Thailand emerges as extreme risk nation

[Norseman]

A global ranking, revealing the countries most at risk from terrorist attacks, has rated Iraq as the most dangerous country for the second year running, whilst Thailand has slipped into the extreme risk category for the first time.

The Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) has been developed by Maplecroft for companies to assess terrorism risks to their international assets. The index measures not only the risks of an attack, but also the chances of mass casualties occurring.

Iraq (1),
Afghanistan (2), Pakistan (3) and Somalia (4) top the ranking of 196 countries and are rated, along with Lebanon (5), India (6), Algeria (7), Colombia (8) and Thailand (9), as the only extreme risk nations.

http://www.maplecroft.com/about/news/te ... eb_10.html

Whether the survey is right or wrong, I still find Hua Hin as peaceful as ever but I'm maybe wrong?
Does anybody know where you can buy some AK-47's and a few Claymores while waiting for the onslaught?

[PeteC]

I saw that this morning in the Bangkok Post and a comment by the Finance Minister, Korn. Instead of complaining that it was untrue and nonsense like many other empty suit ministers would have done, he urged Thai people to work on the issues, social relationships and problem. I admire him for that. Perhaps a gem among the rubble. Pete

[buksida]

Whether the survey is right or wrong, I still find Hua Hin as peaceful as ever but I'm maybe wrong?

The only difference is that the terrorists wear uniforms in Hua Hin.

[crazy88]

Extreme risk of-

Getting a suntan?

Eating and drinking out every day for buttons?

Getting sand between your toes on any one of hundreds of fantastic beaches?

Catching a marlin or a giant mekong catfish?

Accidently walking into a coconut tree whilst retrieving a stray golf ball?

Buying a 3 bedroom villa with private pool for less than a studio flat at home?

Being tempted by millions of pairs of long slim legs and dark almond shaped eyes?

Anything else I should watch out for?




Crazy 88

[STEVE G]

It has to be admitted that there is a large potential risk of violence emerging over the next few years, but I would of thought that most of it will be centred in Bangkok and not in a resort like Hua Hin.
If you're out in the countryside you wouldn't even know anything is happening in the same way that a G8 riot in London wouldn't concern you too much if you were in Cumbria.

[lomuamart]

Not sure about that, STEVE G. Thaksin's strongholds are in Issan and the North and I reckon there's always the chance of trouble in parts of those regions. It depends on the verdict.
I'd agree with you that BKK is the place where things are most likely to kick off and resorts like HH really won't be affected at all.

[PeteC]

News alert SMS one after the other the past few days is the government reassuring everything will be alright. Maybe they're trying to convince themselves?

A new item that just broke but I can' find the story in print yet is that they have greatly beefed up security at all petrochemical and fuel facilities around the country. I wonder what that's all about as a new slant on things if they received some kind of threat. Pete

[STEVE G]

Yes, I suppose it depends on where you draw the line between terrorism and political upheaval, I can't imagine anyone bothering to plant a bomb in your average Issan village.

[HuntingTigers]

Picked this up from The Nation Business section this morning, [UK morning that is].

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/02 ... 122739.php

Foreign operators urged to switch tour groups to non-Bangkok destinations
By Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Published on February 17, 2010

"Foreign operators with tours due to arrive next week are being advised to switch their groups to out-of-Bangkok destinations, in order to avoid any impact from rising political tension and the likelihood of protests turning violent.

At least two countries - Australia and Canada - have issued advisories to their citizens to consider safety matters very carefully when travelling to Thailand, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

TCT secretary-general Pornthip Hirunkate yesterday said the council had sent advice to all its members to help them deal with the political situation and the potential for violence as the court ruling in ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case approaches.

Local operators have been urged to ask their overseas alliance partners to come up with alternative destinations to Bangkok in the final week of the month.

Pornthip said operators could still bring groups to Thailand during the period, but they should avoid Bangkok and shift the tours to destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, as well as to provinces nearer the capital."

Why have only Australia and Canada given warnings?

HT.

[PeteC]

Have that thread going here HT:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/fo ... 14501.html

The country count is up to six giving advisories as of today. Pete

EDIT: Link concerning current advisories:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tou ... advisories

[HuntingTigers]

Pornthip said operators could still bring groups to Thailand during the period, but they should avoid Bangkok and shift the tours to destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, as well as to provinces nearer the capital."

Pattaya
This is almost too funny for words.

[HuntingTigers]

Have that thread going here HT:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/fo ... 14501.html

OOPS!

[sandman67]

hmmmm, lets see. Given that:

Terrorist attacks are almost a daily occurance in the troubled South;

Bombing incidents occur less frequently, but still occur, all over Thailand;

In Patayya and Phuket it seems its open season on tourists;

The red and yellow two year shit kicking contest including attacks on national and foreign dignitaries;

The total lack of effective law enforcement and utter disreguard for the law here;

A military who are out of control and think that a coup is a good idea;

Rougue units of police and military acting as terrorists and firing grenades and bombs at civilian protests and government targets....

and the list goes on.

Som Nam Na say I! Its a deserved badge of shame....deserved by politicians, police, army, beturbanned barbarians and shifty idle idiotic protesters alike.