Dear colleagues,

 

As you may know, within the last days there were major street actions in Bangkok and a major ASEAN meeting was cancelled.

 

According to IHRA and colleagues from Asian Harm Reduction Network, the situation is improving and it should be safe to travel within the next days. UN and WHO, as well as Dutch government removed their previous warnings about travel.

More information is available at http://www.ihra.net/Thailand/Home. IHRA will update their site if more news available; tomorrow also they will be onsite and can report from Thailand.  Before traveling you might want to check with your country’s ministry of foreign affairs.

 

Medical information for travelers: http://www.ihra.net/Thailand/MedicalandHealthcareFacilities

 

The conference programme: http://www.ihra.net/Assets/1605/1/HR2009_Conference_Reader.pdf

 

There is another war on drugs announced in Thailand a couple of weeks ago. The analysis of the International Drug Policy Consortium indicates that within the limited information available, there are no signs that it means something similar to 2003 war on drugs; no signs of some changed situation was reported by NGOs. Friends from Thailand also indicate that drug policing is usually targeting Thais but that everyone has to be careful.

 

EHRN will not join the conference, as in September it decided not to support the conference, following the announcement of another war on drugs in Thailand and based on experience of previous IHRA conference in Thailand back in 2003.

 

Best, Raminta

 

Raminta Stuikyte

EHRN | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | www.harm-reduction.org

NGO in Special Status with Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC)

 

From: Jamie Bridge
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 5:04 PM
Subject: RE: situation in bangkok

 

Dear All,

 

I have just updated the conference website homepage – www.ihraconferences.net – with the latest news from Thailand. We agree with Ton below that the situation seems to be improving in Bangkok. In addition, the conference venue is several kilometres away from the disturbances. We have received travel alerts from the UN and WHO today advising that their staff can travel to Thailand, and the Dutch Government has also removed their previous warnings about travel, and we expect others to do likewise over the coming days.

 

That said, all travellers must be cautious and careful as always!

 

I hope that this helps to reassure you.

 

Jamie

 

 

From: Ton Smits [AHRN]
Sent: 14 April 2009 07:35


CC Gerry Stimson, IHRC 2009 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Co-Chairs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

With volatility at its peak yesterday, the situation in Bangkok now seems to have improved today. The government is in charge and demonstrators are dispersing. Although by no means I can speak on behalf of IHRA nor the LOC, I would think that since today noon local time things look increasingly stable.

 

Maybe one of the LOC Co-chairs or IHRA can share their views too?

 

Best wishes and looking forward seeing you in Bangkok.

 

Ton