US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK5096

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
ADM AID FOR MELISSA FRANCIS, CYNTHIA RUIZ 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, Country Clearance 
SUBJECT: THAILAND COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MS. MELISSA FRANCIS 
 
REF: STATE 144064 
 
1.  (U) EMBASSY WELCOMES AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE TO MS. 
MELISSA FRANCIS, NEP, TO TRAVEL TO BANGKOK, THAILAND O/A SEPTEMBER 
8  OCTOBER 12, 2005.  PURPOSE OF THIS TRAVEL IS TO COVER THE 
PROGRAM OFFICE AT USAID RDM/A. 
 
2.  (U) HOTEL RESERVATION IS MADE AT CENTER POINT ON WIRELESS 
ROAD. PER DIEM RATE IN BANGKOK IS BASED ON THE LODGING-PLUS BASIS 
AND $57 FOR M&IE. 
 
3.  (U) EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. TERESA MCGHIE, REGIONAL 
LEGAL ADVISOR, USAID/RDMA. DIRECT LINE CONTACT NUMBERS ARE AS 
FOLLOWS: OFFICE (662) 263-7472 FAX (662) 263-7497. IN ADDITION, 
USAID/RDMA PERSONNEL CAN ALSO BE REACHED DURING OFFICE HOURS 
THROUGH THE EMBASSY SWITCHBOARD AT (662) 205-4000 OR AFTER-HOURS 
EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR THE EMBASSY IS (662)205-4108. 
 
 
4.  (U) ALTHOUGH VISAS ARE NOT REQUIRED OF HOLDERS OF U.S. TOURIST 
PASSPORTS WHO PLAN TO STAY FEWER THAN 30 DAYS, HOLDERS OF 
DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS MUST OBTAIN VISAS PRIOR TO 
ARRIVAL. IF A TRAVELER IS NOT A U.S. PASSPORT HOLDER, PLEASE CALL 
YOUR LOCAL THAI EMBASSY FOR VISA INFORMATION. 
 
5.  (U) THAILAND HAS AN AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX OF 500 BAHT THAT 
MUST BE PAID IN LOCAL CURRENCY UPON DEPARTURE. 
 
6.  (SBU) SECURITY INFORMATION 
----------------------------- 
A.  (U) MANDATORY PERSONAL SECURITY TRAINING: 
------------------------------------------- 
-   (U) ALL U.S. CITIZEN PERSONNEL SERVING UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION 
AUTHORITY IN A TEMPORARY DUTY STATUS OF 30 DAYS OR MORE MUST 
COMPLETE APPROPRIATE OVERSEAS PERSONAL SECURITY TRAINING PRIOR TO 
TRAVEL (04 STATE 66580).  EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE 
SECURITY OVERSEAS SEMINAR COURSE AT STATES FOREIGN SERVICE 
INSTITUTE (FSI) AFTER JUNE 1, 2000 MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.  ALL 
OTHER TDYERS MUST EITHER 1) COMPLETE THE APPROVED FOUR-DAY SEMINAR 
AT FSI ENTITLED SERVING ABROAD FOR FAMILIES & EMPLOYEES (SAFE) 
OR 2) HAVE THEIR AGENCY CERTIFY TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF 
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS UNDERGONE EQUIVALENT 
SECURITY TRAINING.  THE CONTACT FOR THIS CERTIFICATION IS 
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TRAINING, DS/T, AT TELEPHONE (703) 205-2617. 
COUNTRY CLEARANCE WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR ANY TRAVELER WITH 
PLANNED TDY IN EXCESS OF 30 DAYS IF THIS INFORMATION IS NOT 
STATED/CERTIFIED.  POC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS 
DS_RSOBANGKOK@STATE.GOV. 
 
1.B.  (U) CRIME 
------------- 
- (U) CRIME IS GENERALLY NON-CONFRONTATIONAL IN NATURE.  CRIMINAL 
ACTS ARE USUALLY CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY SUCH AS PURSE-SNATCHINGS, 
THEFTS OF UNATTENDED PROPERTY, AND PICK POCKETING. VISITORS SHOULD 
BE ESPECIALLY ALERT IN CROWDED BUSES, STREETS, AND MARKETS OR 
WHILE ON TUK-TUKS.  VISITORS SHOULD LOCK VALUABLES IN HOTEL SAFE 
DEPOSIT BOXES NOT IN THEIR HOTEL ROOMS. 
 
- (U) BE AWARE OF COMMON SCAMS AND FRAUDS (INCLUDING CREDIT CARDS, 
DS, 
IN PARTICULAR).  VISITORS SHOULD ONLY USE CREDIT CARDS AT WELL- 
ESTABLISHED AND REPUTABLE BUSINESSES.  THE DRUGGING AND ROBBING OF 
UNWARY INDIVIDUALS IS COMMON.  VARIOUS AMERICANS HAVE REPORTED 
BEING DRUGGED AND ROBBED OR BEATEN AFTER SOCIALIZING WITH 
STRANGERS IN BAR AREAS.  THE DRUGS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS TEMPORARY 
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, AND IF OVERDOSED, DEATH. 
VISITORS SHOULD NOT ACCEPT FREE FOOD OR DRINKS FROM STRANGERS. 
 
