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''As you have undoubtedly heard, the 2003 APEC meetings will take place in Bangkok from October 16-22. We are sending this message to provide the American community with important information and guidance which we have received from knowledgeable authorities, so that American citizens living in or visiting the Bangkok area may plan accordingly. With an event of this magnitude, extraordinary security measures will be in place that may cause some inconvenience. Please review the following and share it with
your family members, as it may help to reduce any inconvenience.
In addition to this message, we will send out other important new information which may become known to us. Please be aware that much of the information given here comes from the Thai government, and is subject to change.
APEC MEETING VENUES
APEC meeting venues will include the following locations:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Queen Sirikit Center: Streets
around these locations will be partially closed on October 17, 18,
and 19, and no parking will be permitted on any of the streets
surrounding these facilities.
Grand Palace, the Royal Thai Navy Institute Government House,
the Old Parliament, and the Royal Thai Army Headquarters: Streets
around these locations will be partially closed on October 20 and 21,
and no parking will be permitted on any of the streets surrounding
these facilities.
Security will be extremely tight at these venues, and only
credentialed personnel will be permitted access. We recommend that
you completely avoid these locations during the dates indicated
above, as non-working, non-credentialed personnel will NOT be
permitted access to the sites.
GRAND HYATT ERAWAN HOTEL
Extensive security measures will be in place in and around the
hotel from October 16-21. It is expected that police will close
the two lanes on Ratchadamri Road on the hotel (i.e., east) side,
and permit two-way traffic on the other two (i.e., west) lanes.
Phloenchit Road is expected to remain open. We recommend that you
completely avoid the area around the hotel during the dates
indicated above, as non-working, non-credentialed personnel will
NOT be permitted access to the hotel.
MOTORCADES
Police plan to close routes and control intersections approximately
20 minutes prior to the movement of motorcades and keep them closed
for approximately 10 minutes after the motorcades have passed.
Motorcades will be most frequent in the area between the Grand
Palace, Government House, and the Old Parliament, and to a slightly
lesser degree on Ploenchit/Sukhumvit Road. In addition, there will
be frequent motorcades on the Tollway to and from Don Muang Airport
on October 19 and 22.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS
Authorities have advised us that they do not plan to completely
close any streets, except temporarily during motorcade movements.
They do, however, plan to adjust traffic patterns and close lanes
on certain streets. For example, from October 17-22, only the
north (outbound) side of Sukhumvit Road will be open from the Nana
intersection to the Asoke intersection. The south side of
Sukhumvit Road will be closed. Please go to
http://usa.or.th/embassy/apectrafficmap.doc for a map showing the
planned traffic patterns in the Sukhumvit Road area.
BTS SKYTRAIN
The BTS Skytrain is expected to run according to schedule.
American citizens are strongly encouraged to use it as much as
possible during APEC in lieu of driving.
POLICE CHECKPOINTS
Police plan to establish numerous, random checkpoints in and around
Bangkok. These checkpoints will operate similar to sobriety
checkpoints in the U.S., and motorists will be stopped on a random
basis. If you are instructed to stop, you should cooperate fully
with police.
DEMONSTRATIONS
Authorities are expecting demonstrations to take place during APEC,
but do not have specific information at this time. We will inform
the American community of major demonstrations to the extent that
we know about them in advance. As always, you should leave an area
immediately if you encounter a demonstration.
SECURITY
As APEC approaches, this would be a good time for American citizens
to re-read the State Department's Worldwide Caution Public
Announcement, and to review their personal security posture as
appropriate. The Worldwide Caution can be found online at
http://travel.state.gov/wwc1.html, and is also repeated below for
your convenience:
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
------------------------
WORLDWIDE CAUTION
September 26, 2003
This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated September 10, 2003.
It is being issued to remind U.S. citizens of the continuing
threat that they may be a target of terrorist actions, even after
the anniversary date of the September 11 attacks, and to add the
potential for threats to maritime interests. This Worldwide
Caution expires on February 25, 2004.
The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the security
of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens are cautioned to maintain
a high level of vigilance, to remain alert and to take appropriate
steps to increase their security awareness. We are seeing increasing
indications that Al-Qaida is preparing to strike U.S. interests
abroad. Looking at the last few months, Al-Qaida and its associated
organizations have struck in the Middle East in Riyadh, in North
Africa in Casablanca, and in East Asia in Indonesia. We therefore
assess that other geographic locations could be venues for the next
round of attacks. We expect Al-Qaida will strive for new attacks
that will be more devastating than the September 11 attack, possibly
involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological
agents. We also cannot rule out the potential for Al-Qaida to
attempt a second catastrophic attack within the U.S.
Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide
operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also
involve commercial aircraft and maritime interests, and threats to
include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices. Terrorists
do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may
include facilities where American citizens and other foreigners
congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants,
places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or
resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened
state of personal security awareness when attendance at such
locations is unavoidable.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of
alert. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public
services from time to time to assess their security posture. In
those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every
effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans
abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with
the nearest American embassy or consulate.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential
security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible
threat information through its consular information program
documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.
