Canadians currently in the Southeast Asian country should exercise "extreme caution," the government has warned.
The Department of Foreign Affairs upgraded an earlier travel advisory to the Kingdom of Thailand Wednesday to a full-blown travel warning saying all non-essential travel to the politically-unstable country should be avoided.
Large-scale and violent political demonstrations have plagued the capital city Bangkok for seven weeks.
The red-shirted protesters, who have been calling on the Prime Minister to resign since March 12, have been injured, beaten, and even killed during their campaign that has escalated recently. Another clash between protesters and the army left another protester dead Wednesday.
"Since March 2010, dozens of grenade attacks and other explosions have occurred, some of which have caused injuries at locations including government and military installations, protest gatherings, public banks, and key power infrastructure and fuel storage facilities," the travel warning from Foreign Affairs reads.
"The security situation is very volatile with significant potential for further civil unrest, violent clashes, and attacks.
"Canadians currently in Thailand should avoid all non-essential movement, exercise extreme caution, follow the advice of local authorities, closely monitor local media, and, if violence erupts, remain indoors."
The anti-government "red shirt" protesters, who number in the thousands and who have besieged Bangkok for several weeks, want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down and call a new election. The red shirts support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from office following protests and a military coup in 2006 and 2007. The billionaire media tycoon was accused of being corrupt, but also brought in cheap health care and debt relief for the country's poorest people.
Foreign Affairs warns the country has suffered political unrest and violent protests for many years, and warned it is "unclear" how long the current situation will last.
"In recent years there have been several waves of mass political demonstrations and anti-government movements in Thailand, which have led to significant security problems and occasional violence," the warning reads. "There is a heightened threat of terrorism throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Canadians should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times as the security situation could deteriorate rapidly without notice."
bryn.weese@sunmedia.ca
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