2008 Woodie Awards
Thai gov't falls in coup; WU secure
By: Andy Dierker and Stephanie Kiszczak
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Webster's Cha-am campus in Thailand will remain open despite a military coup in the nation's capital. Thailand's military seized control of Bangkok Sept. 19, and military leaders have suspended the country's constitution and declared martial law.
The military, led by Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, ousted the unpopular Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was in New York for a United Nations conference at the time.
The Cha-am campus in Thailand is 150 miles south of Bangkok. Grant Chapman, director of international programs for Webster, said the situation at press time was still unclear, and he didn't know much more than what the media were reporting.
"It's very early over there," Chapman said at 4 p.m. Central Standard Time, which is 4 a.m. in Cha-am. "What we're doing now is making sure everyone is safe and secure."
Chapman said the university follows the U.S. State Department's guidelines regarding all security developments in other countries. If the situation becomes dangerous for American citizens, the State Department would alert Webster and give university officials instructions for evacuation. No such alert had been given at press time.
Kit Jenkins, director for Webster's Thailand campus, said the situation hasn't spread far outside Bangkok.
"There is no reason for the coup to come down here to Cha-am," Jenkins said. "It's been declared a government holiday, and we will not have classes today."
Chapman said the areas outside Bangkok are mostly rural and far removed from the political turmoil. Cha-am, in particular, is a small resort town on the beach about three hours away from Bangkok.
Cindy Lancaster, a senior photography and film studies major, is studying abroad in Thailand this semester. In an e-mail, Lancaster said she has been told by campus authorities to contact people at home to let them know she's safe.
"Tanks are surrounding the government building, but we got word that people are still walking along on the streets, the airportis open and things are running as normal," Lancaster said.
The military, led by Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, ousted the unpopular Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was in New York for a United Nations conference at the time.
The Cha-am campus in Thailand is 150 miles south of Bangkok. Grant Chapman, director of international programs for Webster, said the situation at press time was still unclear, and he didn't know much more than what the media were reporting.
"It's very early over there," Chapman said at 4 p.m. Central Standard Time, which is 4 a.m. in Cha-am. "What we're doing now is making sure everyone is safe and secure."
Chapman said the university follows the U.S. State Department's guidelines regarding all security developments in other countries. If the situation becomes dangerous for American citizens, the State Department would alert Webster and give university officials instructions for evacuation. No such alert had been given at press time.
Kit Jenkins, director for Webster's Thailand campus, said the situation hasn't spread far outside Bangkok.
"There is no reason for the coup to come down here to Cha-am," Jenkins said. "It's been declared a government holiday, and we will not have classes today."
Chapman said the areas outside Bangkok are mostly rural and far removed from the political turmoil. Cha-am, in particular, is a small resort town on the beach about three hours away from Bangkok.
Cindy Lancaster, a senior photography and film studies major, is studying abroad in Thailand this semester. In an e-mail, Lancaster said she has been told by campus authorities to contact people at home to let them know she's safe.
"Tanks are surrounding the government building, but we got word that people are still walking along on the streets, the airportis open and things are running as normal," Lancaster said.
Be the first to comment on this story