US Embasy Statement Regarding Coup

[Gaybutton]

Attention American Citizens:

 

A group calling itself the Committee for Democratic Reform under the Monarchy as Head of State has apparently seized control of the government institutions in Bangkok and declared martial law.

 

We have seen various reports that the military has deployed troops around key government facilities and other strategic locations around Bangkok.

 

There are no indications of any violence at this point.

 

We advise all American Citizens to continue to monitor the situation closely, avoid any large gatherings and exercise discretion when moving about the city.

 

 

At this point, we are not advising Americans to leave Thailand; however, Americans planning to travel to Thailand may wish to carefully consider their options before traveling until the situation becomes clearer.

 

 

The Embassy will continue to follow developments closely. If there is any important information regarding the security of US citizens the Embassy will post it on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok and Department of State websites.

 

****************************************************************************************************

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, go to:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/acsemaillist.htm

 

The U.S. Embassy Consular Section is located at 95 Wireless Road,

Bangkok 10330, Thailand (Nearest BTS Skytrain station: Phloen Chit)

 

American Citizen Services Unit Window Hours:

Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 11 AM and 1 - 2 PM

Note: The ACS unit will be CLOSED on Friday, September 29 and Monday, October 9.

 

Tel: +66-2-205-4049 Fax: +66-2-205-4103

E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest wowpow]

The British Embassy does not seem to have noticed yet. There is nothing on their website and no newsletter to citizens who have registered with them.

 

Probably wisely waiting to see what happens as currently there is no news not already widely covered by the media.

 

I just found advice for Brits. on the BBC News

 

Britons in Bangkok are being warned by the UK Foreign Office to avoid any demonstrations and large crowds, amid an attempted coup. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency and tanks have surrounded the government headquarters, Government House.

 

"Movements around government buildings and in public may be restricted," the Foreign Office is warning Britons.

 

It says the British Embassy in Bangkok is monitoring the situation closely.

 

The Foreign Office is also urging Britons in Bangkok - and those planning to travel there - to "monitor all available information on the local situation".

 

But Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, told BBC News that would be "very, very difficult".

 

"It is the middle of the night there and nobody quite knows what is going on."

 

People who have relatives and friends in the Thai capital will be understandably concerned

Independent travel editor Simon Calder

 

British Airways said its service to Bangkok was "operating as normal" and that the last flight of the day to Bangkok had left.

 

Mr Calder told BBC News that the flights from the UK would arrive in Thailand during the afternoon local time. "Nobody quite knows what the situation will be then," he said.

 

There were between 10,000 and 30,000 British tourists already in Thailand - about 2,000 of them in Bangkok, he added.

 

"It must be very tense there, and people who have relatives and friends in the Thai capital will be understandably concerned."

 

The Association of British Travel Agents' head of corporate affairs Keith Betton told BBC News British flights to Thailand would be diverted to land in neighbouring countries if necessary.

 

Independent travellers should stay off the streets of Bangkok, he added.

 

I am confident I will be able to get out when I need to

Engineer Steve Cowls

 

A spokeswoman for travel agent Thomas Cook told BBC News there was "no apparent threat to tourists" and the main holiday resorts remained unaffected.

 

But the company would continue to monitor the situation "very very carefully".

 

Steve Cowls, 46, of Oxford, an engineer working on a Thai naval base 150km (93 miles) south-east of Bangkok told BBC News no one there was even aware of the state of emergency.

 

"Everyone here is doing normal things - there is no indication that anything is going down."

 

Mr Cowls, who had been due to fly back to the UK from Bangkok on Thursday, added he was now considering leaving Thailand by travelling overland south to Singapore rather than attempting to enter the capital.

 

"I will work out what is best for me - but I am confident I will be able to get out when I need to."

 

 

 

Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. You can send pictures and video from Thailand to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100.