UNCLASSIFIED Force Protection Briefing
U.S. Embassy Bangkok Force Protection Detachment – Thailand (FPD-T) OVERALL CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Updated: July 2021 UNCLASSIFIED Thailand Facts
• Thailand is referred to as the “Land of Smiles”
• The capital city is Bangkok or Krung Thep in Thai
• The currency is Thai Baht; current exchange rate is approximately 30 Thai Baht to 1 U.S. Dollar
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Government of Thailand
• Thailand is a constitutional monarchy
• On 1 Dec 16, King Maha Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X) ascended to the throne.
• The former King Rama IX was deeply beloved across Thailand.
King Rama X coronation procession UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Government of Thailand
• Lèse-majesté (a French term meaning "to do wrong to majesty") in Thailand is a crime according to Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. It is illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, heir-apparent, heir- presumptive, or regent. Modern Thai lèse-majesté law has been on the statute books since 1908.
King Rama X coronation procession UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Lèse-majesté
Thailand prosecutes Facebook, Google and Twitter over posts Man jailed for 35 years in Thailand for insulting monarchy on Facebook
A former civil servant received a record prison term of 43 years for insulting or Six-year sentence for defaming the crown prince in a novel defaming the monarchy.
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Government of Thailand
• A US man is facing up to two years in jail in Thailand after posting negative reviews of a hotel.
• Bangkok - A 16-year-old Thai is potentially facing jail for allegedly defaming the country's King Maha by wearing a crop top at a protest with an anti-monarchy slogan written on his stomach.
• Bangkok - An American who translated a banned biography of Thailand's king and posted the content online while living in Colorado was sentenced to two and a half years in a Thai prison for defaming the country's royal family.
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Legal Status
oThere is no Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Thailand!
oThai Police are NOT required to relinquish jurisdiction of U.S. Military Personnel/Citizens
oU.S. Persons CAN be prosecuted in local courts for violations of Thai laws
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Cultural Considerations
Images of the Royal Thai Family Images of the monarchy on money Buddhist Monk in traditional clothing • Behave respectfully during the Thai National Anthem played at 0800 and 1800
• Do not speak negatively about anything related to the Royal Family
• Be polite and patient when interacting with Thais (do NOT interrupt them)
• Do not place Buddha on the floor or at a low level
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Force Protection Condition
- FPCON in Thailand: ALPHA
- Violent Extremist Org Threat: High (only in southern Thailand) - The southernmost provinces are travel restricted: Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.
- Criminal Threat: Low
- Medical/Health Threat: Medium
- Civil/Political Unrest: Low
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED “Thailand-i-stan”
•Periodic acts of violence in Thailand. – In August 2019, several small explosions and related arson events occurred in various locations throughout Bangkok resulting in no deaths but some injuries.
– Jan 2021, two suspects wanted for allegedly throwing a "ping pong bomb" that injured four people on Jan 17, 2021, have been arrested.
•Far Southern Thailand: – Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places.
– Ethnic Malay Muslim militants have been fighting the state for decades in the Muslim- majority south of Thailand, which otherwise is mostly Buddhist. The militants seek independence and an end to what they see as Thai colonialism.
•Thai Protests (Avoid All Protests). – The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok’s website, Facebook, and Twitter sites and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai’s website, Facebook, and Twitter sites post information about local events that may affect Embassy functions.
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Criminal Threat
Thailand 2020 Crime &Safety Report: LOW THREAT
Be aware of:
• Stand alone ATMs; most secure ATMs are at banks and hotels, usually three machines next to each other
• Running tabs at bars, pay as you go Suspect ATM Safe ATM (several machines together)
• Credit card fraud, cash is better in non-commercial areas
• Fake gems and jewelry
• No meter taxis (taxis start at 35 Baht, increase in 2-3 Baht increments); Grab (like Uber) is an app that can be safely used for transit as well Negotiate a price immediately or depart Only buy jewelry from accredited jewelry the cab if the meter is not running stores, avoid street vendors UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Traffic
•Traffic accidents are common in Thailand. According to the World Health Organization, Thailand has had one of the world’s highest traffic-related fatality rates.
•Reckless driving: Speeding, reckless passing, and failure to obey other traffic laws are common in all regions of Thailand. Traffic moves on the left. Some drivers move illegally against the traffic. Scooters and motorbikes commonly drive on the sidewalks during rush hour and other periods of heavy traffic. Commercial drivers commonly consume alcohol, amphetamines, and other stimulants. Pedestrian fatally struck by vehicle •Accidents involving motorcycles can be deadly. Riders may incur serious injuries when they are not wearing helmets or proper clothing and footwear.
•Use a pedestrian bridge to cross the road where one is available, including in front of the U.S. Embassy on Wireless Road and on Sukhumvit Road, where many pedestrians have been killed and several U.S. citizens seriously injured. Look carefully in both directions before crossing streets, even when using a marked crosswalk.
