quick answer — a qualified yes. keep an eye on the news.
If you’ve seen the news of protestors in the streets, and read about the attack on the Prime Minister’s motorcade in Pattaya, you’re probably wondering whether Bangkok is a safe place to visit.
Yesterday was a big day in Bangkok and news agencies estimated there were as many as 100,000 people in and around Government House. The “red shirts” are demanding that the government be dissolved and new democratic elections be held. Lots of this is very insider baseball to anyone who hasn’t been following the political situation blow-by-blow. My friend Newley over at Newley.com has been posting about it, check his site for updates and helpful background.
Some context
Thailand hasn’t had a stable government since it transitioned from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy back in 1932. There have been 18 coups since then, the most recent in 2006. But, as could only happen in a country like Thailand, most of the political turmoil has been peaceful and has not interrupted daily life. Yes, people are in the streets around government buildings, and they are angry (and all of it has had an impact on the economy), but there has been very little violence and there is no indication that there will be. We live in Central Bangkok and you really wouldn’t know there was a popular movement to dissolve government from my neighborhood.
When the “yellow shirts” seized the airport and shut it down in November travelers were more than inconvenienced but again, there was no significant violence.
I was here for the 2006 coup and got a chance to cover it for Fox News Radio and USAToday (I love/hate breaking news!) so had an excuse to be out in the streets talking to people. Sure there were tanks, and plenty of soldiers, but again, no violence. I just remembered that I did something for Current TV and this short video should give you a sense of the mood on the street.
What does this mean for you?
For now, stay clear of the Government House area (that means also the Dusit zoo and Throne Hall). Some might be tempted to go and see but tens of thousands of people amassed anywhere can be dangerous, and if something happens you could get caught up in it and become an unintended consequence of something that has nothing to do with you.
Register with your embassy so you can be alerted about any dangers. The US State Department has a website for this (for those sensitive about privacy, you can register without using your real information, but make sure to give a working email address so you get the safety updates). Check with your State Department equivalent or check in with your embassy or consulate when you arrive in Bangkok.
Keep an eye on the news while you’re traveling. I’m in the news business and even I hate doing it when I’m on vacation. I once arrived at an airport in Italy only to be told by an annoyed and surly clerk at the check-in counter that the strike that canceled my flight had been on the front page of the papers for the past week. With the internet and all it’s not too tough to check in every day or two.
