US warns: Terrorist threat to Bangkok

Bangkok Post : Terror case suspect 'had explosives in two houses'

Terror case suspect 'had explosives in two houses'

POLICE DENY SETTING UP LEBANESE MAN

• Published: 22/01/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Police have found bomb-making materials in another house rented by Swedish-Lebanese terror suspect Hussein Atris in the Mahachai area of Samut Sakhon.

Deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat, head of the team of investigators handling the case, said in a press conference that officers searched another house rented by Mr Atris and found bomb-making materials similar to those found in the first shophouse raided on Monday in the same area.

Investigators also found that Mr Atris moved the explosive materials from the first house to the second house, Pol Gen Pansiri said.

He said investigators had questioned several witnesses who confirmed that Mr Atris had entered Thailand several times, that he had bought the materials and knew where he had been during his stay in Thailand.

Pol Gen Pansiri said the witnesses could more easily recognise and remember his distinguishing features because they were also Arabian.

Pol Gen Pansiri insisted that the seizure of the materials was not a set-up as claimed by the suspect.

"It is not a set-up. Everything proceeds according to evidence," he said.

On Thursday, the 47-year-old terror suspect with alleged links to the Hezbollah militant group told a reporter from the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet at Bangkok Remand Prison that he is an ordinary hairdresser and trader who was set up by Israeli agents.

He told the tabloid that the restricted chemicals found in a shophouse raided on Monday were planted by the Israeli secret service Mossad.

He said his detention was a conspiracy.

Mr Atris was arrested on Jan 12 at Suvarnabhumi airport as he was about to leave for Lebanon.

On Monday, he led police to a shophouse in Samut Sakhon province, about 30km south of Bangkok, where police found more than four tonnes of urea-based fertiliser, 290 litres of ammonium nitrate and several plastic containers containing unidentified yellow liquid.

Pol Gen Pansiri said yesterday that forensic police had examined samples of the yellow liquid and found that the liquid also contains ammonium nitrate substances that can be used to make explosives, he said.

Pol Gen Pansiri said the liquid was probably a home-made explosive but it could not explode by itself.

About 30% of the seized materials have been examined so far, he said.

On Thursday, the Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant for another man called Jieme Paolo or Sami Sam, a 42-year-old Lebanese national, on a charge of colluding with Mr Atris to possess restricted supplies _ ammonium nitrate _ without permission.

Since the arrest, 20 governments have retained their security warnings about a possible terrorist attack in Bangkok.

China became the first nation to cancel the warning on Friday. The United States insisted it would maintain its alert even though another arrest warrant has been issued.

US Senator John McCain commented yesterday on the US travel advisory, saying it was a standard practice.

"It's standard operations [putting out an alert] when they have the basis to put out the alert since the US feels it's our responsibility to share information with our citizens and friends," he said during his official visit to Thailand.

Meanwhile, a recent Abac poll showed that 73.3% of respondents did not think the government could measure up to the task of dealing with terrorism.

The poll questioned 1,174 people in Bangkok between Wednesday and Friday.

Of the respondents, 58.1% said they believed terror attacks could possibly take place in Bangkok because, they said, state authorities were lax and inexperienced in enforcing security and it was easy for terrorists to enter and leave the country.

Some 55.9% said information on terrorism provided by the US was more credible, while 44.1% trusted the Thai government's information.

If a "Hezbollah"-Bomb would have gone of in Bkk, would Thailand still have recognized Palestine as a state and pushed for a full UN seat for them?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/wo...ian-state.html
Bangkok Post : Thai support for Palestine welcomed

I guess no.
And that's why I think Thailand escaped a Bali style bombing by the narrowest of margins - not by the Swedish patsy though.
That's why they don't find "proper bomb making material", and that's why the Americans lifted their travel warning. The dead is done. Palestine is recognized, even if Israel stands on his head and claps with his feet. So no use for Mossad to bomb Bkk anymore.

The tip off came form the Americans, who finally realize what game the Zionists are playing.
That, and the other recent "affronts" seem to be enough to call for the murder of the American President.
Atlanta Jewish Times owner says sorry for Obama 'hit' column | World news | guardian.co.uk
Atlanta Jewish newspaper calls for Obama... JPost - International
Uproar after Jewish American newspaper publisher suggests Israel assassinate Barack Obama - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

With friends like that, you don't need enemies.
Other countries had to learn that the hard way before.

