Thailand to go ahead with Feb. 2 elections: Officials
Iran Press TV
Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:13PM GMT
The Thai government has confirmed that the general elections set for February 2 will go ahead as planned despite persistent anti-government protests.
Thailand government made the announcement after talks between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and election officials.
"We have to go forward with the election. The Election Commission will organize the election under the framework of the constitution and try to avoid any violence," Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana told a news conference in Bangkok.
This is while the Commission wanted to postpone the poll but the premier insisted that it should be held on February the second.
Over the past weeks, protesters have been rallying in different parts of the country, accusing the government of corruption and calling for the prime minister to step down.
Protesters said the political system needed to be totally reformed, stressing that the government has to be ousted and replaced by a people's council.
The angry demonstrators have even pledged to disrupt the general elections.
At least ten people have died and dozens more injured since the fresh wave of unrest broke out in November after Bangkok proposed an amnesty bill that could have pardoned ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to the country.
The ex-premier, ousted in 2006, has been in self-exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence.
JR/PR/SS
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