December 28th, 2010, 09:42
Warden Message: New Year Holiday Celebrations
As the New Year holiday approaches, U.S. citizens traveling to or
residing in Thailand during the holiday season are reminded that
bombings and deadly nightclub fires have occurred in the country,
including in Bangkok, on New Year's Eve in recent years. Keeping in
mind these experiences and the current dynamic political environment in
Thailand, you should remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times
and exercise caution in areas of large public gatherings (e.g., parks,
plazas, shopping malls/bazaars, bars/nightclubs). You are encouraged to
avoid large crowds whenever possible and to remain alert to potentially
dangerous conditions (e.g., unattended bags in public venues, confined
areas posing a fire/evacuation hazard). Even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn violent. The Royal Thai Police plan to deploy
additional security resources throughout the Bangkok metropolitan area
during the holiday weekend.
For the latest security information, you should regularly monitor the
Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website
(http://travel.state.gov), where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel
Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.
You can also obtain up-to-date information on security by calling
1-888-407-4747 (toll free) in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in
other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These
numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday
through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
You are also encouraged to inform the Embassy of your presence in
Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State's Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP), available at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. The American Citizen
Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in
Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing
ACSBKK@State.gov. The Embassy's after-hours emergency telephone number
is 66-2-205-4000.
As the New Year holiday approaches, U.S. citizens traveling to or
residing in Thailand during the holiday season are reminded that
bombings and deadly nightclub fires have occurred in the country,
including in Bangkok, on New Year's Eve in recent years. Keeping in
mind these experiences and the current dynamic political environment in
Thailand, you should remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times
and exercise caution in areas of large public gatherings (e.g., parks,
plazas, shopping malls/bazaars, bars/nightclubs). You are encouraged to
avoid large crowds whenever possible and to remain alert to potentially
dangerous conditions (e.g., unattended bags in public venues, confined
areas posing a fire/evacuation hazard). Even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn violent. The Royal Thai Police plan to deploy
additional security resources throughout the Bangkok metropolitan area
during the holiday weekend.
For the latest security information, you should regularly monitor the
Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website
(http://travel.state.gov), where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel
Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.
You can also obtain up-to-date information on security by calling
1-888-407-4747 (toll free) in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in
other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These
numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday
through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
You are also encouraged to inform the Embassy of your presence in
Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State's Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP), available at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. The American Citizen
Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in
Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing
ACSBKK@State.gov. The Embassy's after-hours emergency telephone number
is 66-2-205-4000.