Phuket boosts security after Bali bomb blasts

[Gson]

Monday, October 3, 2005


PHUKET: Police are stepping up security across the island following three suicide bomb blasts in Bali on Saturday that claimed at least 19 lives and injured 133 people, Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth, the new Phuket Provincial Police Commander, told the Gazette today.

He called for tourists not to be put off by seeing a greater police presence on the street.

“I would like to tell tourists who come to Phuket that if seeing police working and checking places disturbs your stay, please understand that we are doing this for your own safety.

“Please help us by cooperating, and understand that our main concern is security,” he added.

Pol Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, confirmed that he had received orders from both Maj Gen Decha and Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura to boost security in Patong.

“We are setting up checkpoints at many places in Patong. I think the chance of a bombing here is very slim, but we are not taking any chances,” Col Teeraphol said.

He said that officers will coordinate regular inspections with entertainment business owners.

“We have asked them to report any bags or suitcases left unattended direct to the police. It’s good that we already do not allow vehicles on Soi Bangla at night, which makes it safer for tourists,” Col Teeraphol added.

Phuket Tourist Association President Pattanapong Aikwanich said he expected Saturday’s bombings to have long-term effects on tourism in Asia.

“Australians are the main tourists for Bali. In the short-term, following the bombings in Bali, they will turn to other destinations, such as Phuket.

“However, this will have a negative long-term affect on tourism throughout the region. Nowadays, when tourists want to visit a country, they look at the image of the entire region, such as Asia. If they think it is not safe, they will not come,” he said.

However, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Assistant Director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), believes the bombings will not have a great affect on tourism to Phuket.

He said that about 50% of long-haul tourists who visit Phuket during the high season, who are mainly European and Scandinavian, visit other destinations in the region.

“Bali and Phuket have similar geography. If tourists choose to visit ‘combined destinations’, they would [now] prefer to visit Phuket and a nearby country, such as Cambodia or Vietnam,” he said.

K. Siripakorn also said that more attention should be given to the affect on tourism of the escalating violence in Thailand’s southernmost provinces.

He added that the TAT has launched a campaign to explain to potential tourists abroad the situation in the Deep South, and to point out that it does not affect tourists in Phuket.


Phuket, Thailand
20:25 local time (GMT +7)

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=4559

[marc26]

they should have police posted at the entrance of every soi

[LivinLOS]

Doesnt make a difference really against suicide bombers..

[marc26]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Doesnt make a difference really against suicide bombers..

not too much, but everything helps. anyone walking into bangla with a bag shoulkd be checked

[steve@thaib]

Originally Posted by marc26

not too much, but everything helps. anyone walking into bangla with a bag shoulkd be checked

I've not seen it properly, but it looks like the guy who blew himself up in a restaurant was just wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

[Nid Noy]

I just saw video footage of the guy on CNN. Some tourist caught him on tape. He was wearing a backpack/vest of some sort. You can actually tell from the video. Chilling.

[LivinLOS]

I saw the vid footage and am pretty sure he had a backpack..

[Mav]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I saw the vid footage and am pretty sure he had a backpack..

Yep...was a backpack....Oz guy filmed it and copped a ball bearing in his shoulder for his trouble.....l guess he was lucky as that was all he copped.

[floppy]

they have security with metal detecters at the big bars in kuta but there is no way you can cover all the bars and eating houses especially if the f###er is gonna blow him self up..

[Jazz]

I have a bad feeling one day Patong will have terrorist bombing too as problems in south thailand get more worse

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Jazz

I have a bad feeling one day Patong will have terrorist bombing too as problems in south thailand get more worse

to be honest with you. i do too

[Jazz]

Originally Posted by marc26

to be honest with you. i do too

When it does happening I think sadly it will change Patong forever and
it will never be the same place it was before or as popular and people will
be to much fear to go back

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Jazz

When it does happening I think sadly it will change Patong forever and
it will never be the same place it was before or as popular and people will
be to much fear to go back

Such as Egypt, London, New York and Bali perhaps!!! Just food for thought! Would you go back to Patong???

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by Denver

Such as Egypt, London, New York and Bali perhaps!!! Just food for thought! Would you go back to Patong???

At the moment I would not go to Eygpt or Bali because I dont feel they are doing nearly enough to stop the bombers or to protect tourists, I would have no problem going to New York or London because they do.

Onto Phuket, If I felt they were everything they could do to stop the bombers and I felt it was safe enough then I would definatly go, Otherwise as much as I love Phuket and Patong in particular, I would not go.

