PHUKET: An advisory for Australian tourists that warns of civil unrest and possible terrorist attacks was a ''long-standing warning,'' an Australian embassy official said today.
The advisory specifically mentions Bangkok and Phuket.
''That hasn't been changed for some time,'' the official said. ''It is not a new advisory and there is no cause for extra alarm.''
Phuketwan understands the advisory, including warnings of civil unrest and possible terrorist attacks, has been carried on smarttraveller.gov.au since 2010.
It was posted after political unrest on the streets of Bangkok led to concern about further political trouble in the south, possibly extending to Krabi and Phuket.
From time to time in recent years, the American and Israeli embassies have increased terror alerts for Thailand.
Having once added an alert, though, the Australian embassy seems more reluctant than most to adapt it in a hurry.
After the 2002 Bali bombings, Australian authorities became extremely conservative in their approach to avoid potential litigation that could follow an attack for which there was no official warning.
Whenever there is political trouble on the streets of Bangkok, Australia issues warnings that cover the entire country, even when Phuket and other tourist destinations are unaffected.
Other countries take a more realistic approach and update their alerts with greater frequency and accuracy.
At some resorts and shopping mall carparks in the Andaman region, security guards still scan the underside of arriving vehicles for explosive devices. It is viewed as a quaint tradition.
As the Australian advisory notes in conclusion: ''Terrorism is a threat throughout the world.''
The advisory specifically mentions Bangkok and Phuket.
''That hasn't been changed for some time,'' the official said. ''It is not a new advisory and there is no cause for extra alarm.''
Phuketwan understands the advisory, including warnings of civil unrest and possible terrorist attacks, has been carried on smarttraveller.gov.au since 2010.
It was posted after political unrest on the streets of Bangkok led to concern about further political trouble in the south, possibly extending to Krabi and Phuket.
From time to time in recent years, the American and Israeli embassies have increased terror alerts for Thailand.
Having once added an alert, though, the Australian embassy seems more reluctant than most to adapt it in a hurry.
After the 2002 Bali bombings, Australian authorities became extremely conservative in their approach to avoid potential litigation that could follow an attack for which there was no official warning.
Whenever there is political trouble on the streets of Bangkok, Australia issues warnings that cover the entire country, even when Phuket and other tourist destinations are unaffected.
Other countries take a more realistic approach and update their alerts with greater frequency and accuracy.
At some resorts and shopping mall carparks in the Andaman region, security guards still scan the underside of arriving vehicles for explosive devices. It is viewed as a quaint tradition.
As the Australian advisory notes in conclusion: ''Terrorism is a threat throughout the world.''
"At some resorts and shopping mall carparks in the Andaman region, security guards still scan the underside of arriving vehicles for explosive devices. It is viewed as a quaint tradition" - if Bali can be bombed so can Phuket, it also makes me feel safer if they scan under the car. You notice they also do this at the airport. Not quaint but good idea.
Posted by Feisty Farang on December 2, 2014 12:06
Editor Comment:
At the airport? Really? I don't recall being scanned at the airport for years, FF.
When you think about it carefully, of course a bomber will drive up with planted explosives under the car, where it can be spotted. Perhaps you can tell us, FF, how many times bombers on Phuket have been arrested thanks to the under-the-car scans?