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Uproar after Jewish American newspaper publisher suggests Israel assassinate Barack Obama - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

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Jesus fucking Christ. Just how much control do they think they ought to have over the American government? And imagine if that had appeared in an American Muslim newspaper - the pogroms would still be going on in a decade's time.

^I dunno, I think it would be pretty interesting if a Muslim paper were to suggest Israel assassinate Obama. That would confuse the fuck out of everybody.

But seriously. . ."assassinate U.S. President Barack Obama so that his successor will defend Israel against Iran." So would that mean nuking Iran again after Israel finishes up? Or has Israel given up its nukes in a gesture of good faith. Let's ask Mordechai Vanunu.

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

and several plastic containers containing unidentified yellow liquid.

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It the yellow liquid is nitric acid and there's good quantity of it, then yes they can truly start talking explosives. But then it it were nitric acid it would be trivial to identify. colour, smell, viscosity and effect on concrete would be more than enough.

It does seem out local journalists have problems with any story like this that gets more complicated than a photo of someone pointing at something or someone.

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Originally Posted by Dan

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Uproar after Jewish American newspaper publisher suggests Israel assassinate Barack Obama - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

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Jesus fucking Christ. Just how much control do they think they ought to have over the American government? And imagine if that had appeared in an American Muslim newspaper - the pogroms would still be going on in a decade's time.

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Fucking incredible isn't it? Free speech is one thing. But doesn't the US have anti-hate laws that can be enforced when someone inside the USA publicly calls for the murder of another US citizen inside the USA?

^ I thought there were laws specifically against threatening the President and I seem to remember someone getting 3 years for writing some shitty racist 'poem' about shooting Obama. I wonder how this differs.

Bangkok Post : Trust no One

COMMENTARY

Trust no One

• Published: 22/01/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Some have expressed incredulity that Thailand could possibly be a target for international terrorists. But why should anyone be incredulous? Are we not standing at the gateway of the Golden Triangle, renowned for its drug trade? Have we forgotten a Russian arms dealer named Viktor Bout? Are we not familiar with the presence of international organised crime gangs in cities like Bangkok and Pattaya? Most anyone can come and go, or come and stay with visa runs.

The last time I went through New York's JFK airport, I felt like an incoming prisoner making his way through the security check at a federal prison, praying that a full body cavity search would not be involved. At Suvarnabhumi airport, I might smack a security officer upside the eardrum just for sport if it weren't for the CCTV cameras.

Why not have one cabinet minister who's on a US blacklist and another who's charged with terrorism, as are a boatload of members of parliament? Was our government not formed by a fugitive?

If you're a terrorist or a criminal, Thailand is the place to be. Want to occupy an airport, burn down a city, gun down citizens, or steal a few billion? Sure, it's just another weekend in the wild wild Southeast. Lost lives or limbs? No worries, the government will compensate you. So the possibility of an international terrorist organisation targeting Thailand shouldn't seem be so ludicrous, should it?

Be that as it may, this entire Hezbollah plot to attack US and Israeli citizens in Thailand smells very fishy. This is not to say that there isn't such a plot, just that the whole deal gives off the odour of a barrel full of rotten fish.

Who is this Swedish-Lebanese Hussein Atris, really? Swedish journalist Jan Kallman managed to interview the suspected terrorist for Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

Mr Atris told the reporter: "I am 100% not guilty in the terror crimes I am accused of." He called the case against him a "conspiracy", and said he only conducts normal business affairs.

According to Aftonbladet, Mr Atris claimed the alleged bomb-making materials that were found in his house were placed there by the Mossad.

Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Anders Jorle said in a report posted on the New York Times website that the Swedish government cannot confirm if Mr Atris is a national of that country.

The plot sounds like something out of a movie that ought to star George Clooney.

But of course, how far can one trust the words of a suspected terrorist, even if Hezbollah has denied that Mr Atris is a member? Then again, how much trust can one put in the words of Hezbollah? For that matter, how much trust should we put in the Thai government to keep us safe?

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government can take care of it. Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said tourists and investors can have confidence in Thailand's security measures. Kowit Wattana, the deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, said the public shouldn't worry about terrorist warnings issued by foreign countries.

In fact, the Thai government is so confident that it demanded that embassies lift their security warnings, and is rather miffed that they issued them in the first place.

