Thailand is corrupt as f*ck. I know a mate that was down there recently during those riots.
He's proper mental, started joining in with the riots, jumping on tanks and waving flags around.
Then the army tear gassed him and the gas went into his new tattoo and ****ed it up LOL, said it was really painful.
A few days later he got tear gassed again

.
Then a few days later in another riot, the army opened fire and a bullet whizzed past his head and hit a lady in the head a few metres from him - killed her instantly he said, blood and brains everywhere.
But anyways, stay away from crowded areas. He said the druggies work with the local police to target foreigners. The druggies will try to offer you drugs, when you say no they follow you and pop drugs in your pockets or bags without you noticing, the police then stop and search you and arrest you. the only way you can avoid going to their fu*cked up prisons is by going to an ATM and paying up, usually £1,000+. He said it happened to a few people he knew.