Australians warned to avoid Bangkok

[Sawatdee]

Australians warned to avoid Bangkok
www.abc.net.au
By Conor Duffy in Bangkok for AM

The Tourism Council of Thailand is warning Australians to avoid Bangkok, after two attempted bombings in the past two days and rumours of a coup.

Tension in Bangkok has been rising in recent weeks as the city prepares for a high-profile court verdict involving fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006.

Thailand's Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has upgraded to a bullet-proof and grenade-proof car and military checkpoints have been set up around the city.

Authorities say there may be more trouble when supporters of the former prime minister hold what they say will be a million-strong march designed to bring down the government.

Tourism Council secretary Pornthip Hirunkape says Australians should consider avoiding Bangkok for the next two weeks.

"Tourists, especially from Australia, are coming direct from Australia into Phuket," he said.

"Australians are quite resilient and also many of them are repeat [travellers] so they know the conditions and they know the situation of Thai politics quite well.

"I think they would then avoid just the capital city."

Meanwhile the Prime Minister's spokesman, Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, says the government could introduce martial law.

"If there is an escalation in the tensions or the situation we do have other contingency plans, including the use of the internal security act and the use of the emergency decree," he said.

The army has upgraded to a level-three security alert and Dr Panitan says soldiers have set up roadblocks and checkpoints in key areas.

"We are increasing the patrol units just to make sure that security measures are in place and we can identify trouble spots, including separate groups that would like to take this opportunity to create incidents," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...?section=world

[Tywjohn]

2 weeks? Lucky I'm going in 4

[paul_au]

Well lucky Thailand is much more than Bangkok, even though the current situation would not stop me going there anyway, maybe it's time for some Australians to see Chiang Mai.

[Mozzbie47]

Bangkok is a very large city, for this reason, the demonstrations would surely be in given areas, near government building etc.. And like the demonstrations some 12 months ago, people were asked to avoid these area's.
Also, was'nt the main disruption to tourists caused when demonstrators, blocked the air port ?

[Richard Barrow]

We shouldn't forget that the Supreme Court is at Sanam Luang which is just across the road from the Grand Palace. This is where they found some explosives the other day.

[Tywjohn]

As long as they don't close airports, I'll be happy. Although if they happen to close them while I'm there which would happen to stop me from coming home and going back to work, I wouldn't mind that either

[Clashfan]

Travel insurance might even pay for your expenses of about 2300bht per day if that happen...

[Tywjohn]

Travel insurance might even pay for your expenses of about 2300bht per day if that happen...

Good to know. I never go without insurance.

[paul_au]

The odds that your going to get killed in a road accident would have to be just as higher risk, just take precaution, stay away from areas likely to have trouble and of course look left and right before crossing the road, there is nothing like a speeding motorcycle spoiling your day.