Australians advised to avoid Bangkok
BANGKOK – The Tourism Council of Thailand is warning tourists, and specifically Australians, to avoid Bangkok, according to a report filed by ABC Radio’s Conor Duffy in the Thai capital.
Two attempted bombings this week and rumours of a coup are the basis of the tourism council’s concern, Duffy said.
Tension in Bangkok has been rising in recent weeks as the city prepares for a February 26 high-profile court verdict involving fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006.
Thaksin’s supporters – the red shirts – were due to hold a demonstration outside the Bangkok Bank today, watched by a big contingent of police and security forces.
Thailand’s prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has upgraded to a bulletproof and grenade-proof car and military checkpoints have been set up around the city, ABC reported.
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.
The Thai Supreme Court will decide next week if the state can seize nearly $US2 billion of Thaksin’s assets.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said, "I think the red shirts are trying to stoke fiery sentiment ahead of the crucial verdict.”
Ian Jarrett
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