Australia Put South Thailand On Hight Terror Alert

[george]

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

[baboon]

Doesnt exactly paint a rosy picture, does it?

[Sulaphat]

I think this may have more significance than first meets the eye. Unless I'm mistaken, not just the Thai government, but also a number of international organizations have stopped short of calling the incidents in the South terrorism for many reasons. Here is what appears to be a department of the Australian government calling the incidents terrorism. I wonder if the Thai government will make a fuss.

[Maejo Man]

Similarly the British travel warning, but still refering to the problem as continuing violence due to insurgency and civil unrest. Howeven they do point out that there is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand

Thailand

We advise against all but essential travel to, or through, the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, where there is continuing violence due to insurgency and civil unrest. Since January 2004, there have been regular attacks including bombings and shootings. On 1 August 2006, there were over 100 violent incidents throughout the far southern provinces, including at least 40 explosions. On 2 August 2006, a further three explosions resulted in three fatalities. The Thai Government has declared a serious state of emergency in the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against places frequented by foreigners.

Since December 2005, there have been a number of small explosions in Bangkok. The motives for these attacks are not clear.

Penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs are severe and can include the death penalty.

Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Thailand have resulted in a small number of human fatalities. The most recent fatality was in Uthai Thani Province in central Thailand on 03 August 2006. The Thai authorities are currently investigating suspected outbreaks in a number of other central, north and north eastern provinces. As a precaution, you should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. For further information see Health section below and also read the FCO’s Avian and Pandemic Influenza Factsheet.

Around 750,000 British tourists visit Thailand every year. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Thailand is for arrests (mostly drug related); hospital cases (especially road accidents); and deaths, mostly from natural causes and road accidents. The majority of consular cases occur in Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Samui.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.

[stumonster]

As a precaution, you should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds;

aka - please do not leave the comfortable confines of your hotel/resort

[Thaising]

Sabotage fear rejected

Police and security officials have dismissed suspicions by Thaikorn Polsuwan, leader of the Isan Koo Chat Network, that bomb-making materials had been bought by someone intent on creating mayhem in Bangkok.

Mr Thaikorn claimed that large quantities of goods which were thought to be material for making explosives had been bought by a company in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district.

The issue came to light after the suppliers of the materials tried to cash the cheques, which turned out to be dud. They then alerted local police.

Mr Thaikorn said the company placed bulk orders to a total of 10 suppliers from Aug 3-5 and the goods were delivered on Aug 5.

The goods included 12 tonnes of chlorine powder, 8,000 litres of lubricants, 80 buckets of vegetable oil, 100 mobile phones, 10 notebook computers and two sets of cameras for making maps.

According to Mr Thaikorn, some of the suppliers said they delivered the goods at different places such as a warehouse, a filling station or on the roadside.

However, on Aug 7, it turned out that the company paid them with dud cheques and the angry suppliers lodged complaints with the Pratunam Chulalongkorn police station on Aug 9.

Mr Thaikorn said he had learned from a staff member of a security agency that the ordered materials could be combined to make a bomb.

A kilogramme of chlorine powder could be used to produce a bomb capable of destroying everything within a 20-metre radius, he said.

Mr Thaikorn said the discovery coincided with a recent report by the BBC that the Pulo southern separatist movement was planning attacks in Phuket province and Bangkok.

Pol Maj-Gen Prapan Panikhom, head of Pathum Thani police, said it was too early to say whether the southern insurgents had anything to do with the purchases.

Special Branch deputy commissioner Pol Maj-Gen Trithos Ronnaritthivichai said it was unlikely the materials were bought to make bombs, although this could not be completely ruled out.

A military source insisted there was no report of any sabotage being plotted to spread terror to the two cities.

The military source added that there was no scientific evidence that a mixture of chlorine powder and vegetable oil could cause an explosion.

Bangkok Post

[cclub75]

A military source insisted there was no report of any sabotage being plotted to spread terror to the two cities.

The military source added that there was no scientific evidence that a mixture of chlorine powder and vegetable oil could cause an explosion.

Bangkok Post

1-since the "unrest" started in the south, the "intelligence" work of thai services has proven to be... totally useless and powerless.

2-"no scientific evidence" ? How a newspaper can print such a stupid statement ?

5 minutes on Google could change your views ....

http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/fireworks/fireworks.htm

http://science.netscape.com/story/2006/08/...-chlorine-bomb/

http://zero.hastypastry.net/dojo/showthread.php?t=3738

[Scott]

It is seldom that these types of insurgencies stay localized--at some point they usually affect other areas, such as the bombings in Moscow by Chechen rebels. I think it's good to be alert and cautious.