Thailand increases security, calls for ASEAN antiterror unity
Thailand increases security, calls for ASEAN antiterror unity
Agence France-Presse, Bangkok
Thailand announced on Tuesday it had boosted security at its famed tourist sites after the Bali bombing and urged all Southeast Asian nations to unite in the fight against terrorism.
Thai police said surveillance had been increased at places where tourists congregate, as well as at foreign embassies in the capital Bangkok, after the weekend blasts which killed more than 180 people
"Local police and special forces have been ordered to step up patrols and check thoroughly in the areas near foreign embassies and consuls," said Police Gen. Tawatchai Pailee.
Tourist Police commander Maj. Gen. Sanit Miphan said about 1,000 of his officers had been deployed to patrol several tourist spots in the capital Bangkok and in outlying provinces.
Uniformed and plain-clothes officers will also focus on airports, bus stations and railway stations, he said.
In Bangkok, security measures will center on inner-city hotel and shopping districts, as well as the backpacker strip of Khao San Road, which teems with thousands of young foreigners.
The northern city of Chiang Mai, popular tourist spots like Pattaya, Hua Hin and Krabi and the islands of Samui and Phuket and Krabi will also be under a security watch.
"These provinces are popular for tourists. Our security measures involve not only patrols but also include intelligence- gathering," Sanit said, adding that the measures would be reviewed after one or two weeks.
"But I don't think anything will happen. Our country has its own culture and does not support violence," he added.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Monday that even though Thailand was not expected to be the target of any future terrorist attacks, the government would not drop its guard.
"Tourists and foreigners should not be concerned about security, the Thai government will take care of this with both intelligence gathering and prevention," he said.
Thailand's tourism industry has until now benefited from the predominantly Buddhist nation's reputation as a "safe haven" undisturbed by the Muslim militant movements that plague its southern neighbors.
However, fears remain that big-name Thai resorts like the island of Phuket could be targeted by terrorists because of the concentration of foreigners there.
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said a letter would be sent to Cambodia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to urge a joint statement against terrorism in the wake of the bombing.
"I have asked officials to send a letter to the ASEAN standing committee chairman saying that ASEAN should have a joint statement denouncing this kind of terrorism action," he told reporters.
Surakiart also said that ASEAN should cooperate more closely in intelligence gathering.
Thaksin announced on Monday that ASEAN leaders would meet to discuss regional measures to combat terrorism ahead of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, this month.
"We will talk ahead of the APEC meeting to find security measures to prevent terrorism," he said, without giving a date for the meeting.