The Bangkok Post, not heeding the pleas from the Thai Government Tourism Organizations, is still reporting on the possible bomb threats in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve which I am sure has pissed off the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

See, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting the 2012 Countdown at CentralWorld – the place at the top of the Thai Police list as a possible bomb target.

Happy New Year

Today’s article in the Bangkok Post, Police identify 10 New Year security risk areas, is just a rehash of an earlier article warning people about the possiblity of bombs on New Year’s Eve.  The problem with this article is that it fails to mentions 9 of the 10 locations.  The only location mentioned in the article is the one that the Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting – CentralWorld.

How can you have a headline stating that the Thai Police have identified 10 security risk areas and then fail to list them?  Thai journalism at the almost English news media.

Anyhow, here are the ten locations – “The 10 locations people have been urged to stay away from are Victory Monument, the Major Ratchayothin cinema complex, Seacon Square, CentralWorld, Khao San Road, Chitralada Palace, Si Sao Thewes, Mor Chit bus terminal, Soi Nana and Pata Pinklao.”

Has the Tourism Authority of Thailand issued any warnings?  Nope.  Will the Tourism Authority of Thailand issue any warnings?  Nope.

This, despite the fact that one bomb was already found in front of the Thai Government Lottery Office and a few days later, 6 more bombs were found in Bangkok.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand continues to promote CentralWorld and the Countdown to 2012.

I guess they are relying on the ever-efficient Thai Police to handle security at the big end of year event.

Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said police would check CentralWorld carefully before the countdown takes place.

I feel safer already.  I am sure that the Tourism Authority of Thailand feels so safe they will continue to promote CentralWorld without a peep about the threat of a bombing.

Bomb squads and sniffing dogs would be deployed.

It is good to see that the Thai Police are taking this seriously, but it is very difficult to monitor a large area with tens of thousands of people.  And, all it takes is one guy on a motorcycle to toss a bomb.  Who knows, a bomb may already be planted and then detonated remotely from a distance.

There will also be thousands of New Year’s Eve party-goers on Khaosan Road and at Nana Plaza. But, since these are areas that foreigners hang out, I am sure that the security will not be as tight.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand is currently promoting Khaosan Road with a Miracle Smile campaign so you can see that there is no concern from this irresponsible organization.

Once the search has been completed, the place will be sealed off and guarded by a 1,000-strong police and military force. Hundreds of officers from the Protection and Crowd Control Division, Central Investigation Bureau and Border Patrol Police will be deployed.

Sounds like a real fun place to be at.  Glad to see that the Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting a possible war zone for New Year’s Eve.

They will work alongside about 400 army officers and at security guards in the surrounding areas.

One thousand Thai Police, 400 military, and a bunch of security guards. Visions of Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Cops come to mind.  All this security is not mentioned at all by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Visitors will have to pass through various security checkpoints where the authorities will screen them for explosives and weapons.

Hopefully they close all of the roads surrounding all of the areas too.  Very easy to conceal bombs and very easy to deploy from a motorcycle.  Just look to Southern Thailand for bomber’s MO’s. The Tourism Authority of Thailand must be relying on the sophisticated bomb detecting equipment that the Thai Military has.

Security and traffic cameras will also keep an eye on proceedings.

Except half the cameras are dummy cameras, most of the real ones don’t work, and the ones that do work, produce grainy video.  But, since the Tourism Authority of Thailand isn’t worried, neither am I.

A further 250 security checkpoints would be set up across the capital to protect revellers on New Year’s Eve, Pol Lt Gen Winai said.

Another point that the Tourism Authority of Thailand hasn’t mentioned to tourists.

He added those individuals or groups intent on sowing mischief tend to hide explosive devices in public waste containers, telephone booths or under trees and shrubs.

Brilliant! Despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand wanting to keep this bomb news hush-hush, the Thai Police have issued warnings and the local news have reported it.  The problem is now the bad guys know what the good guys know.

The bad guys know to avoid these 10 places since there will be a heavy concentration of Thai Police patrolling and they know where the Thai Police will be looking for bombs.

Or, maybe the bad guys will look at it as a challenge to get past the Thai Police and Thai Military to make the current Thai Government look bad.  Either way, the Tourism Authority of Thailand loses.  Or, has already lost since tourism is still sucking through December.

First the floods killed tourism in October and November and now the threat of bombs have killed tourism for December.

All the Tourism Authority of Thailand can do is look forward to 2012 and hope that former Prime Minister, and fugitive from the law, Thaksin Shinawatra doesn’t return.

Or, political turmoil will once again kill tourism despite what you hear from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tags: 2012 bomb centralworld new year new years eve TAT thai military thai police tourism authority of thailand