Foreign Minister Surapong was sorely "disappointed". Yutthasak Sasiprapa, who recently lost the defence portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle, encouraged the US to be more "cautious" in the future.

Meanwhile, Ms Yingluck has called on relevant Thai agencies to provide information to their foreign counterparts, so that everyone can have "correct information." After all, the Kingdom's tourism industry is at stake and the only organisation capable of "correct information" is of course, the Thai government. Really? Remember the flood crisis? If there's any reason to panic, this is it.

Of course foreign embassies aren't listening and the security warnings are still in place. Well, except for China.

It is hard for a Thai to trust the words of the government, no matter which party is in charge.

But then, should we trust the warnings of the Americans and Israelis? Well, I lived in the West long enough to know government pronouncements don't necessarily equal truth there either. Governments are not to be trusted blindly no matter where they are. However, it is better to be safe than sorry, so we should consider the warnings.

At the end of the day, we still know very little about what's going on, but if there's anything to be taken from the situation thus far, it is this: The pattern of behaviour of the Thai government is eerily similar to its handling of last year's flood crisis.

First, it started off as a secret. We didn't know it was flooding until the tide swept to our front doors, even if warnings could have been issued much earlier.

On the very apt date of Friday the 13th, the US embassy issued a security warning about a possible terrorist attack on Thai soil. Thai authorities later said they had known of the threat since Dec 18. No worries, nothing to see here. Second, the authorities assured the public that everything is just fine and everyone is safe, just like during the flooding when nature was proving otherwise. As the prime minister always said, "We can take care of it." Well, at least so far nothing has exploded.

Third, the government has an urgent need to give "correct information". But at the end of the day, everyone receives conflicting and often false information, just like during the flood crisis. It's a bit like the Froc and the BMA _ the Thai government says one thing, embassies warn of another.

Gen Yuthasak and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung have said that there are no longer any threats and that the terrorist group has left. But after those statements, the police were still looking for a second terrorist suspect and found four tonnes of bomb-making material, which, of course, Mr Atris said was a Mossad plot.

And it would be hard not to be incredulous over Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimapakorn's contention that, "In the past 10 years, Thailand has not seen any terrorist incidents." Well that's just semantics I guess. But really, terrorism here in previous years has been like the white on jasmine rice, except it doesn't taste so good.

Why would embassies lift warnings when we are still looking for a second suspect and still finding bomb-making materials? The mind boggles. It's like saying Bangkok is safe from the northern run-off _ oh, wait, my bad!

Fourth, just like during the flood crisis, everyone else disagrees with what the government has to say.

National Security Council secretary-general Wichean Potephosree said he is unsure if Mr Atris was actually involved in planning terrorist attacks. But, of course, he is reputed to be in the camp of the opposition Democrats and only a few months back was removed from his post as the national police chief in favour of Thaksin Shinawatra's former brother-in-law, Priewpan Damapong.

Activists and academics have raised doubts over the credibility of the threat. For example, Palestine Solidarity Thailand chairman Stuart Ward said this could just be another case of Islamophobia. But then, activists and academics are supposed to raise doubts whenever reporters call. We all have our roles to play.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut has gone all Hollywood conspiracy and stated that the seizure of the bomb-making materials was a police set-up. But the opposition is doing what the opposition is meant to do _ oppose everything. Having said that, would anyone be surprised if it actually was a police set-up?

In a twisted reminder of the flood crisis, I'm just waiting for Minister of Science and Technology Plodprasop Suraswadi to run out, screaming, "It's a bomb! It's a bomb! Everybody run!" simply because he hasn't been on TV in a while and he misses it.

Are Thai security measures up to the task of preventing a possible Hezbollah attack on Thai soil? We can only hope and pray that they are.

At the end of the day, as an ordinary citizen I have no idea what's going on, other than that the whole ordeal stinks, and I have a feeling that the real conspiracy here is the concerted effort by the Thais, Israelis, Americans, Swedes and Hezbollah to confuse the hell out of me.


Voranai Vanijaka

Is Thailand a new terrorism playground? - The Nation

Is Thailand a new terrorism playground?

Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation January 23, 2012 1:00 am
https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Sixteen hours prior to the US government issued a warning of terrorism attack in Bangkok on Friday, the 13th January, at 4.00 pm., Hussein Atris, 47, a Lebanese-Swedish passport holder, was apprehended at Suvarnaphoumi Airport near midnight on Thursday. What came after the following days showed the huge perception gap of Thai policy makers and their counter terrorism measures with the international community. Worsen still was the unpreparedness of Thai security apparatus to face up with the perceived threats of highly mobile and sophisticated terrorism networks. No wonder, they are still in denial.