- (U) BE WARY OF COMMON SCAMS FOR JEWELRY, SUITS, SILKS, GEMS, OR 
ANTIQUITIES.  THERE ARE NO THAI GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR SPONSORED GEM 
STORES.  SOME DISREPUTABLE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES MAY CHARGE 
EXORBITANT DRINK PRICES OR COVER CHARGES.  THE SALE OF COUNTERFEIT 
GOODS IS ALSO RAMPANT IN TOURIST AREAS.  IF VICTIMIZED, SEEK 
ASSISTANCE FROM TOURIST POLICE BY DIALING 1155. 
 
C. (U) TRAFFIC: 
-------------- 
- (U) THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IN BANGKOK CAN BE DIFFICULT AND 
DANGEROUS FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.  ALL 
VISITORS SHOULD BE A1ERT TO TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND UNEXPECTED 
MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS.  POST RECOMMENDS THAT PEDESTRIANS USE THE 
OVERHEAD WALKWAYS FOR CROSSING BUSY STREETS.  VISITORS ARE ADVISED 
THAT TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE A 
BUS LANE THAT FLOWS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 
 
D. (U) TERRORISM: 
---------------- 
- (SBU) THE U.S. MISSION IN BANGKOK CURRENTLY RATES THE THREAT 
FROM TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS AS HIGH.  DESPITE STEPPED UP 
RTG EFFORTS TO MONITOR THE BORDERS, THEY REMAIN RELATIVELY POROUS 
AND ALLOW EASY ILLEGAL ACCESS.  TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS, TO 
INCLUDE AL-QAIDA AND JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH (JI), HAVE UTILIZED 
THAILAND AS A TRANSIT POINT. 
- (SBU) THE THREAT FROM INDIGENOUS TERRORIST GROUPS IS CURRENTLY 
RATED AS LOW.  THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT INDIGENOUS 
TERRORIST GROUPS ARE PLANNING ACTS AGAINST U.S. PERSONNEL OR 
FACILITIES. THE FAR SOUTH OF THAILAND HAS EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS OF 
CRIMINALLY AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE, INCLUDING INCIDENTS 
ATTRIBUTED TO ARMED LOCAL MUSLIM SEPARATIST GROUPS. ALTHOUGH 
AMERICANS HAVE NOT BEEN SPECIFICALLY TARGETED IN THE PAST, THE 
INDISCRIMINATE NATURE OF PAST ATTACKS BY THESE GROUPS - INCLUDING 
BOMBINGS OF PUBLIC PLACES - INDICATES A POTENTIAL THREAT TO 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 
 
- (U) THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED 
RISK OF TERRORISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, INCLUDING THAILAND. 
TRAVELERS TO THAILAND SHOULD THEREFORE EXERCISE CAUTION, 
ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS WHERE WESTERNERS CONGREGATE, SUCH AS 
CLUBS, DISCOS, BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, TOURIST AREAS, AND OTHER 
PLACES FREQUENTED BY FOREIGNERS. 
 
E. (U) OTHER SECURITY TIPS: 
-------------------------- 
- (U) VISITORS SHOULD AVOID MAKING ANY PEJORATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT 
ANY MEMBERS OF THE THAI ROYAL FAMILY OR ENGAGING IN DISRESPECTFUL 
CONDUCT WITHIN TEMPLES OR TOWARD RELIGIOUS OBJECTS.  SUCH BEHAVIOR 
CAN RESULT IN ARREST AND/OR EXPULSION FROM THAILAND. 
 
- (U) PRECAUTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN NOT TO DISCUSS SENSITIVE OR 
CLASSIFIED MATTERS OUTSIDE SECURE ENVIRONMENTS OR OVER UNSECURED 
AND/OR CELLULAR TELEPHONES, AND TO SECURELY SAFEGUARD CLASSIFIED 
OR SENSITIVE MATERIALS AT THE CHANCERY AND NOT AT HOTELS OR 
RESIDENCES. 
 
- (U) VISITORS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENTS 
CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET FOR THAILAND AND THE MOST RECENT 
WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE VIA 
THE INTERNET AT HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.  DOD PERSONNEL MUST 
REVIEW THE PACOM FORCE PROTECTION LEVELS FOR THAILAND FOUND AT 
HTTP://131.84.1.218/STAFF/AT/ATHOME.SHTML. 
 
- (U) IN ESSENCE, VISITORS TO BANGKOK MUST EXERCISE APPROPRIATE 
CAUTION AND BE ALERT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS WITH REGARD TO THEIR 
PERSONAL SECURITY.  SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS/ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE 
REPORTED TO RSO BANGKOK (TEL. 02-205-4000, 24 HRS/DAY).  ON BEHALF 
OF US EMBASSY BANGKOK, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE AND PLEASANT VISIT. 
 
BOYCE