***Travel Advisory***

[PaLmEr]

Posted here for those who do not read Latest News section.

 

Complete Report Here

 

Bombs, arson attacks rock southern Thai province

Posted: 18 September 2006 1221 hrs

 

BANGKOK : Bombers and arsonists struck southern Thailand again overnight, burning school buildings and attacking a military convoy, police said Monday.

 

The attacks came two days after six simultaneous blasts tore through a popular tourist spot Hat Yai city, killing four people and wounding dozens of others.

 

No one was hurt in the overnight attacks across five districts in Narathiwat province, which destroyed vehicles, a school canteen, a daycare center and a timber factory, police Major General Yongyuth Charoenvanit said.

 

"These were efforts by a group of people who want to see the public in chaos," he told AFP.

 

"Their aim was not to injure or take anyone's life," he added.

 

In a separate attack, a bomb exploded on a rural road as a military convoy passed without causing injury, police said.

 

Another bomb detonated near railway tracks but caused no damage.

 

Experts warn that the Hat Yai bombings marked an escalation in the Islamic insurgency that has plagued southern Thailand for more than two years.

 

More than 1,400 people have been killed in almost daily attacks in the south since the latest violence erupted in January 2004.

 

The region was an ethnic Malay sultanate until Buddhist Thailand annexed it a century ago, and separatist unrest has simmered ever since. - AFP /dt

[shoei_com]

hi, u can check it out.... Hat Yai

[bigman_185]

MFA advises Singaporeans planning to travel to Thailand to monitor developments

 

 

SINGAPORE : Singapore's Foreign Ministry (MFA) says the situation in Thailand remains uncertain.

 

The Ministry and the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok are closely monitoring the situation.

 

The Foreign Ministry advises Singaporeans intending to travel to Thailand to monitor developments there closely.

 

If they decide to travel to Thailand, the Foreign Ministry says they should register with the Ministry through its website at http://www.mfa.gov.sg.

 

This will enable the ministry and its embassy to contact Singaporeans and render them the necessary assistance.

 

The ministry says Singaporeans already in Thailand should also closely monitor news on the situation there.

 

They should take the necessary precautions for their personal safety.

 

During this period of uncertainty, Singaporeans are advised to monitor the news, remain in a safe location and avoid areas where there is risk of disturbance.

 

Singaporeans who are concerned about the safety of relatives and friends in Thailand can contact MFA or the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok at the following numbers:

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Hotline: 6332-0000 (24 hours)

Fax Number: 6476-7302

Email: [email protected]

 

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Thailand

Address: 129 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120

Contact Number: 001-66-(81) 844-3580, 001-66-(2) 286-2111

Fax Number: 001-66-(2) 286-6966

Email: [email protected]

 

- CNA /ls

[PaLmEr]

Military stages coup in Thailand

Posted: 20 September 2006 0413 hrs

 

BANGKOK - Thailand's armed forces said Tuesday they had ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup and imposed martial law to restore order after months of political turmoil in the kingdom.

 

Troops poured into the streets and tanks surrounded the offices of Thaksin, who was out of the country at the United Nations, while military leaders said they had suspended the constitution and the government.

 

Officials at the royal palace said top military commanders including the head of the army, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, had met with the nation's influential King Bhumibol Adulyadej after announcing the coup.

 

The uprising capped months of uncertainty and unhappiness about Thaksin, who was accused of corruption after his family sold nearly two billion dollars of shares in his company earlier this year without paying any tax.

 

Thaksin temporarily resigned and called new elections in April to draw a line under the crisis but the vote -- which he hoped would shore up his position -- descended into chaos amid a widespread boycott by his opponents.

 

It was not immediately clear if Sonthi had taken over as prime minister, but a statement in his name read out on state television and radio declared that Thaksin's controversial time in power was over.

 

The statement said a provisional "Council for Political Reform" had taken action to restore law and order, effective immediately.

 

"The council found it necessary to seize power as of now," it said.

 

"As the country has no prime minister, all legal powers authorized by law to the prime minister must be transferred to the leader of the Council," the statement said.

