• An anti-government protest is slated to be held at Lumphini Park in Bangkok at 16:00-18:00 (local time) on July 22 in opposition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects.

Participation in the scheduled protest is anticipated to reach into the low-to-mid thousands, as witnessed in the current course of the pro-democracy protests and social media engagement. Turnout is likely to be elevated due to the anger among pro-democracy elements over the arrest of participants and protest leaders during demonstrations. Given the propensity for violence in such events, authorities are expected to employ harsh crowd-control measures, including tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, as witnessed in the July 17 protest march near Government House. This is more so in light of the restrictive measures due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is a heightened risk of clashes between protesters and security forces. The demonstrations are further liable to cause traffic disruptions near the venue due to the expected high footfall.

Those operating or residing in Bangkok on July 22 are advised to avoid nonessential travel to the aforementioned location given the protest and the risk of unrest.