Posted
on August 30, 2008
Thailand
Safety & Security Report:
"British
travellers in Thailand are being warned to avoid large gatherings
amid the threat of escalating violence. As anti-government
protesters continue their stand-off with the authorities, the
Foreign Office urged tourists to exercise caution. Trouble began on
Tuesday after demonstrators occupied state buildings and the prime
minister's office compound in the capital Bangkok," according to an
ITN report on August 30, 2008.
"Hundreds of
Australian travellers have been stranded in limbo in Thailand after
protesters seeking to overthrow the government forced the closure of
three airports. The country's second busiest airport on the resort
island of Phuket was shut down on Friday after 5000 protesters set
up a blockade and marched down the runway, forcing authorities to
suspend flights to and from the island. A group of protesters
returned yesterday, turning away frustrated travellers," according
to a Fairfax digital's report on August 30, 2008.
The U.S.
Embassy Bangkok released the following Warden Message on August 29,
2008:
This warden message is being issued to alert
U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in
Thailand of demonstrations by the People’s
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) throughout
Thailand, their effect on airports
in Phuket, Hat Yai, and Krabi, and on the Thai railway system.
The situation around the Government House appears to be
deteriorating as of late August 29, with the police unable to
control PAD demonstrators pushing out of the Government House
compound. Very small numbers of protesters have
attempted to use violence to impede RTP progress into the Government
House compound, though the majority of protesters are employing
civil disobedience tactics by sitting or laying down and have
discouraged the use of violence by their activists.
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The RTP continues to block all
vehicular access in the area of the Government House.
The area near Makawan
Rangsan Bridge,
Chamaimuruchet Bridge,
Government House, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Co-operation located on
Rajdamnern Road should be avoided.
Major traffic delays are expected in areas surrounding
Rajdamnern Road including the following:
Sriyudhaya Road,
Pitsanuloke Road, and
Rajvithi Road.
Vipawadee Ransit Road inbound is also
blocked by the protesters in front of NBT.
PAD leaders have asked their protesters to continue their efforts
until Sunday and have called for supporters to block provincial
airports in Thailand,
but not airports in Bangkok.
PAD demonstrators have already blocked the entrance of at
least three airports in the south, Phuket
International Airport,
Hat Yai
Airport, and
Krabi Airport.
Thai Airways and Air Asia have cancelled all flights to and
from Krabi
Airport. At other
airports, passengers have to walk through the demonstrators to get
to the front entrance or follow airport officials’ instructions to
alternative entrances because the airport is trying to prevent the
demonstrators from entering the airport. At the
present time, Phuket
International Airport
and Hat
Yai Airport
are confirmed to be open and operating.
Passengers are advised to confirm their flight, check with the
airport authorities, and give themselves extra time to deal with
possible delays. The list of airports that are
affected by the demonstrations may continue to grow.
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Phuket
International Airport
Call Center:
076-351-111
Hat
Yai Airport
Call Center:
074-227-000
Krabi
Airport Call
Center:
075-636-541
News reports also indicate that railway workers have stopped most
trains nationwide in sympathy with PAD protesters.
We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations
intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly
escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to
avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise
caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.
News reports
also indicate that railway workers have stopped most trains
nationwide in sympathy with PAD protesters.
We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations
intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly
escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to
avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise
caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling
abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular
Affairs Internet web site at
http://travel.state.gov, where
the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and
health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information
on security can also be obtained 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).
American citizens traveling or residing in
Thailand are encouraged to register
with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy is
located at 95 Wireless
Road in
Bangkok. The American Citizen Services Unit
of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by
e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov. The after hours emergency telephone
number is 66-2-205-4000.
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For the latest security
information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor
the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs internet web site at
http://travel.state.gov,
where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts,
Travel Warnings,, Country Specific Information, and health information
resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be
obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or for
callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at
1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
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Your Company, and Your Business Abroad,
Contact our
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info@internationalriskmanagement.com
877-211-3654
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559-294-0316
Another Airline Casualty: Aloha Airline
By
JoAnne Green
March 31, 2008
Seeing a decal of a bird of paradise flower on Aloha
Airline’s tail often brought me good memories of good old
days of inter-island hoping during the early 1980s. We, a
bunch of young working college people in Oahu, would get in
line in front of the Aloha Airline counter to get our
tickets to either Maui or Big Island for a 3-day holiday
weekend. We each paid about $US45.00 round trip to
Maui and $US65.00 to
Big
Island. Of
course, we often selected the least busy time of the day to
get such low prices. No advanced reservations needed. We
benefited from fierce competition between Aloha Air and
Hawaiian Air in those days.
On
April 1, 2008, Aloha Airline will cease its operation
completely after a long financial struggle since 2004. There are no
longer any working online reservations through
Aloha Airlines.
Travelers who have booked tickets for future trips can contact
either
United Airlines or
Hawaiian Airlines to rebook their
tickets. Neither
United Airlines or
Hawaiian Airlines promise to honor all
Aloha’s tickets.
Aloha!!!
###
Copyright (c) JoAnne Green
About JoAnne
Green:
JoAnne is an American
businesswoman. She specializes in Multinational Business Relation
and Transglobal Risk Management. She is the founder and principal of
Sunburst
International Risk Management (SRIM) and
Sunburst Worldwide
Insurance Services.
For information on SIRM international risk and insurance protection
programs, custom-designed risk mitigation and training services,
please visit Sunburst websites: www.InternationalRiskManagement.com
and
www.WorldwideMedicalPlans.com
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Purchase
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