Atris was under the watch list since Dec 10, 2011 when the Thai intelligence was alerted that a group of Hezbollah operatives, who were in and are coming to Thailand, could plan terrorist attacks in Bangkok, targeting foreigners, in particular Israeli citizens and assets. On the list are places they frequently visit or stay such as Khaosan Road (cheap hotels and a Chabad), Samui and Pangan Islands (for Full-moon parties) and Sukhumvit Soi 22. Although the Special Branch Police have been on the lookout, they did not have any lead as bits and pieces of intelligence were not case specific.

It was a stroke of luck that Atris was not aware that his name was on the wanted list. Had he chose to exit through land check-points, say, at Nongkai on the Thai-Lao border, he could slip out without notice—indeed not all computers at land border check-points are linked to the immigration's headquarters. After hours of intense interrogation, Atris disclosed the location of a three-story building in Mahachai, Samutsakon on the outskirt of Bangkok where he has accumulated explosive materials—urea-based fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. The Thai authorities believed that they were destined for the third countries not for local targets.

Thailand is no stranger to such terrorist plots targeting Israeli assets and citizens. In March 1994, a Hezbollah-linked group planned a car bomb attack at the Israel Embassy, which was situated in Langsuan. Again, by sheer lucks, the mission was aborted as the car-bomb miraculously broke down. The incident, known among the Thai intelligence, as "Lung Chum (Uncle Chum)" affairs--referring to the hijacked Thai driver who was killed and tied up to the bomb hidden inside the car—serves as a fresh reminder that changes have been for too little and slow in the ways and methods the Thai security apparatus and policy makers reacted including the public's benign attitude on the perceived terrorist threats. According to a latest ABAC poll released last weekend, 55.9 per cent of Thais do not believe that terrorist attacks would happen in Bangkok while 58.1 per cent thought it could occur elsewhere.

No wonder, all the top echelons of Yingluck government were furious, if not over reacted, to the US alert on terrorism warning on its website. They complained the short notice given to them by the Bangkok-based US embassy. Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul criticized the US and expressed disappointment for not closely consult with the Thai side before the warning was flagged. Judging from the knee-jerked responses by several government leaders, it showed that the Pheu Thai ruling party was hyper sensitive as the warning came a few days before the Lunar New Year celebration last weekend. They feared that tourists would cancel flights and trips as well as damage the post-flood business environment. They demanded the US to withdraw it as soon as possible but the US refused. Further adding salts to the wounds, additional 17 countries have followed the US terrorist alert. Last week ahead of the Lunar New Year, China withdrew the travel advisory altogether in responding to Yingluck's request. Foreign concerns are for the safety of their citizens but somehow, the Thai government failed to comprehend that any mass-casualty terrorist attack over here would put the Thai lives in jeopardy as well.

The alert, while it was credible, has not impacted very much on foreign visitors which included US lawmakers--crowding the Suvarnaphoumi airport over the past week. In reality, with specific and accurate information on locations of possible terrorist attacks, visitors would choose safer places to visit. As such, it also boosts the country's counter-terrorism creditability. So the Thai authorities have to be open-minded because the arrest of Atris could represent a harbinger of the future on terrorist threats on Thai soils. With his remaining accomplices are still on the run, the foreign embassies chose to adopt the same precaution. In the case of Thailand, for instance, inaccurate information and naïve official comments on floods management and controls caused not only confusions but also economic damages and scared off foreigners.

It is an open secret that Thailand is a haven for terrorists as well as transnational criminal groups. For decades, they have been using the country as a center to procure illegal materials (arms, drugs or banned chemical and explosive substances), laundry money, forging foreign currencies and travelling documents. Given its centrality in the continental Southeast Asia with nearly one-thousand flights daily in operation, Thailand remains "the" ideal logistic hub for terrorist operations elsewhere. Still, the concerned Thai authorities are not up to the task. For instance, the Immigration Bureau and Special Branch Police are still under staff and lack counter-terrorism training. They have not yet tightened immigration regulations, improved surveillance or set up a viable IT system to anti-terrorism global networks.