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by Denver

Such as Egypt, London, New York and Bali perhaps!!! Just food for thought! Would you go back to Patong???

When people have a choice of holidaying in an area where indiscriminate suicide bombers have struck, or to holiday somewhere unaffected, they may well choose the latter.

Shops in Oxford Street, London report that takings have been affected by the July 7th bombings.

If Patong was hit by terrorists and further intelligence showed that future bombings were probable, I'd go elsewhere on my holiday. Maybe the terrorists have won - but I'm not going to risk my life in order to prove a point.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by gez

When people have a choice of holidaying in an area where indiscriminate suicide bombers have struck, or to holiday somewhere unaffected, they may well choose the latter.

Shops in Oxford Street, London report that takings have been affected by the July 7th bombings.

If Patong was hit by terrorists and further intelligence showed that future bombings were probable, I'd go elsewhere on my holiday. Maybe the terrorists have won - but I'm not going to risk my life in order to prove a point.

i would probably go to a less crowded area of thailand.

[JIMBOB]

IM COMING TO PHUKET IN DECEMBER AND A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE CHANCE OF A ATTACK,YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT BUT IT COULD BE THE NEXT FILM I GO TO,FOOTBALL MATCH,SHOPPING OR JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET.MAYBE WE NEED TO BE ALERT TO HELP THE POLICE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.BUT THEY WONT RUIN MY HOLIDAY

[LivinLOS]

I would follow the migratory patterns of the BG's and nightlife

After the Tsunami I spent a couple of longish trawls over to Samui just because town was so empty, girls started to all leave, and the remaining expat bar owners had long faces due to low turnover..

[LivinLOS]

Theres expats working as volenteer police in white uniforms.. Never seen a plain clothes expat operating and drink a lot with the police in Tams..

Or do you mean plain clothes Thais. in which case they are there.. 2 for Tiger, and 2 for Eric and 2 more for Croc / Gonzo and Easy..

Its my understanding however that they are there mostly for drug monitoring..

[dolphin38]

Guys, I think its great that this forum is openly sharing and discussing the terrorist threat issues, and in my heart I just hope you are all safe and that nothing actually happens over there.
Personally I've been waiting for the weather in Vietnam to improve as I want to do a trip my 2nd trip to Phuket and then a sidetrip to Vietnam. Unfortunately the terrorist threat in SEAsia Bali, Phillipines, Thailand is really starting to get some airplay with our PM John Howard and Alexander Downer stating Thailand also now being a very credible threat.
Our government came under much criticism with the original Bali bombing because allegedly they had some pretty certain indications that action was to take place and they never communicated this effectively; it would seem on the face of it they are also now aware of developments in Thailand and do not appear to want to make the same mistake.
I want badly to come to Phuket but personally Im not "dying" to *** just yet.
Bit of a watch and wait for me and I know its all our personal choice.
Certainly the motivations and politics between Bali and Thailand (malay border) appear very different, but in a radio interview I listened to over the weekend with regards Thailand they were not talking about the Malay border area, VERY definitely intimated Patong or Pattaya for maximum tourist damage.
Take care and keep the open discussion going.

[Denver]

Firstly, with one or two people airing thier opinions (Which is great, but not what the terrorists want) about perhaps avoiding thier favourite holiday destinations due to the potential threat (which is 'up to you' but just what the terrorists want) Has anyone a suggestion for a two week break somewhere in the world that hasn't the potential to be affected by some extremist, fanatical or religious organisation.

Secondly, if your favourite holiday destination was targetted by these idiots or maybe a natural disaster occured and I think you know what I mean by that last statement. Would you go again or just avoid it and move on? Where would you go?

Denver playing Devils Advocate again I know, but interested to hear other BM's thoughts.

[steve w]

feck the terrorists,i rode the tube last week and even if the tw*ts said that they
were targeting patong(which they are not) i'd still be there in stagger mode.

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by marc26

i would probably go to a less crowded area of thailand.

I would do the same - after going to Patong to pick up a BG for a very LT.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by kiwi hitman

Mate - was talking to him - had seen him outside Hotel Baan Sukhothai about an hour before

Plain clothes farang..

As you talked to him where is he from (country).. Will talk to the Thai cops I know... I had no idea they had a farang on the books.. I know the other plain clothes as they havent been too hard to spot and have been nobbled and pointed out repeatedly (if they didnt get free drinks from the bars they would be a lot more under cover !!)..