So, why is it that just about every foreign government advises its citizens not to go? Suggested cities around Pattani. Thailand is safe for travel | Ryan Tang/Unsplash. It is heavily militarised, and quite a distance from the source of the region's problems. Petty theft like pickpocketing or bag snatching is more than common and you should expect it at every step. As a last name Pattani was the 152,628 th most popular name in 2010.; How unique is the name Pattani? A wrong turn leads to plentiful views 8 kilometers outside of Songhkla City. Try to stay away from soldiers because they are the target of the attack. TL;DR: All routes you're likely to use are tolerably safe. But in practice, the main border crossing at Bukit Kayu (on the main road between Penang and Hat Yai) is safe and frequented by tourists from all over the world. It's true: the separatists in southern Thailand have little to gain by deliberately targeting foreigners. Peas potato curry recipe south Indian style – Dry Pattani Kuzhambu with step by step pics and video recipe. They invited us to join the peloton, so we rode alongside penny farthings into the center of town and posed for group photos. Yala is 1,084 kilometres south of Bangkok by road. Its capital was the town of Patani.. This excellent Wikipedia Timeline lists a few such attacks: A giant Buddha in Hat Yai. I would NOT venture into the 4 easternmost districts of Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat or Pattani provinces, especially not at night. In the top destination like Phuket is more safe that border provinces such as Yala, Narathivat, Pattani. The Thai government’s bloody crackdowns on protests are also believed to have instigated fresh rounds of recriminations, and fundamentally broke any chance of dialogue between southern leaders and Bangkok. The Pattani municipality issued the warning yesterday for people living beside the river and in nearby low-lying areas. Colour: In Stock In 12 Weeks Quantity-+ In Stock In 12 Weeks ... Our delivery service is fully operational and we’ve implemented a few extra precautions to keep you and our staff safe. One of the very common curry recipes is Pattani potato masala/kulambu. The Thailand-Malaysia border provinces are traditionally no go zones for Western travellers. "There’s a very big potential for skateboarding in Pattani. The Australian Government’s travel warning states the following: Do not travel to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla or overland to and from the Malaysian border through these provinces. The FCO “advise against all but essential Thailand travel to areas within provinces on the Thailand-Malaysia border, including; Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Southern Songkhla province in Thailand. But the security is necessary and reassuring. Martial law is in force in this region. The population of the city is a little over 40,000 and is a mix of Malay, Thai and Chinese ethnic groups and Muslim and Buddhist religions. Out of 6,028,151 records in the U.S. Social Security Administration public data, the first name Pattani was not present. The population of the city is a little over 40,000 and is a mix of Malay, Thai, and Chinese ethnic groups and Muslim and Buddhist religions. But this agreement was one negotiated over a desire for territory, and did little to reflect the ethnic and religious makeup, or the desires, of local people in the provinces affected. I hadn’t pedaled a bike beyond city limits for years. Yes, it is highly militarised. Though there had long been unrest in these southern provinces, violence really began to break out in 2001 and escalated sharply in 2004, having continued ever since. It further recommends only traveling through the region with the accompaniment of professional security services! Fun Facts about the name Pattani. A TON of people visit every year from all over the world. When I went to Hat Yai, I noticed that many other travellers in the city - some who even live in Thailand - had no idea the conflict down the road even exists. But in practice, the main border crossing at Bukit Kayu (on the main road between Penang and Hat Yai) is safe and frequented by tourists from all over the world. All in all, the area feels remarkably safe. Also follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media reports. Pattani is on the Malay Peninsula, with the coast of the Gulf of Thailand to the north. Out of those who used, 99 percent were Muslim. I want to tell the people of Thailand that Pattani is safe and that the locals here can someday compete in the Olympics," said Ale, a native of Mindanao in the Philippines, who has lived in Thailand for 14 years. Stay safe Pattani (ปัตตานี), also spelled Patani in Malay, is the capital of a province of the same name in Deep Southern Thailand, lying on the east coast. Culturally and ethnically connected to Malaysia, those who live in Thailand’s deep-south tend to speak a different language and worship a different God to those further north. While I’m not one to unnecessarily flout the advice of the Australian government, its warning quite deliberately (and understandably - they want to discourage as many people as possible from getting into trouble) is a broad attempt to stop people going anywhere near the real danger zones in Thailand's deep south. But the cities of Hat Yai & Songhkla City seem a world away from the troubles just down the road. Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and parts of Songhla are NOT safe and must be avoided. There have been people who have posted on r/Thailand previously who have both visited and even taught in the deep south, and never had a problem. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. For Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, there are genuine, daily dangers but little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists. £110. There have been some concerns that the region is becoming a hotspot for ISIS or Al-Qaeda style extremists, but many experts believe such a threat is a 'Phantom Menace', and that such claims are either just lazy, click-bate journalism or deliberate, Daily Mail-style provocations. The Thai press daily reports shootings, bombings, and beheadings in that area. Don’t go out at night. Even Hat Yai gets bombs regularly. No one raised any concerns at all. Some areas have increased risk. Their quest is one that is determined to be seen as legitimate. The Disaster Prevention and … Pattani was pretty diverse in the past. In the end, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani would be consolidated into a modern Thai state, but would never quite fit. Some parts of the country, however, such as the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, are under a Level 3 ("reconsider travel") due to "periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests." If only because of this, Pattani would be well worth a visit. I did meet one person, a Polish cyclist called Maceac, who had cycled through the more troubled provinces. Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information. There are quite a few budget and mid-range hotels around in which the price ranges from 500 baht to 1,500 baht or more per night. He’d just cycled 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw. Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. To date, the conflict has cost almost 7000 lives, with attacks occurring almost daily in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, and occasionally in the southern area of Songhkla province. Pattani, also spelled Patani, town, southern Thailand, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula.The town is located at the mouth of the Pattani River. Its old town is well preserved, and it has next to no tourists. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. Pattani and three other southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Songkhla and Yala have been pelted by heavy rain for days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for Thailand due to COVID-19. The provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani are majority Muslim-Malay areas that have always sat awkwardly within the modern Thai state. One can take Highway 4 (Thanon Phetkasem) from Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon, then onto Highway 41 through Thung Song, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, Pattani, and Yala. The border dates back to 1909 when British, then the colonial rulers of Malaysia, formalised previously unorganised borders with Siam. Narathiwat – Thailand’s Perfect Combination of Cultural and Natural Destination U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places. To attack foreigners would only serve to delegitimise their struggle in the eyes of the world. In theory, yes. Stay safe and enjoy your travel! Source: http://www.eastbysoutheast.com/south-thailands-muslim-insurgency-global-jihad/. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. This crossing is still technically in the Do Not Travel zone, but has experienced few problems in recent years. Maceac invited me to cycle with him from Hat Yai to Songhkla City, a ride of about 3 hours. By The Nation Pattani launched its Puangmanee durian season today with promotions designed to lure the lucrative Chinese market’s hunger for this unique variety of the pungent fruit. Martial law is in force in this region. Thailand is rated the least dangerous country in Southeast Asia for travelers. If you stay in the city, you should be fine. By The Nation Several areas in Pattani province have been hit with severe flooding, with Barahok sub-district suffering the most due to heavy rains and runoffs from Yala province. In a statement today, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said continuous heavy rain since Jan 4 have affected 58,497 families in 32 districts. Thailand is somewhat safe to visit, though it does have its dangers. But I jumped at the chance and tried my best to keep up. Aneri Pattani From . The three provinces to the east are where the vast majority of the violence occurs. Broadly speaking, the insurgency affects only the eastern bits of southern Thailand: Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces due to, U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. This city is much more culturally and religiously aligned to the rest of Thailand when compared with the rest of Thailand's deep south. Pattani luring China with its durian gems. Maceac also made a succinct point about the unrest: “those people’s problems are with their government, not with foreigners’. November 4, 2006: 3 schools were burned to the ground. Several areas in Pattani province have been hit with severe flooding, with Barahok sub-district suffering the most due to heavy rains and runoffs from Yala province. The Pattani family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1891 and 1920. I spent the rest of my afternoon lounging on beaches and eating street food before racing back to Hat Yai before dark. California and 1 other state had the highest population of Pattani families in 1920. And while the first signs of unrest in the region date back to the 1960s, things took a turn for the worse in the early 2000s. But in truth, the ride was pretty dull: 30 kilometers along a barren highway between the two cities. Though by the sounds of it, you are not keen on it anyway. But experts have argued that mismanagement of the southern provinces by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s government destabilized a tentative peace. Additionally, Hat Yai is a tourist mecca: it is extraordinarily popular with Malay and Singaporean tourists letting their hair down in a city that still largely speaks their language. The reasons are manifest. Review the. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places. All our 177 travel advisories on Smartraveller are set at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Geography. In 2012, researchers at the Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board conducted a survey of 1,000 teens in Pattani, Thailand and found that 94 percent used kratom. The main city is probably the safest place in Pattani. Thailand has resumed domestic transportation options, (including airport operations) and business operations (including day cares and schools). ... so travelers should practice safe sex. Simple, easy to cook and tasty side dish for idli, dosa and goes well with chapathi/poori and rice as well. But please carefully travel, It seems like the same everywhere around the world that the crime comes through every part. Pattani Infoway Services Pvt Ltd offers effective, stylish and affordable Dynamic product catalogue websites to business or corporates. I'd asked people before thinking about going there about the security situation. But Songhkla city itself was a highlight. To cap things off, as we cycled into the city, we stumbled across a vintage bicycle club doing their annual city-wide ride. A hidden Buddha in an under-construction temple just outside of central Hat Yai, surrounded by ornate but incomplete murals. It is not safe. While there was one bombing in Sadao in December 2014, it occurred at a nightclub and while related to the southern unrest, generally that area is safe. Pattani hit by heavy rains, severe flooding. Thailand's borders are still closed for all foreign nationals with few exceptions. While the separatists grievances may be charged by ideology and cultural dislocation, they are also compounded by economic disenfranchisement that so often drives restless, hopeless youths into the arms of extremists. 6 schools were again burned to the ground. Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Provinces – Reconsider Travel. Their enemy being the Thai state, they have targeted anything that represents the government. And while people from overseas have been inadvertently caught up in their violence - notably in a 2006 attack in Hat Yai - tourists have not been specifically targeted during the nearly two-decade old insurgency. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these provinces as U.S government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to these provinces. They say … So, weighing the options - and determined not to catch a flight - I decided to avoid Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, but still cross the Malaysian border into Songhkla Province, heading to Hat Yai before continuing north. But of course seeing life under conflict is not the only reason to visit. While most victims are soldiers or government officials, both children and tourists have also been killed. How Popular is the name Pattani? But, though it is completely sensible to avoid much of the region, the travel advice ignores the comparable safety of Hat Yai and Songhkla City (still within Songhkla province, but quite some distance from the violence). You should take care, particularly in public places. As we arrived, we were handed waters and cokes by friendly paramilitary who were stationed at the city’s entrance to search incoming cars for weapons and terrorists. In 1920 there was 1 Pattani family living in California. The south is dominated by the Sankalakhiri mountain range, which includes Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park, on the border with Yala and Narathiwat.. Etymology. Pattani’s 25th Special Infantry 15323 company, which had set up a command centre at Santikaram Temple in Muang district's Pakaharang subdistrict, had to quickly move their tents and redeploy on the road temporarily after 1-metre-high flood waters engulfed the temple situated in … Exercise increased caution in Thailand due to COVID-19. There are high levels of ongoing violence in these areas, including terrorist attacks and bombings that result in deaths and injuries on an almost daily basis. Bombing aren’t that common in the city. Pattani was an independent Muslim city-state, ruling a large portion of the surrounding region until the 16th century, when it … This was about 50% of all the recorded Pattani's in the USA. The most Pattani families were found in the USA in 1920. Though nowhere in Thailand is completely immune from violence, these cities have, in fact, been safer in recent years than other places in the country, such as Bangkok and Phuket, both of which have suffered from terrorist incidents in recent years. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. It’s a shame that tourism is barely existent in the region outside of Hat Yai. Nurses at Albany Medical Center picketed on Dec.1, asking for more personal protective equipment. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. I’m from Pattani. A family enjoying the late afternoon sunshine in Hat Yai park. While those in the south have undoubtedly experienced harsh treatment at the hands of the Thai state in the past, the recent tactics of separatists are nothing short of deplorable. The department has enforced strict sanitary measures to make sure aquatic animal products were safe for consumption. Were a more secure peace realised - and peace in Southern Thailand made a real priority, not only of Thailand, but of the region - perhaps these restive states could one day stand to benefit from Thailand’s ever-expanding tourism appeal, bringing much need prosperity to a region desperate for a new beginning. Patani (Malay Jawi: ڤتاني ‎, also sometimes Patani Raya or Patani Besar, "Greater Patani"; Thai: ปตานี) is a historical region in the northern part of the Malay peninsula.It includes the southern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala (Jala), Narathiwat (Menara), and parts of Songkhla (Singgora). 45cm Pattani Eclipse Lampshade - Indigo. a teacher was the victim of a targeted killing. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 12 January 2021. Thailand’s deep-south is rife with instability. The southern insurgency is not just made up of one opposition group. The ride began by passing a plethora of Buddhist temples, which dominate the northern parts of Songhkla province. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Thailand. In practice, no, with a * that you're never going to be 100% safe there terrorism wise vs other places in Thailand. The name Pattani is the Thai adaptation of the Malay name Patani (Jawi: ڤتاني), which can mean "this beach" in Patani Malay language. This doesn’t just include police and military installations, but also schools. There is a history of social unrest and violent conflicts in parts of the country, but crimes in tourist areas are super rare. Pattani (ปัตตานี), also spelled Patani in Malay, is the capital of a province of the same name on the Southern Gulf Coast. Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. While the dangers are real, he saw no signs of trouble. PATTANI (Jan 10): Severe floods following heavy rain in four provinces in southern Thailand — Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla — have claimed three lives to date and affected almost 60,000 families. February 4, 2007: a bomb was detonated outside a school, killing one. Aneri Pattani, Correspondent, reports on a broad range of public health topics, with a focus on mental health and substance use. Enlarge this image. At least 100 homes were inundated by up to 2-metres of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground. While there is an umbrella agency for southern rebels, Mara Patani, other entities operate in the region, too, making it extremely challenging for authorities to entirely eradicate the threat of violence. Reply to this For Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, there are genuine, daily dangers but little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists. Latest travel advice for Thailand, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK. There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia.You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs. A map of Thailand's deep south. At least 100 homes were inundated by up to 2-metres of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground. Most advice is unequivocal. Violent crime has been on the rise during the past couple of years and muggings and robberies are not rare at all. Pattani Governor Kraisorn Visitwong presided over the opening of the durian festival on July 2. The city has a unique and vibrant culture, and the wider region has beautiful and interesting nature spots (including the beaches of Pattani Bay, which are not safe to visit). 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