•If you have a traffic accident, you should contact your insurance company for guidance in dealing with the other party and the police. Pedestrian struck by vehicle UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Medical Threat
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Medical
Hospitals:
• Thailand has high-quality healthcare systems. Thai doctors/nurses are professional and competent. Most hospitals have internationally trained doctors.
• The Bumrungrad International Hospital is the main COVID-19 treatment center.
• Medical Tourism is a growing industry
• Please do not argue with medical professionals
Local Emergency Numbers:
•Tourist Police: 1155
•Thailand Emergency Services (Fire, Ambulance): 191
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED FIE Threat
Foreign Intelligence Entities (FIEs): Known or suspected foreign state or non-state organizations or persons that conduct intelligence activities to acquire U.S. information, block or impair U.S. intelligence collection, influence U.S. policy, or disrupt U.S. systems and programs.
There are 77 Embassies in Bangkok as well as 120 other consulates spread throughout the country.
Elicitation indicators:
• Individual displays an undue interest in your work/personal life
• Probing questions are often asked (not just normal get-to-know-you questions)
• Individual knows a lot of your personal/professional history before you reveal it
All incidents must be reported to the Force Protection Detachment - Thailand
UNCLASSIFIED Immigration
Restricted Items They are goods of which either the import and export is restricted by law, and therefore require a permit from the authorized government agencies in order to lodge the customs formalities, e.g., • Buddha images, religious or ancient arts, and antiques • Weapons, bullets and explosive devices • Plants and planting materials • Live Animals, pets and animal products • Food and drugs • Automobile parts • Cigars, cigarettes and alcoholic beverage • Wireless transmitters & receivers, telecom equipment Prohibited Items They are goods of which either the import into or export out of the Kingdom is prohibited, e.g., • Narcotics • Obscene items and publications • Counterfeit and pirated goods • Counterfeit notes and coins • Protected wildlife UNCLASSIFIED Situational Awareness
Vaping:
• Illegal in Thailand
• E-Cigarettes will be confiscated; users will be arrested and fined
Ammunition:
– DO NOT transit through customs with ammunition
– If caught, 3,000 Baht (~ $100 USD) fine and up to 10 years prison
-Avoid Russian Bars
-Avoid tattoo parlors
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Situational Awareness
**Sexual Harassment - behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances is NOT tolerated and you will be removed from Thailand ASAP**
Since 2019:
Army CW3 Chased Thai Female
Army CW2 Harassed Thai Female
Army SSG Harassed Hotel Worker
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Royal Thai Police (RTP)
• The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is a national police force
• RTP officers are helpful and ready to assist, treat them with respect
• RTP Tourist Police and associated RTP and Tourist Police foreign police volunteers, if present, often speak English, and are Thai male arrested by Phuket Tourist Police for stealing personal experienced at assisting tourists and in-transit DoD personnel items belonging to a tourist
• If you are accused of a crime and taken to an RTP Station, always be respectful and do as you are told and identify yourself as U.S. Military or U.S. Government
• Contact FPD-T as soon as possible!
UNCLASSIFIED Phuket Foreign Tourist Police Volunteers UNCLASSIFIED Best Practices
• Notify FPD if anyone is taken to the hospital or arrested
• Maintain a color copy of passport bio pages or US driver’s license on your person (Thai law)
• All guests in the room must be registered with the front desk, with their identification (Thai law)
• All U.S. military are required to have a passport
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED What Can You Damage?
• Thailand is one of the oldest U.S. treaty partners in mainland Asia
• The U.S. has a significant FMS relationship with Thailand
• Cobra Gold, Hanuman Guardian, Cope Tiger, Pacific Partnership
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Useful Website And Phone Numbers
• US Embassy Bangkok Website: https://th.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/bangkok/
• Regional Security Office (RSO): 02-205-5508 (0700-1600, M-F)
• US Embassy Bangkok Operator: 02-205-4000
• US Embassy Post 1: 02-205-4108
Royal Thai Police • TRICARE in Bangkok: 02-205-7777
• Mobile Thai Police: 191
• Thai Fire Service: 199
• Thai Ambulance Service 1669
• Tourist Police: 1155 Thai Tourist Police, dedicated to protecting international tourists UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Points of Contact
• George Gale; FPD Chief Work Cell: +66 (0)92-283-9760 Office+66 2205 4090 – [email protected]
• Robert Reuse; FPD Deputy Work Cell: +66 (0)92-283-9650 Office+66 2205 4091 – [email protected] – robreuse_fpd
• (NCIS) SSA Charles Butler Work Cell: +66 (0)65-726-9581 Office+66 2205 4089 – [email protected]
• Duty Interpreter Phone (24/7): +66 (0)6-1416-7834
• Address: US Embassy Bangkok 120-122 Wireless Road Bangkok 10330, Thailand
UNCLASSIFIED