Street battles in Bangkok forced several embassies to close this week, but Norway’s embassy has remained open throughout political unrest in Thailand’s biggest city. The Norwegian ambassador said she’s had no reports of any Norwegians being hurt or otherwise affected by the violence.
Ambassador Merete Fjeld Brattested told news bureau NTB that the Norwegian embassy is located outside the downtown area that’s been most severely hit by the unrest.
“We are of course following events as they unfold and will close if we feel that security around the embassy becomes difficult,” she said.
Brattested told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that she and her staff could see smoke from buildings set on fire, but were too far away to hear gunshots. Both the Thai authorities and most Thais want to protect the country’s important visitors industry.
The Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Pattaya, 150 kilometers south of Bangkok, announced that it was prepared to offer help to any Norwegians in Thailand if needed. Reports on Thursday indicated Bangkok was settling down after days of confrontation between the so-called Red Shirts opposition movement and the government.
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