STAY AWAY FROM BANGKOK FOR A WHILE

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, April 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysians have been advised to consider
cancelling any plan to visit Bangkok, in view of the escalating tension between
the government and supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Malaysian Embassy here said that they should stay away from the capital
andfive other provinces which are under a state of emergency, unless really
necessary.

The advice comes as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban announced that
police and soldiers, deployed to more than 50 areas, have been given the
go-ahead to use force to bring peace and normalcy to the capital.

An embassy official advised Malaysian tourists in Bangkok to exercise
caution and keep themselves abreast with the latest developments by following
the news update on television and contact the embassy, if necessary.

He said the embassy located in Sathorn Road would set up a 24-hour
operations room to closely monitor the situation and provide advice to
Malaysians in Thailand. The hotline number is 00 662 629 6808.

Earlier, anti-government protesters smashed Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva's car with flower pots, stones and sticks while he was leaving the
Interior Ministry. Dozens of soldiers and policemen watched helplessly as the
protesters scuffled with a handful of Abhisit's bodyguards.

The premier escaped from the scene with an arm injury, but his
secretary-general, Niphon Prompan, and several officials were taken hostage.

Ministry spokesman Supachai Jaisamut told local media that the senior
officials had earlier attended a meeting called by Abhisit before the premier
announced the state of emergency.

He said they were taken by Thaksin's supporters to their protest site at the
Government House, which they held under seige since March 26.

The Red Shirts movement had stormed the venue of the 14th Asean Summit and
related summits in Pattaya Saturday and forced its cancellation.

While certain roads were blocked by the protestors, most parts of the
capital remained calm, with fewer cars on the road as most of Bangkokians had
taken advantage of the long Songkran holiday to travel to their home towns or
vacation elsewhere.

-- BERNAMA