Publish Asia – due to be held in Bangkok next month – has been postponed for the second consecutive year. Organisers WAN-Ifra cite political unrest in Thailand as the reason, but say most speakers and exhibitors were already confirmed with “everything set for the launch”. The pan-Asian publishing conference was to have been held from May 11-13, and was supported by Tourism Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Thai Airways and the Thai Tourism Authority. A spokesman for WAN-Ifra says the sudden outburst of violence in Thailand last weekend resulted in many countries issuing advisories against travelling to Bangkok. The oprganisation has chosen to postpone Publish Asia 2010 to a later date this year to be announced. "We had hoped that a negotiated settlement would be possible following two rounds of talks earlier,” says Pichai Chuensuksawadi, editor-in-Cchief of Post Publishing and chairman of WAN-Ifra’s Asian committee “The violence that shook Thailand last weekend made the postponement necessary. We expect the political situation to be resolved, and look forward to rescheduling the event soon.” GXpress understands that access to the planned venue had been blocked by protesters in recent weeks, prior to the bloodshed which accompanies police intervention. There were hopes that protests would dwindle after annual festival celebrations. WAN-Ifra’s Greater Asia managing director Thomas Jacob says the organization will continue to monitor the situation in Bangkok: “If, as we sincerely hope, the present political crisis finds a quick and peaceful resolution, we will set new dates for our event to be held in Bangkok."