US consulate in Chiang Mai under tight

“High-risk areas for US installations, tourism and public safety are under close watch,” Provincial Police Region 5 commissioner Lt-General Suthep Detraksa said yesterday.
These security measures will stay in place while the Cobra Gold military exercises are being held in the northern province, he said.
Even though there are no immigration records of the 15 suspected terrorists entering the country, these suspects might have used aliases, he said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said the authorities should not have hyped up the warning on terrorism due to the sensitive nature of the issue. He said that though the United States had not initiated the warning, the Thai government had chosen to publicise the issue and trigger anxiety without any justification.
Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat said the security measures had only been put in place as a precaution, regardless of whether there is an actual terrorist attack.
National police chief General Adul Sangsingkaew said the authorities were in the process of verifying the information.
Sarawut Saetiao, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, said the tourism industry had not been affected by the presence of armed guards at the US consulate.
 “I checked with hotel operators and they say there have been no cancellations,” he said, adding that maybe the presence of guards helped make visitors feel more secure. “At least, they feel that the authorities are more concerned about their safety, and the association itself has publicised the situation to boost their understanding.”