THAILAND COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MS. MELISSA FRANCIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005096

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

ADM AID FOR MELISSA FRANCIS, CYNTHIA RUIZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID
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