Beijing asks govt to care for its people
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At least five chinese killed in monday's bombing
CHINA has called for the Thai government to provide security for its nationals living in Thailand after the fatal bomb explosion at the Erawan Shrine on Monday.
At least five of the fatalities were Chinese, and many others were injured.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held an urgent meeting with his ministry yesterday to discuss the Bangkok bombing, a Chinese diplomat in Bangkok said. After the meeting, talks were held between a Chinese official and a diplomat from the Thai Embassy in Beijing.
“The Beijing government asked the Thai side to provide security for the Chinese in Thailand, including diplomats, company staff and students, after the [explosion],” he said.
The Thai government was also asked to take care of Chinese affected by the explosion. As of yesterday, five Chinese – two from Hong Kong – were killed and many others injured in the attack.
The Erawan Shrine is well known among Chinese worshippers.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has warned its residents to avoid travel to Bangkok, while other governments in the region advised citizens to be extra vigilant.
Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Indonesian and Malaysian residents were among the 20 people confirmed killed when the explosion sent a fireball into the sky on Monday. Scores more were wounded.
Hong Kong has published a “red alert” for Bangkok, the second-highest in the government’s three-tier system.
“Residents intending to visit [Bangkok] ... should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement.
“Those already there should pay attention to announcements by local authorities, attend to their personal safety and avoid areas affected by the explosion.”
The China National Tourism Administration ordered its Singapore office, which is tasked with handling tourism matters in Southeast Asia, “to assist the injured in their medical treatment” and called on tour guides to remain alert and help Chinese tourists avoid danger.
Australian officials advised their citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand but stopped short of changing the level of advice issued to travellers.
During a parliamentary address, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged his fellow citizens not to be intimidated by extremism.
“Australians should continue to go to Thailand because the object of the sort of people who let off bombs in crowded cities is to scare us from being ourselves, and we should never be intimidated by that,” he said.
In Manila, the Foreign Ministry advised Filipinos in Bangkok “to remain calm and to observe necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety”.
Singapore also urged its citizens in Bangkok “to take the necessary safety precautions”.
Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the leaders of Thailand’s junta said the bomb was aimed at damaging the country’s tourism industry and tarnishing the government’s reputation.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that officials had beefed up security at key locations across the Thai capital and noted that the Royal Thai Police requested that “locals and tourists exercise caution when out and about in Bangkok”.
