UK tourists in Bangkok advised to stay in their hotels on Sunday

LONDON, England – Tourists in Bangkok are being advised to stay in their hotels when Thailand goes to the polls on February 2, due to the possibility of violence.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is urging Britons to take extra care on Sunday and avoid all protests as Thailand holds its national elections, following three months of demonstrations.

The FCO has updated its advice following further violence when polling stations opened on January 26 for advanced voting.

It warns: ‘On 2 February there are likely to be protests at polling locations and some of these could turn violent. Be alert to the situation, avoid all protests, and if you’re in any doubt about your safety on 2 February, stay in your accommodation.’

The Thai government declared a 60-day State of Emergency in Bangkok on January 21, due to the escalation of protests since they first began in November last year.

Anti-government protests started in November when the government tried to force through a political amnesty bill that would have let former premier Thaksin Shinawatra – brother of current caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra – return from a self-imposed exile without serving jail time for corruption.

Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai.

The general election will choose a new prime minister, but the main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting it, and its supporters have said they will try and block access to polling stations in Bangkok and some other areas.

The demonstrations in the centre of the capital are already affecting transport around the city and tourists are advised to leave extra time when travelling to the airport and to consider using the airport rail link.

The FCO said: ‘An escalation in protest action 6in central Bangkok since 13 January is causing significant disruption to roads in affected areas, with knock-on effects across the city.

‘The main protest sites are at the major intersections of Sala Daeng, Asoke, Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan, Victory Monument, Lat Phrao and at the government complex at Chaeng Watthana. Some protest sites are located close to shopping malls.’

For those in the city who need information, the Thai authorities have set up information hubs, called Tourist’s Friend Centres.

Offices are located at the Sport Authority of Thailand in the Bangkapi district of Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, four BTS Skytrain stations (Siam, Phya Thai, Ekkamai and Wong Wian Yai) and Hua Lampong MRT station.