While terrorists have changed their strategies but the Thais have not changed their mindset. They naively think that Thailand is a friendly country and has no enemy. Their mantra is still the same: we can turn blind eyes on activities if they do not harm the Thai people. Otherwise, there would be better diplomatic cooperation and communication as well as the display of more humility from the Thai side.

The immigration bureau is notorious for being unprofessional and corrupted without thinking of broader security implications. Under the command of the Royal Thai Police Headquarter, the immigration procedure is also subjected to police bureaucracy and culture. To cope with future challenges related to terrorism and massive cross-border movement, the bureau needs to be detached from the police headquarters and has its autonomy and staff. After the car registration department spin off as an independent bureau away from the police orbit, it has been rated as one of the most efficient government agencies and thriving.

During the 1994 car bomb investigation, the Thai police missed all the important clues and many forensic evidences left inside the car including names of culprits in Arabic languages were overlooked. In retrospect, the episode also revealed the benign attitude of society at large that they did not have any idea about the danger of international terrorism. For instance, the Hezbollah group could procure assets and explosive materials without producing any identification and documents. To be fair, today some of these procedures have improved, due to the insurgent activities in southern Thailand, but not the public awareness as a whole.

The warning is a crude wake-up call for the security officials in charge and public in general. Luckily, this time the only casualties were limited to the diplomatic rows between Thailand and key allies. In the future, if the Thai vulnerabilities continue, terrorists will continue to exploit gaps and the casualties might not be just words.

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Are Thai security measures up to the task of preventing a possible Hezbollah attack on Thai soil? We can only hope and pray that they are.

Voranai Vanijaka

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Were they up to the task of preventing the seizure and occupation of the Bangkok International Airport by the can't-touch-the-yellowshirt-PAD? Oh but that's different, isn't it - bonehead.

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Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Are Thai security measures up to the task of preventing a possible Hezbollah attack on Thai soil? We can only hope and pray that they are.

Voranai Vanijaka

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Were they up to the task of preventing the seizure and occupation of the Bangkok International Airport by the can't-touch-the-yellowshirt-PAD? Oh but that's different, isn't it - bonehead.

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So there is an unsuccessful muslim terrorist plot in Thailand...

Blame the Joos of course..:mid:

Pathetic Nazi communist lowlife

Bangkok Post : Bangkok police on terror alert

Bangkok police on terror alert

• Published: 23/01/2012 at 12:48 AM
• Online news: Local News

Police are on 24-hour security watch at tourist locations and places of foreign interest in Bangkok as officers investigate supposed links between an arrested Lebanese man and terrorist plots.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2012/01/1656.jpg
Policewomen in traditional Chinese attire search the bag of a visitor to the Yaowarat area where Chinese New Year celebrations are being held. About 20 policewomen in traditional attire joined 50 other officers on patrol in the area Sunday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Security has been heightened at various locations including Khao San Road, commercial areas of Sukhumvit Road, the Israeli embassy and the American School of Bangkok in Soi Sukhumvit 49/3.

Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Pakdinarunart, chief of the Crime Suppression Division, said officers were patrolling the areas around the clock.

The security beef-up follows the arrest of Swedish-Lebanese terror suspect Hussein Atris at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Jan 12.

Security guards at the premises under watch have been told to report any suspicious character or activities.

The guards are also distributing pictures of some key suspects thought to pose a security threat. Footage from surveillance cameras in the areas is also being reviewed regularly.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Tourism Council Urges Govt to Clarify Terrorist Reports, Seek Lifting of Travel Warnings

Tourism Council Urges Govt to Clarify Terrorist Reports, Seek Lifting of Travel Warnings

UPDATE : 23 January 2012

The tourism council calls on the government to quickly clarify Thailand's security preparation and the situation regarding terrorist attack reports with other countries and seek cancellation of their travel warnings.


Tourism Council of Thailand President for Policy and Planning Kongkrit Hiranyakit, said reservations for flights to Thailand during the Chinese New Year have picked up after China removed its travel advisory for Thailand over potential terrorist attacks.

More than 100,000 Chinese travelers are expected to enter the country and generate at least four billion baht in tourist spending.

Under the current condition, at least two million Chinese travelers are expected to make trips to Thailand throughout this year, and their arrival will generate approximately seven billion baht in revenue.

The council suggested that the government quickly clarify Thailand's security measures with countries that have not lifted their warnings, adding that the private sector will also help communicate the government's plan and implementation to tourists.

