The Foreign Minister said on Wednesday so far France, Switzerland, Britain, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Israel, and Japan have already issued ''warnings'' to their people traveling in Thailand. However, the Asean nations have not yet issued any warnings


PHUKET: Britain, France, Sweden and Japan have issued mild warnings to their citizens over the Amnesty Bill protests, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tourism in Thailand has begun to suffer with Thai travellers dropping by 20 percent as people stay home to await developments or are scared they could be caught up in road blockades.

Japanese and Chinese tourists are usually sensitive to potential problems and the first to cancel.

Direct flights make Phuket a safe destination no matter what happens in Bangkok but in past political upheavals, most nations have simply lumped the whole of Thailand into a single travel warning.

The Deputy Tourism Authority of Thailand Director, Wilaiwan Thawithdri, said today: ''We have told all 27 TAT offices around the world to explain accurately what's happening in Thailand.''

Protests continued to mount around Thailand today despite a national broadcast by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra defending the bill. She said it was aimed at reconciling the whole country.

However, many others see it as a sop to the corrupt and an opportunity to seamlessly allow fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - the present PM's brother - to return to Thailand from exile.

Senators are to vote on the bill on November 11. The Secretary of the Pheu Thai party, which leads the present government, issued a statement through party secretary Bhumitam Watyachai saying that a verdict either way would be accepted.

Doctors, nurses, academics and business groups around Thailand continued to declare that they oppose the bill. Chulalongkhorn University professors and students issued a statement declaring their opposition.

A group of 63 judges and deputy judges and Bangkok Hospital Phuket staff also came out against the bill.

Photographs of anonymous prisoners inside an unnamed jail were also being circulated. The inmates, with arms crossed above their heads in the anti-corruption sign, appeared with a sign saying: ''These people sell out the country. We only sell ya bah. We should also get an amnesty.''

One estimate put the number of corrupt officials who would be pardoned, going back to 2004, at 50,000 people. That estimate came from Wicha Mahakul, spokesman for the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

''If this act passes, 400 people at high levels in politics and thousands more at lower levels will not have to pay for their crimes. It will be against the international law against corruption.

''It will destroy democracy and morals in Thailand.''

Khun Yingluck says the bill is about ''harmony,'' not corruption, but others have concluded the reconciliation attempt was mostly about returning her brother to Thailand.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators were camped at several key sites around Bangkok tonight. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said they would stay until the bill has been killed.

The row over the legislation has widened the usual split between ''red'' government and ''yellow'' opposition with many traditional ''red'' supporters now opposed to the bill.

The New York Times quoted a Pheu Thai MP today as saying that Thaksin's support is splintering.

The travel advisory on the online site of the British Embassy in Thailand reads: ''A number of political demonstrations are expected to take place in Bangkok in November 2013, mainly around Sam Sen train station, Lumpini Park, and Uruphong intersection.

''Authorities in Thailand have implemented the Internal Security Act from 9 October to 30 November in the Dusit, Pom Prab, and Phra Nakorn districts of Bangkok, which will lead to an increased security presence and disruption to traffic. You should avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.''