The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) has appealed to anti-government protesters asking them to bring a swift end to their rally in the area.
The association which represents businesses, shops and hotels, said a prolonged rally would damage the economy and hamper confidence in Thailand for foreign tourists, investors and businessmen.
Its members plan to meet with police and other agencies if the protest in the area drags on, the RSTA said in a statement released on Monday. One of the objectives of the Bangkok shutdown is to persuade or force civil servants to stop working for this government. Thus at least four ministries – Labour, Foreign Affairs, Industry and Science – were "visited" today. At the Labour Ministry it was reported that quite a few civil servants did leave and go home. Mr Suthep only stayed briefly at Pathumwan before heading on to an equally large crowd at Ratchaprasong intersection passing another crowd in front of National Police headquarters on the way. This afternoon, he is scheduled to continue down Sukhumvit to the Asok rally site