In addition to information on the Internet, U.S. travelers may
obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada''
on a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.
your family members, as it may help to reduce any inconvenience.
In addition to this message, we will send out other important new information which may become known to us. Please be aware that much of the information given here comes from the Thai government, and is subject to change.
APEC MEETING VENUES
APEC meeting venues will include the following locations:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Queen Sirikit Center: Streets
around these locations will be partially closed on October 17, 18,
and 19, and no parking will be permitted on any of the streets
surrounding these facilities.
Grand Palace, the Royal Thai Navy Institute Government House,
the Old Parliament, and the Royal Thai Army Headquarters: Streets
around these locations will be partially closed on October 20 and 21,
and no parking will be permitted on any of the streets surrounding
these facilities.
Security will be extremely tight at these venues, and only
credentialed personnel will be permitted access. We recommend that
you completely avoid these locations during the dates indicated
above, as non-working, non-credentialed personnel will NOT be
permitted access to the sites.
GRAND HYATT ERAWAN HOTEL
Extensive security measures will be in place in and around the
hotel from October 16-21. It is expected that police will close
the two lanes on Ratchadamri Road on the hotel (i.e., east) side,
and permit two-way traffic on the other two (i.e., west) lanes.
Phloenchit Road is expected to remain open. We recommend that you
completely avoid the area around the hotel during the dates
indicated above, as non-working, non-credentialed personnel will
NOT be permitted access to the hotel.
MOTORCADES
Police plan to close routes and control intersections approximately
20 minutes prior to the movement of motorcades and keep them closed
for approximately 10 minutes after the motorcades have passed.
Motorcades will be most frequent in the area between the Grand
Palace, Government House, and the Old Parliament, and to a slightly
lesser degree on Ploenchit/Sukhumvit Road. In addition, there will
be frequent motorcades on the Tollway to and from Don Muang Airport
on October 19 and 22.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS
Authorities have advised us that they do not plan to completely
close any streets, except temporarily during motorcade movements.
They do, however, plan to adjust traffic patterns and close lanes
on certain streets. For example, from October 17-22, only the
north (outbound) side of Sukhumvit Road will be open from the Nana
intersection to the Asoke intersection. The south side of
Sukhumvit Road will be closed. Please go to
http://usa.or.th/embassy/apectrafficmap.doc for a map showing the
planned traffic patterns in the Sukhumvit Road area.
BTS SKYTRAIN
The BTS Skytrain is expected to run according to schedule.
American citizens are strongly encouraged to use it as much as
possible during APEC in lieu of driving.
POLICE CHECKPOINTS
Police plan to establish numerous, random checkpoints in and around
Bangkok. These checkpoints will operate similar to sobriety
checkpoints in the U.S., and motorists will be stopped on a random
basis. If you are instructed to stop, you should cooperate fully
with police.
DEMONSTRATIONS
Authorities are expecting demonstrations to take place during APEC,
but do not have specific information at this time. We will inform
the American community of major demonstrations to the extent that
we know about them in advance. As always, you should leave an area
immediately if you encounter a demonstration.
SECURITY
As APEC approaches, this would be a good time for American citizens
to re-read the State Department's Worldwide Caution Public
Announcement, and to review their personal security posture as
appropriate. The Worldwide Caution can be found online at
http://travel.state.gov/wwc1.html, and is also repeated below for
your convenience:
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
------------------------
WORLDWIDE CAUTION
September 26, 2003
This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated September 10, 2003.
It is being issued to remind U.S. citizens of the continuing
threat that they may be a target of terrorist actions, even after
the anniversary date of the September 11 attacks, and to add the
potential for threats to maritime interests. This Worldwide
Caution expires on February 25, 2004.
The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the security
of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens are cautioned to maintain
a high level of vigilance, to remain alert and to take appropriate
steps to increase their security awareness. We are seeing increasing
indications that Al-Qaida is preparing to strike U.S. interests
abroad. Looking at the last few months, Al-Qaida and its associated
organizations have struck in the Middle East in Riyadh, in North
Africa in Casablanca, and in East Asia in Indonesia. We therefore
assess that other geographic locations could be venues for the next
round of attacks. We expect Al-Qaida will strive for new attacks
that will be more devastating than the September 11 attack, possibly
involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological
agents. We also cannot rule out the potential for Al-Qaida to
attempt a second catastrophic attack within the U.S.
Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide
operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also
involve commercial aircraft and maritime interests, and threats to
include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices. Terrorists
do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may
include facilities where American citizens and other foreigners
congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants,
places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or
resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened
state of personal security awareness when attendance at such
locations is unavoidable.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of
alert. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public
services from time to time to assess their security posture. In
those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every
effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans
abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with
the nearest American embassy or consulate.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential
security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible
threat information through its consular information program
documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.
In addition to information on the Internet, U.S. travelers may
obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada''
on a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.
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