 

The seizure of power by Sonthi, the largely Buddhist nation's first-ever Muslim army chief, came amid widespread criticism of Thaksin's handling of a militant Islamic uprising in the south of the country.

 

More than 1,400 people have been killed in nearly three years of violence in the south and the unrest has continued to intensify despite Thaksin's imposition of martial law in parts of the region.

 

Thaksin repeatedly dismissed criticism of his leadership and rejected allegations of wrongdoing in his family's stock sale. From the sidelines of the UN meeting in New York, he insisted he was still in power.

 

"The Thai prime minister is quite calm," said an official from his delegation to the United Nations, where Thaksin was to speak later in the day.

 

"He feels that he is the elected prime minister and he would like to safeguard the constitution of the country," the official said.

 

But Songti's statement said the constitution had been annulled and that the country's main constitutional court would not be allowed to operate for the present time.

 

Not known for political stability, Thailand has lived through more than a dozen coups in recent times -- and many here said the upheaval would add to the growing concern over the insurgency, which has hit the tourism industry hard.

 

"This is very bad for Thailand, its economy and its tourism and everything," said Yong Suphachai, the 29-year-old owner of a body-painting shop in Bangkok's main tourist area.

 

"This is a big change but I don't know what it is," he said. "I don't know what will happen to Thailand."

 

In the face of mass street protests over his family's stock deal, Thaksin appeared to hope that his solid support from rural Thais would offset his critics in the country's urban areas.

 

But the snap election he called to put an end to the crisis brought only temporary relief. Members of the election commission were later imprisoned after being found guilty of working in favour of Thaksin's ruling party.

 

Before the vote he went to visit the king, a widely revered monarch who occasionally has stepped into the fray to force unpopular political leaders to stand down.

 

Military leaders did not speak to reporters after meeting with the king late Tuesday in the wake of their coup, but most troops in the streets were sporting yellow scarves -- a traditional sign of loyalty to the Thai monarch.

 

As soldiers took up positions across the capital without firing a shot, residents calmly chatted with them and some delivered food to troops sitting atop their tanks.

 

Around the Royal Palace, the streets quickly cleared of tourists, but some vendors hurried to Government House and the United Nations building, where they said they hoped to make some money selling food to the soldiers.

 

- AFP /ls

 

Source

[shoei_com]

hi, lastest new.......

 

 

 

The Nation

ThailandDaily

Bangkokpost

[Pauche]

Read all the consolidated news here.........

[SBR750]

haaa...looks like i haf to postopne my year end ride...so upset...

[blur sotong]

heard 3NCR Phuket tis year might cancel if situation get worst..

[ATwin]

For bikers who wish to adventure thailand this month, be prepared to get wet.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=123464

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/041107_News/04Nov2007_news06.php

 

Weather forecast in thailand

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=chumphon

[yem_paul]

Hope weather will get better by next week. A lot of bikers going up.

[Al-Simmons]

Hope weather will get better by next week. A lot of bikers going up.

 

hopefully only the south affected...

 

or else prepare for some cold and wet ride up north...

[zasrock]

I hope the rain would not be a heavy one and prolonge one cause scare the highway is close or certain main route in thai not accessible...

[ATwin]

maybe u guys could check with yem when he's back from CM..and update those who travel next month

[ATwin]

expected more rain in NOV ...weather check in MHS

 

http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=VTCH&zipCode=673823467272

[chrislayer]

just be prepared guys...

[feeufee]

Any updates from anyone back from THA?

[yem_paul]

Any updates from anyone back from THA?

 

Hi ... Currently in Mae Hong Son ... weather for the past 6 days that we travelled from Hadyai up till here is perfect. Never had a single drop of rain. Weather in Northern is super cold ... can get to as low as 20 degrees ... will update again.

[madman]

Recently alot of bad floods in Malaysia... Is the NSHW up to Hatyai affected? I wish to know as I'm will be travelling to Hatyai if the route up is not affected.

 

And, if I wanna make a quick stop up Genting Highlands ok as well? Will be driving not riding. Thanks and cheers!