Proposal for postponement of Thai polls

Bangkok: Thailand’s Election Commission on Thursday warned of potential unrest at upcoming polls, suggesting a postponement as thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the capital.

The independent body called for talks between the administration of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and demonstrators, who have vowed to disrupt the Feb 2 vote.

Yingluck called the snap election last week to try to defuse a weeks-long political crisis, which has seen opposition protesters massing on the streets of Bangkok.

But the protesters say it would only usher in another government backed by controversial former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother.

They accuse the ousted leader of controlling her behind the scenes and call for the democratic system to be suspended in favour of a reforming “people’s council”.

“The EC expects the election on Feb 2 will cause unrest, so holding the poll on that date is not appropriate,” said EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, adding that officials would organise the vote if parties “insist” on going ahead.Thousands of people marched through the capital on Thursday in a noisy procession of whistle-blowing, flag-waving protesters.

The ruling Puea Thai Party is widely expected to win the poll due to Thaksin’s electoral clout in the north and northeast, and criticised the EC postponement proposal.

Thailand has seen 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, while the country’s judiciary and institutions have also made interventions that helped to oust elected governments.

The protests have been backed by the Democrats, who have not won an election for two decades and are currently mulling whether or not to boycott the February poll.

Source: Reuters