Meanwhile, Flying Officer Anirut Thanomkulabutra, President of the Airport of Thailand, estimates about 2.3 million passengers to pass through airports under the agency's supervision during the Chinese New Year's festival from January 19 to 31, an increase of 23 percent.

He noted that airlines have requested additional 332 flights to accommodate a surge in passengers.

About 306 of extra flights are international routes and most of them were requested by Chinese airlines. China Eastern Airlines has requested the most additional flights, 88.

Police probe into terrorist plot progressing : National News Bureau of Thailand

Police probe into terrorist plot progressing

BANGKOK, 24 January 2012 (NNT) - Deputy National Police Commissioner-General Pansiri Prapawat said police have discovered where the recently-arrested suspect of terrorism had purchased the containers for explosive materials.

According to Pol. Gen. Pansiri, the investigative officers have been able to pinpoint the place from which Mr. Atris Hussein, Lebanese terrorist suspect, purchased the supplies for containing explosive substances. If Mr. Hussein is identified as the buyer, the police would immediately lay another legal charge against him.

The suspect was arrested a day after the U.S. embassy had issued a terrorist alert in Bangkok. He was found in possession of ammonia nitrate and urea during the police raid and has been charged with violation of the Arms Control Act.

Pol. Gen. Pansiri added that further investigation on the case will be needed to verify if all witnesses and evidence point to the same suspect. The Deputy Police Chief assured that more details can be expected within this week as Mr. Hussein is being interrogated over his connections with Hezbollah, a Shi'a Muslim militant group and political party based in Lebanon.

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

He was found in possession of ammonia nitrate and urea during the police raid and has been charged with violation of the Arms Control Act.

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At face value, it sounds like they could charge just about every farmer in the country with this law.

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Bangkok Post : Bangkok police on terror alert

Bangkok police on terror alert

• Published: 23/01/2012 at 12:48 AM
• Online news: Local News

Police are on 24-hour security watch at tourist locations and places of foreign interest in Bangkok as officers investigate supposed links between an arrested Lebanese man and terrorist plots.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2012/01/1656.jpg

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They undercover police women? they could arrest me anytime

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Originally Posted by FarangRed

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Bangkok Post : Bangkok police on terror alert

Bangkok police on terror alert

• Published: 23/01/2012 at 12:48 AM
• Online news: Local News

Police are on 24-hour security watch at tourist locations and places of foreign interest in Bangkok as officers investigate supposed links between an arrested Lebanese man and terrorist plots.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2012/01/1656.jpg

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They undercover police women? they could arrest me anytime

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Better give me your number, officer, in case I see anything suspicious.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Thai Tourism Thrives Despite Terrorist Warning

Thai Tourism Thrives Despite Terrorist Warning

UPDATE : 27 January 2012

The government and the private sector expect a continuous stream of foreign tourists to arrive in Thailand from now until April despite the recent terrorist warning.

They also plan to meet this year's goal of 22.5 million tourists.


Permanent Secretary of Sports and Tourism Ministry Suwat Sithilaw has reported that the tourism industry has been recovering rapidly from the flood disaster since early January, but slowed down a little due to the warning recently issued by the United States of possible terrorist attacks in Bangkok.

However, foreign tourists have started to return since the Chinese New Year holidays.

Meanwhile, many countries are confident in Thai security officials.

Some have already lifted travel restrictions on Thailand.

Suwat added that from now on, the government will work hard to ensure security in order to rebuild tourist confidence.

It is expected that a total of 22.5 million tourists will travel to Thailand this year, increasing from 19.5 million last year.

Meanwhile, Executive Vice President of Travel and Leisure Marketing at Krung Thai Credit Card Pittaya Vorapanyakul believes that authorities will try to prevent any incident in an attempt to boost the tourism industry from now until April.

At the same time, President of Praya Palazzo Hotel Priyatorn Pitakworarat pointed out that despite the flood disaster and political problems, Thailand is still one of the most attractive destinations among foreign travelers, thanks to continuous promotional campaigns organized by the government and the private sector.

The Krung Thai Credit Card has recently joined hands with Krungthep Turakij Newspaper, Mastercard, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and Nok Air in organizing Thailand Boutique Awards 2011.

A total of 40 awards were given to small- and medium-sized hotels throughout the country.

