The Department of State warns Americans about going to Thailand due to a lot of ongoing political demonstrations and unrest in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It advised U.S. citizens to defer all travel to Bangkok and postpone all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand. The State Department also allowed the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (aka UDD or "red-shirts") are holding almost non-stop demonstrations in central Bangkok. Various other groups have also held pro-government or counter-demonstrations in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Several clashes between security forces and the UDD and other demonstrators have been reported.
The Royal Thai Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has announced plans to close off the demonstration area at the Ratchaprasong rally site to hopefully minimize the effects of the protests. Among measures taken by authorities are: limiting transportation services, including the BTS Skytrain, MRTA, canal routes, and possibly bus routes; set-up of checkpoints at all access routes; cutting off telephone services; and cutting off electricity and water to the rally site and surrounding areas.
The U.S. Embassy has been closed since Friday, May 14. American Citizen Services (ACS) will be limited to emergencies only.
In addition, the Royal Thai Government has declared a state of emergency in several provinces. This expands the existing state of emergency in the Bangkok metropolitan area that the government declared on April 7, 2010.
The State Department strongly urges U.S. citizens in Thailand to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or through the State Department's travel registration website. For information on general crime and security issues, U.S. citizens may also check the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Thailand and the Worldwide Caution, located at the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website. U.S. citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 from the United States and Canada, or 202-501-4444 from overseas.
