BANGKOK, Jan 20 — The Malaysian embassy in Bangkok today strongly advised Malaysians travelling to Thailand’s metropolitan capital to be extra cautious when in the vicinity of any large gathering.
It also advised Malaysians to avoid seven main rally sites at major roads, namely Lumpini, Chaeng Wattana, Asok-Sukhumvit, Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan, Victory Monument and Lat Phrao.
“As a result of the road blockades, you are also advised to manage your travel plan wisely as there may be mobility inconvenience and to avoid missing flights,” it said in a statement.
On the current situation in Bangkok, it said the anti-government movement protesters had been holding mass demonstrations called ‘Bangkok Shutdown’ since January 13 in an effort to pressure caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
While the leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), Suthep Thaugsuban had announced that these were going to be peaceful demonstrations, there had violent clashes as well as crime involving the use of weapons and explosives at the protest sites, it said.
On January 17, a bomb exploded in the Banthat Thong area which killed one protester and injured 39 others followed by two separate bombings on January 19 near the Victory Monument that wounded 28 people while a rally guard suffered a gunshot wound.
The protest marches are expected to continue throughout the protest sites.
The embassy said it was monitoring the situation closely and for Malaysians travelling to Bangkok, it advised them to keep close contact with the embassy and if assistance is needed, to contact these telephone numbers: +662 629 6800 or +6687 028 4659, after working hours.
To date, nine people have been killed and almost 600 injured since the violent incidents erupted on November 30 last year. — Bernama