For this, Praya Palazzo has been awarded the gold medal for its cultural hotel theme.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Tourism Min Set to Ask U.S. to Lift Terror Warning

Tourism Min Set to Ask U.S. to Lift Terror Warning

UPDATE : 27 January 2012

Sports and Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-arhca revealed that Germany and France, among many other countries, have cancelled their travel advisories against Thailand. He said he is set to ask the United States to lift its terror warning as a result.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Israel Lifts Travel Warning against Thailand

Israel Lifts Travel Warning against Thailand

UPDATE : 27 January 2012

Israel's anti-terrorism agency has lifted a travel warning against Thailand, citing that the country is now safe to visit.

Israel's Counter Terrorism Bureau released a report yesterday saying its "severe travel warning" issued two weeks ago over the likelihood of an immediate attack against Israelis in Bangkok has been lifted because of the work of Thai security forces that included the arrest of an alleged Hezbollah operative in the capital.


The agency said the uncovering of a Hezbollah weapons storehouse and other Hezbollah facilities in Thailand has made Thailand once again safe for Israeli travelers, according to the National Security Council's Counter Terrorism Bureau of Israel.

At the same time, the agency noted that in all probability there remains some terrorist infrastructure in Thailand, and in light of concern that Hezbollah will try to avenge the 2008 killing of Hezbollah's shadowy commander Imad Muganiyah on the anniversary of his death on February 12, Israelis traveling to Thailand are advised to exercise caution.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok maintains its travel alert for Thailand.

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Originally Posted by hazz

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Originally Posted by "StrontiumDog"

and several plastic containers containing unidentified yellow liquid.

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It does seem out local journalists have problems with any story like this that gets more complicated than a photo of someone pointing at something or someone.

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Nicely put,I guess there's the loss of face LM and laziness combo that leads to so little hard hitting investigative reporting.

Hence no Thai version of Viz Private National Lampoon/Enquirer etc Sometimes if you read between the lines there are coded hints in Matichon etc, To be fair the likes of Woodward or Pilger are either impridsoned exiled or worse leaving the vacuum for rational,inclusive debate to rent a mob

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Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

bonehead.

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Actually he isn't.

Try read between the lines

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Originally Posted by hazz

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

He was found in possession of ammonia nitrate and urea during the police raid and has been charged with violation of the Arms Control Act.

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At face value, it sounds like they could charge just about every farmer in the country with this law.

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At face value, you are a muslim apologist.

Four nations lift travel alerts | Bangkok Post: news

Four nations lift travel alerts

• Published: 27/01/2012 at 07:08 PM
• Online news:

Four countries have revoked their travel warnings for Thailand, issued earlier this month amid fears of a possible terrorist attack, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

The four countries were Israel, China, France and Germany, said Jesda Katavetin, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of Information.

Israel and China had totally cancelled their terrorism warnings, while France and Germany revised their threat advisories to cover only the Islamic militant insurgency in the country's lower South, he said.

Israel was the first country to issue an alert to its citizens after Thai police arrested Atris Hussein, a suspected Hizbollah member, at Suvarnabhumi airport on Jan 12.

Initially it was believed that terrorist groups might be planning attacks on sites frequented by foreigners in Bangkok. Subsequent investigations uncovered a cache of bomb-making materials outside the capital and officials said they had been destined for another country.

Travel advisories issued by 18 other foreign embassies including the United States remained in effect, Mr Jesda said, adding that he hoped the revocation by Israel would encourage other countries to lift or reduce their warnings soon.

The US travel announcement appeared only on the website of the US Embassy in Bangkok, not on the US Department of State's website.

Washington did not prohibit its citizens from travelling to the kingdom, Mr Jesda said.

FM to invite envoys to hear explanation
30/01/2012

The Foreign Ministry will this week invite the ambassadors of 16 countries which have not lifted their travel warning against Thailand to be briefed on the situation in the country which has improved, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

Mr Surapong said he had instructed Seehasak Puangketkaew, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs, to do so because a specified period for terror watch was now over.

The United States embassy told the US citizens in its travel warning to take precaution against terrorist attacks on public places in Thailand, particularly between Jan 13-15.

Mr Surapong said the situation had improved and no more countries had warned their people against terrorism in Thailand.

Although the US has not completely lifted the travel warning, it had moved the notice from the front page of the embassy's website to the back, he said.

bangkokpost.com