Thailand: tourists warned to be on guard over Pro-Thaksin protests in Bangkok
By
Tim ClarkLast updated at 10:55 AM on 12th March 2010
Tourists in Bangkok are being warned to be extra vigilant this as thousands of protesters hit the city's streets today in the first of a weekend of street protests against the Thai government.
Approximately 4,000 protesters began early demonstrations in the capital while 30,000 more have begun their journey into the city from the rural heart of the country for the main rally on Sunday.
Tourist sites have been declared no-go areas for foreigners in the wake of the action - which is thought to be the biggest since the riots in April 2009.
A Thai soldier stands guard on a street near the Government House in Bangkok - one of the potential flashpoints during the demonstrations
The Thai government has drafted in more than 30,000 security personal with 46,000 'civilian defense volunteers' on standby.
Supporters of ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 coup, have called for a 'million man march' to begin nationwide on Friday and converge in the capital on Sunday, where they plan to possibly remain for several days.
Thai policemen watch as a young supporter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra waves a flag during a gathering at a checkpoint in Ayutthaya province.
On Tuesday, the Thai government invoked its Internal Security Act, a law that gives the military special powers to restore order if necessary. It cited intelligence reports about plans to instigate violence at the rallies.
In a news conference attended by police, military and city officials government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn said: "We have confidence that we can manage to get through this situation peacefully.
"But due to the large number of demonstrators planning to come we have concerns."
Tourists and foreigners are not targets of the protesters, who are calling for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and pave the way for fresh elections.
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets during the weekend and tourists have been warned to be on their guard
Popular tourist attractions the Grand Palace and backpacker street Khao San Road are 'areas of concern' because of their proximity to the main protest site, said Bangkok Metropolitan Authority spokesman Thanom Onkeppol.
Claire Taylor, Operations Manager at tour company Explore who has previously led expeditions to Thailand said: "We have a couple of tour groups in Bangkok at the time of the demonstrations, so we have moved their hotels to ones situated on the other side of the river, well away from the areas affected.
"Other groups arriving in Bangkok around the time of the demonstrations are being taken direct from the airport to other areas of the country to start their tours – such as Ayattaya, about two hours away.
"Demonstrations in Thailand have been ongoing for many years – however I don't believe that they are getting more regular, just more widely reported."
Protesters plan to gather at an open field near the Grand Palace, and spread around the area. Tourists should avoid the areas "if at all possible".
Panitan added: "Some two dozen foreign embassies have issued advisories, including the United States which urged Americans to stay away from the protests where "violence cannot be ruled out".
Protest leaders from the pro-Thaksin movement, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatoriship have repeatedly said they will gather peacefully and accuse the government of hyping security concerns to make them look bad.
Authorities fear a repeat of April 2009 when tens of thousands of Thaksin supporters paralyzed major Bangkok intersections and sparked violence that killed two and injured more than 120 people.
Thailand has been gripped by a political crisis and sometimes violent protests since 2006, when Thaksin was ousted for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
In 2008, when a pro-Thaksin administration was in power, anti-Thaksin activists seized Bangkok's two airports and stranded thousands of tourists.
Bangkok's international Suvarnabhumi Airport has a contingency plan in case of emergency, an airport statement said on Wednesday.
International passengers are advised to get to the airport three to four hours before their flights depart.
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