The planned “shutdown” was successful in keeping many people who would normally be there away from the city centre, although their numbers were at least in part replaced by throngs of protestors, soldiers and representatives of the world’s media.
The unrest is expected to continue indefinitely, according to published reports last night. In the lead story on its website this morning, the Bangkok Post showed a photograph of the anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, and said he had "vowed on Monday to shutdown Bangkok until the People's Democratic Reform Committee wins its battle to oust the caretaker government".
The Financial Times, meanwhile, was reporting that the Stock Exchange of Thailand was considering moving to a back-up location after receiving reports that a protester group had threatened to blockade it.
As reported, the protesters are calling for the resignation of the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, ahead of an election currently scheduled to take place on 2 February.
Paul Gambles, managing partner at the Bangkok-based advisory group MBMG, said his company's precaution of arranging to have its staff work remotely went well yesterday, with "no delay or reduction in quality in responding to clients".
"We're speaking to clients and holding client meetings in locations that are easier to travel to, [both] for our advisers and for their clients," Gambles, who is in Hong Kong attending the Asian Financial Forum there, told International Adviser.
Although not in Thailand, Gambles was repeatedly interviewed on the situation in Thailand yesterday and on Sunday.
In an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday, he said there were three possible outcomes for Thailand: "One, there could be a negotiated settlement, which is unlikely; two, either side backs down, which is unlikely; or three, something kicks off, we get violence, and the army steps in."
The concern for Thailand, the CNBC coverage went on to note, is that the political turmoil,which began in November and has already had a major impact on the country's economy and currency, will continue, hitting the Southeast Asian country's long-term growth prospects.
