Security for foreign tourists assured

BANGKOK, February 5 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Police has given an assurance on security for foreigners, especially tourists, staying in Thailand while the Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked nine other countries to lift their warnings given to their citizens on terror threat alert in the kingdom. National police chief Pol. Gen. Priewpan Damapong Saturday night visited Bangkok’s tourist-packed areas of Khao San Road and Soi Ram Butri to boost confidence of foreign visitors and also reportedly ordered policemen manning checkpoint on Thong Lor Road to be more alert on checking weapons and drug on suspected people and vehicles. He also reportedly ordered police to screen whether any entertainment complexes violated opening and closing hours and not to allow drug addicts to gather at those places. Pol. Gen. Priewpan’s visit to those places which are usually frequented by tourists came after foreign embassies, led by the U.S., in Bangkok issued terror alert last month following an arrest of Atris Hussein, a Lebanese-born man holding a Swedish passport, for being a terror suspect and being detained for illegally possessing explosive materials in a rented building. The warnings have impacted the country’s image as well as its tourism industry. Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry last Friday invited envoys from more than 40 countries and explained to them that Thailand has been exchanging intelligence with foreign countries on threats to security on a regular basis. The Ministry urged countries which still maintain terror alert to either review or lift it. Ten countries, including the U.S., have to date lifted the alert while nine others still maintain it. The nine countries include the U.K., Australia and Japan. (TNA)