cheekyboy Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Friday, April 17, 2009 Phuket ready to host postponed Asean summit Civilian scout members led by Narong Hongyok rallied at Provincial Hall on Wednesday to show support for the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. They were greeted by Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop (right). /Kamol Pirat PHUKET CITY: Phuket is ready to host the postponed Asean +3 and +6 conferences, following the abrupt cancellation of the financial summit in Pattaya over the Songkran holiday after anti-government protesters stormed the venue where it was being held. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop said that the government originally planned for Phuket to host the summit, but moved the high-profile event to Pattaya due to a shortage of rooms in Phuket over the Songkran holiday. The summit has now been postponed and a new date has not yet been announced by the government, he said. Gov Wichai has already discussed the issue with tourism industry leaders and there is broad agreement that Phuket could successfully host the summit. The best time would be in July, when hotel occupancy rates are typically at or near their lowest. A reliable source at the provincial office told the Gazette that the government is now considering both Phuket and Chiang Mai as locations to host the proceedings, which are considered key to finalizing a coordinated regional approach to the global economic problem. Phuket is a bastion of the yellow-shirted Peopleâ??s Alliance for Democracy, while Chiang Mai is the birthplace of deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a support base for his red-shirted supporters in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). The conventional wisdom is that neither side would risk an incursion into enemy turf to disrupt the event if it were held in either city. The government will likely be watching with interest the PAD fundraising concert and rally at Saphan Hin tomorrow to gauge whether security on the island is sufficient to host the Asean meeting. If Phuket is granted the conference and hosts it successfully, it could go a long way in repairing Thailandâ??s image among foreign tourists following the debacle in Pattaya, which saw foreign ministers airlifted to safety by helicopter from the roof of the Royal Cliff Resort after it was overtaken by the UDD protesters. Phuket is already making preparations to set aside at least 1,600 hotel rooms that will be needed for conference participants, their delegations and international media expected to fly in to cover the event, the Governor said. Phuket has more than 38,500 rooms in accommodation establishments across the island and average occupancy is expected to be well below 50% for much of the remainder of the low season. It is thought that if the rescheduled event is held during the low season in Phuket, it will be easier to maintain tight security measures, such as by keeping delegates apart from tourists and screening potential troublemakers. Gazette Editor Phuket, Thailand 15:25 local time (GMT +7) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 oh yeah but maybe the REDs will Don Yellow shirts and go under cover to disrupt the meeting . Like the movie where Eagles dare . once inside they will shed their yellow shirts and expose their RED shirts and all hell breaks lose ,like a meeting of the hells angels and the road rats having a squabble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Good idea, have another bloody summit..... Jesus. Just move it to another more stable country. For the love of god! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 ... maybe Thailand should hold it on their aircraft carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Bangkok - cancelled. Moved to Chiang Mai - cancelled. Moved to Pattaya - cancelled. Now Fookit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rchapstick Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I cannot imagine any ASEAN leaders/diplomats actually attending a meeting in Thailand in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Our boy said it needs to go ahead asap ..but he is a Queensland nutter.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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