14 May 2010

NZ embassy closes due to Thai unrest

9:58 pm on 14 May 2010

New Zealand has closed its embassy in Bangkok temporarily as civil unrest in Thailand continues.

Thai security forces have fired rounds after moving in to seal a heavily defended encampment of protesters in the central city. Protesters set fire to a police bus and gunshots rang out, amid fierce clashes on Friday.

People have been warned to stay away from the area, businesses are closed and public transport has been suspended.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the embassy has closed and 20 staff were told to stay home on Friday due to the protests and heavy presence of security forces near its building.

New Zealand's ambassador to Thailand, Bede Corry, told Checkpoint that other embassies in the area, including those representing the United States, Canada, Britain and the Netherlands have also closed.

"We are operating on the assumption that the situation could continue to be very violent and very dangerous for people in the area.

"I wish I could say otherwise that we could lift our high-risk travel alert for the whole of Thailand, which is in place at the moment, but there is the distinct potential for more trouble unfortunately."

MFAT says the security situation at the New Zealand embassy will be reviewed on Monday.

The protesters want fresh elections and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is under pressure to end the violent political crisis that has killed at least 29 people, wounded more than 1,400, paralysed parts of Bangkok.

A state of emergency in place in Bangkok and surrounding areas is to be extended to 15 other provinces.