VZCZCXRO3043
PP RUEHGH
DE RUEHBK #0048/01 0080304
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080304Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9506
INFO RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 3032
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7854
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0233
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2219

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO DEPT H (DPARKS) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN CB CH JA TH
SUBJECT: Embassy Bangkok Welcomes Staffdel Steigleder 
 
REF: State 1077 
 
¶1.  Post welcomes Staffdel Steigleder with regards to site visits to 
projects managed by the Department of Labor's International Labor 
Affairs Bureau that aim to improve worker rights and eliminate child 
labor.  Control officer will be Lawrence Petroni (information below) 
who has been in touch with local partners to ensure a productive 
visit. 
 
¶2.  CONTROL OFFICER: 
 
     Primary: Lawrence Petroni, Deputy Economic Counselor 
                  and Labor Officer 
              Embassy Number: 02-205-4000 x4639 
              Direct: 02-205-4639 
              Cell: 02-254-3783 
              E-Mail: PetroniLJ@State.Gov 
              Fax: 02-205-2839 
 
     Alternate: Chris Burney, OMS 
                Embassy Number: 02-205-4000 x4726 
                Direct: 02-205-4726 
                Cell: 02-173-1723 
                E-Mail: BurneyC@State.Gov 
                Fax: 02-205-2839 
 
 
¶3.  HOTEL ACCOMDATIONS: 
    Conrad Hilton, All Season Place, 87/3 Wireless Road, 
          Bangkok, 10330, Thailand 
          Phone: (662) 690-9999, Fax: (662) 690-9000 
          Website:  www.conrad.hilton.com/Bangkok 
    Check-In:  January 13, 2010 
    Check-Out: January 16, 2010 
    Room Type: Single Room 
    Confirmation Number: 496895 
    Single room rate: USD 146, tax and breakfast included 
 
    Cancellation Policy: PLEASE NOTE: Rooms are guaranteed 
    and Post will be billed if 24-hour notice to hotel is 
    not given for cancellations. 
 
¶4.  PER DIEM AMOUNTS: 
    Lodging: $146 x 3 nights = $438 
    M&IE: $72 + $50(USDE) = $122 x 3 nights = $366 
    Total: $804 
 
¶5.  TRANSPORTATION: 
    Due to limited resources and easy availability of 
    airport transportation, post policy does not allow for 
    airport meet and assist.  Thai Airways Limousine 
    Service and American Express Airport Taxi are 
    recommended for persons unfamiliar with Bangkok; these 
    services are located on the 2nd floor of Suvarnabhumi 
    Airport (http://www.bangkokairportonline.com) for 
    arriving passengers.  The cost of a one-way trip varies 
    from 700 to 1500 Baht, depending on the type of 
    vehicle, with an additional 65 Baht for highway tolls. 
    Regular taxis are also available and cost approximately 
    225 Baht, not including tolls, and an airport taxi 
    surcharge of 50 Baht.  Currently, the Thai Baht is 
    approximately 33 baht/dollar. 
 
 
¶6.   SECURITY INFORMATION: 
 
     ¶A.  CRIME: 
         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. 
 
         Be aware of common scams and frauds (including 
         credit cards, in particular).  Visitors should 
         only use credit cards at well-established and 
         reputable businesses.  Visitors should be careful 
         when purchasing branded or copyrighted goods. 
         There are many pirated counterfeit products in the 
         marketplace; their purchase is against post 
         regulations and it is illegal to import these 
         products into the U.S.  Be wary of common scams 
         for jewelry, suits, silks, gems, or antiquities. 
         There are no Thai government-owned or sponsored 
         gem stores.  If victimized, seek assistance from 
 
BANGKOK 00000048  002 OF 003 
 
 
         Tourist Police by dialing 1155. 
 
         Visitors are cautioned from visiting bars involved 
         in the sex trade.  Many of these operate illegally 
         and clients can be subject to RTG law; they often 
         charge exorbitant drink prices and cover charges. 
         There are also many incidents of crime against 
         patrons in these establishments.  Drugging and 
         robbing of unwary individuals is not uncommon. 
         There are sporadic reports of victims being 
         drugged and robbed or beaten when visiting these 
         bars.  The drugs used can cause serious temporary 
         memory impairment, unconsciousness, and if 
         overdosed, death. 
 
     ¶B.  TRAFFIC: 
         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.  Traffic drives on the left-hand side, 
         opposite from the U.S., although there may be a 
         bus lane that flows in the opposite direction. 
         Pedestrians should use the overhead walkways for 
         crossing busy streets. 
 
     ¶C.  TERRORISM: 
         The threat from transnational terrorist groups to 
         the U.S. Mission in Bangkok is currently ranked 
         medium.  Despite stepped up RTG efforts to monitor 
         its borders, they remain relatively porous and 
         allow easy illegal access.  Transnational 
         terrorist groups, including Al-Qa'ida and Jemaah 
         Islamiyah (JI), have utilized Thailand as a 
         transit point. 
 
         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. 
 
         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. 
 
 
 
     ¶D.  OTHER SECURITY TIPS: 
         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. 
 
         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. 
 
         Visitors should also review the State Department's 
         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. 
 
         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 
 
BANGKOK 00000048  003 OF 003 
 
 
         be reported to RSO Bangkok (tel. 02-205-4000, 24 
         hrs/day). 
 
 
John