 Thailand has made the list of the Top 10 Most Dangerous Places as compiled by theTelegraphnewspaper of London.
The latest edition of the list puts Thailand as the seventh most-dangerous spot for travellers behind Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, South Africa, Somalia and Sudan. Thailand is said to be more dangerous than Colombia and Haiti at the moment.
It justifies the Thai spot on the list because of "major political demonstrations and a temporary state of emergency" at the two Bangkok airports.
It also cites the continuing demonstrations around Government House, the Cambodian-Thai fighting on the bordefr, and "civil unrest and frequent attacks" in the deep South.
The British "Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to these areas," the newspaper said.
Washingon alerts
Washington (Agencies) - The United States on Friday criticised protesters who have seized Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and said it was "deeply concerned" about the situation.
State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said that occupying the airports is "not an appropriate means of protest" by the People's Alliance for Democracy.
The demonstrators should "walk away from the airports peacefully," he said.
Separately, "Travel Alert: Thailand" made the front page of the State Department web page atwww.state.gov.
"At this time, Bangkok’s international and domestic airports have ceased flight operations due to the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protests at those locations," the travel advisory for Americans said.
"Americans in Thailand should avoid travel to these airports until airport operations return to normal."
It urged all Americans to stay clear of the airports and any other crowds or political gatherings which could "possibly escalate into violence."
Here is the full text of the press statement:
The United States is deeply concerned about the actions of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in seizing Bangkok's international and domestic airports, preventing the free movement of people and goods.
While we respect the right to freedom of expression, seizing an airport is not an appropriate means of protest.
We urge the PAD to walk away from the airports peacefully.
We hope that this situation can be resolved without violence and in accordance with the law.
In meanwhile according to Bangkokpost
(BangkokPost.com) – Police who set up security checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi airport were overran by a handful of protesters led by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Saturday morning.
The PAD mobilised more yellow-clad protesters to drive the police out of the airport. The protesters destroyed police vehicles, including inmate trucks, and blockaded the motorway to Suvarnabhumi.
After the Emergency Decree was enforced in Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, police were deployed to the motorway and set up security checkpoints to stop more demonstrators from entering Suvarnabhumi. However, the operation fell short as the police could not resist the anti-government raid.
Besides, the protesters were able to take back their knives and rods seized by the authorities earlier.
PAD's terrorist guards abducted police officer while on duty
Guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy detained a police senior sergeant major Saturday morning.
Pol Senior Sgt Maj Sompop Nathee, an officer from the Border Patrol Police Region 1 was arrested when he rode a motorcycle to a scene where police crashed with protesters at a police checkpoint on Kingkaew Road.
Sompop was taken to be questioned by Samran Rodphet, a leader of the PAD.
Samran ordered the guards to continue to detain the police officer after the questioning.
Sompop told Samran tht he happed to drive his car past the Kingkaew checkpoint when the clash occurred and he was forced to retreat along with other policemen.
He later decided to ride a taxi motorcycle to the spot to retrieve his car but found that it had been damaged by the protesters. He was captured by the PAD guards at the spot.
When PAD guards took him to Samran inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport, reporters and photographers tried to follow him to interview and take photos but the guards and other protesters booed at the newsmen and did not allow them to follow the guards.
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