Image via Shutterstock
Britons in Bangkok have been warned to avoid all protests as more than a week of anti-government demonstrations turned violent.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office repeated its caution in a revised travel advisory as police fired teargas on protestors trying to force their way into Government House in the Thai capital.
Four people are reported to have died in Thailand’s worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence.
The FCO said: “Violence, including gunshots, was reported overnight on November 30/December 1 in the area of Ramkhamhaeng University in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok.
“You should avoid all protests, political gatherings and demonstrations.”
The protesters, who want prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, had declared yesterday (Sunday) the decisive “V-Day” of what they termed a “people’s coup,” the BBC reported.
The protests had been largely peaceful until the weekend, when the unrest escalated.
Bangkok-based Diethelm Travel Group reported clashes between protest groups and the police near Government House over the weekend.
However, it said all its tours and excursions are operating on schedule, except for visits to Wat Benchamabophit or Marble Temple.
“All hotels can be accessed and our transfers are operating as normal, although some detours are necessary to avoid traffic congestion,” the company said.
”The leader of the protest groups has called on everyone in the public sector to stop working from today onwards and has given the government an ultimatum to step down by this coming Wednesday.
“Most universities will be closed today and tomorrow. All airports, train and ferry services within the country are currently not affected and continue to operate as normal.”
Several student groups have been engaged in street fights with the pro-government supporters near Rajamangala National Stadium, it added.