

Sarawut Saetiao, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, said the tourism industry had not been affected by the presence of armed guards at the US consulate.

"I checked with hotel operators and they say there have been no cancellations," he said, adding that maybe the presence of guards helped make visitors feel more secure. "At least, they feel that the authorities are more concerned about their safety, and the association itself has publicised the situation to boost their understanding."

-- The Nation 2013-02-14

[xkmasada]

Americans care a lot about security. And they're very competent. If the American government didn't confirm the threat, then the Thai government is obviously making everything up to get sympathy.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/31/us-kabul-embassy-still-security-threat-report-finds/

LOL

[rotary]

The usa should close down some of the consulates. Lower cost as the ùsa is broke and lower risk. Win win deal.

[RogerL]

Win Win for who - those people who would have to travel to Bangkok? I believe the charges for services recover the costs for services at the consulates and embassies. If the consulate disappeared, the service load at Bangkok and personnel needed would increase accordingly. I believe that the rental cost for the facility in Chiang Mai is one of the best deals in the world.

[watgate]

I thought there was some sort of military exercise going on in this part of Thailand considering all the obvious military personnel,to include American military, roaming around Chiang Mai, Anybody have any information as to the size or the scope or the countries involved in the Cobra Gold military exercises?

[Dap]

I thought there was some sort of military exercise going on in this part of Thailand considering all the obvious military personnel,to include American military, roaming around Chiang Mai, Anybody have any information as to the size or the scope or the countries involved in the Cobra Gold military exercises?

The annual Cobra Gold military exercise this year is the 32nd and has been hosted by Thailand and the US since 1980.

About 13,000 multinationals are involved from 6 Asian nations and the US (also a bunch of observers from 20 additional

nations). You can gather a tremendous amount of info from any of the search engines.

[stoli]

Americans care a lot about security. And they're very competent. If the American government didn't confirm the threat, then the Thai government is obviously making everything up to get sympathy.

http://www.foxnews.c...t-report-finds/

LOL

Where does it say that the American Government would not confirm this? It says the US to not intiate the warning. Big difference.

[keithet]

It is nice to see that the Thai military is helping the US consulate with support to a serious problem... We all saw how America helped their own when the attack happened in Benghazi.

[rbrooks]

Have no fear Thai security is here!