People participated in a protest against violence in Bangkok yesterday.
`I am confident that the campaign will go smoothly. We are not the ones causing trouble,` said party leader Jarupong Ruangsuwan, adding that Pheu Thai’s election slogan was to call on people to go
When the above campaign began, thousands of Pheu Thai party supporters also gathered in a field on the outskirts of Bangkok, one of five rally locations.
After calling for a delay in the voting plan due to the unstable situation, the Election Commission said yesterday that the vote is expected to still be conducted.
Protesters have blocked party candidates from registering to run in many southern provinces, where the opposition dominates.
Shares and the Thai baht have plummeted on concerns that the current deepening crisis will threaten tourism and international investment.
Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said the wave of protests could cause greater damage than the unrest that led to his ouster in 2008.
`They don’t want an election. They want to get rid of the government. That’s very dangerous,` Mr. Somchai said.
Several foreign governments have advised their citizens to avoid protest sites in Thailand.
`The longer the protesters remain there, the more people will hate them. The government will naturally gain support through this, but we don’t want that. We want the protest
Prime Minister Yingluck called for a general election to be held on February 2 to resolve conflicts with the opposition.
Eight people were killed and about 400 injured in numerous clashes between the two sides in recent weeks.
The opposition Democratic Party has not won any victories in the past two decades, while parties supporting former Prime Minister Thaksin, Ms. Yingluck’s brother, have continuously won elections since 2001.