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The Red Shirts (aka UDD, aka Team Thaksin) will be marching on Bangkok this weekend, and will attempt to have 100,000s of people.
Last time this event started off peacefully, but later became violent -- The Songrkron riots off last April.
The USA embassy just sent out this advisory, I'm sure other embassies have done the same.
My advice, stay clear and don't wear Red, Yellow or Blue shirts (seriously !).
Last time this event started off peacefully, but later became violent -- The Songrkron riots off last April.
The USA embassy just sent out this advisory, I'm sure other embassies have done the same.
My advice, stay clear and don't wear Red, Yellow or Blue shirts (seriously !).
March 10, 2010
This message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Thailand
that political demonstrations by the United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship (aka UDD or "red-shirts") are expected to begin in Bangkok
towards the end of this week and could last well into next week. The
main demonstration is expected to occur near Government House and along
Ratchadamnoen Road in the Dusit district of Bangkok, but the UDD has
also announced plans for demonstrations in other parts of town. As a
result, traffic congestion and difficulty of movement is possible
throughout Bangkok. U.S. citizens should be alert to the possibility
of UDD demonstrations or gatherings elsewhere in Thailand as well.
While UDD leadership has pledged that the demonstrations will be
peaceful, the possibility of violence cannot be ruled out and the
government has invoked the Internal Security Act (ISA), which gives the
police and military expanded powers to maintain security. U.S. citizens
are reminded of the small bombs which exploded (or were detected) in
Bangkok in late February; Thai authorities are closely monitoring the
possibility of similar occurrences.
Therefore, U.S. citizens should, particularly over the March 12-14
weekend, pay close attention to public sources of information, including
media reporting and the U.S. Embassy website, concerning events on the
streets of Bangkok and should be aware of their surroundings at all
times. We remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be
peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.
U.S. citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations
and to exercise caution in their movements around Bangkok or if within
the vicinity of any demonstrations.
This message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Thailand
that political demonstrations by the United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship (aka UDD or "red-shirts") are expected to begin in Bangkok
towards the end of this week and could last well into next week. The
main demonstration is expected to occur near Government House and along
Ratchadamnoen Road in the Dusit district of Bangkok, but the UDD has
also announced plans for demonstrations in other parts of town. As a
result, traffic congestion and difficulty of movement is possible
throughout Bangkok. U.S. citizens should be alert to the possibility
of UDD demonstrations or gatherings elsewhere in Thailand as well.
While UDD leadership has pledged that the demonstrations will be
peaceful, the possibility of violence cannot be ruled out and the
government has invoked the Internal Security Act (ISA), which gives the
police and military expanded powers to maintain security. U.S. citizens
are reminded of the small bombs which exploded (or were detected) in
Bangkok in late February; Thai authorities are closely monitoring the
possibility of similar occurrences.
Therefore, U.S. citizens should, particularly over the March 12-14
weekend, pay close attention to public sources of information, including
media reporting and the U.S. Embassy website, concerning events on the
streets of Bangkok and should be aware of their surroundings at all
times. We remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be
peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.
U.S. citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations
and to exercise caution in their movements around Bangkok or if within
the vicinity of any demonstrations.
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