On Sunday Nov 3rd 2002 at 10.30am the Expats Club of Pattaya had their regular meeting at “ Henry J. Beans” Restaurant on beach road. This meeting was unusual and informative. The Expats Club had a visit by Pol. Maj. Somchai Phongsai from the Pattaya police station. The Pattaya police, the tourist police, the Thai Army and Navy and the entire Thailand government have been actively informing and training businesses, hospitals, hotels and other groups and organizations for emergencies or disasters or other dire events. Pol. Maj. Somchai Phongsai asked the expats to carry copies of their passport including the photograph and personal data and contact information accurately. The police Major also informed the Expats Club members that the police and military have regular practice drills to deal with a verity of emergency situations. These situations included robberies, fire, traffic accidents, injuries and the current disastrous events infecting other countries. There is an additional 100 more police who are on patrol looking for criminals, both domestic and international. They are stopping and asking for identification. The police have increased surveillance and training on the highways, Airports, bus stations, baht buses, motor bike taxis and auto and truck rental agencies. They have asked everyone to become the eyes and ears for the police. They have asked everyone and every group or organization to think, observe and call the police if they become suspicious of anyone or anything. The public is asked to become alert and be prepared.
Thailand does not have any particular group or individuals that have expressed their concerns about their loss of freedom or an injustice that has been committed against them. The armed militants in the South of Thailand are a different situation and are being worked with through dialog, understanding and organized cooperation.
The interior minister (who is Muslim), said he did not believe the Muslims in the South would be instigated to stage a violent incident because the Thai government has a good relationship with all Muslim countries. It has never supported any military action against them. Also, Thailand is not engaged in conflict with any ill-intentioned groups in the neighboring countries.
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