Thailand protesters block early election vote
The BBC's Jonathan Head: "The protesters are showing that they can sabotage an election"
Protesters in Thailand have surrounded polling stations, blocking early voting ahead of next week's general election, officials say.
Crowds of flag-waving demonstrators chained the doors of polling stations shut, despite promises by protest leaders not to obstruct the polls.
Advance voting has reportedly been cancelled in a number of locations.
Anti-government activists want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and the political system to be reformed.
Protesters descended on scores of polling stations in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and several southern provinces, preventing ballot officials and voters from entering and leading to the closure of at least 34 venues.
The country's election commission has called for the general vote scheduled for 2 February to be postponed because of possible disruption and violence.
But the government has so far insisted that the election must go ahead on schedule.
The latest disturbances comes despite a pledge from protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who said on Saturday that his supporters would not obstruct advance voting - although they would demonstrate outside polling stations.
The protest movement says it is not obstructing the poll, but that "supporters are simply protesting the advance polls held today by surrounding/standing in front of election units", in a statement on its Facebook page.
Advance voting is for those unable to take part in the February election.
A state of emergency is in place as the authorities struggle to cope with the unrest.
Protesters, who started their campaign in November, want to install an unelected "people's council" to run the country until the political system is changed.
They say Ms Yingluck's government is being influenced by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
At least nine people have died since the wave of protests started last year.
No comments:
Post a Comment