Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (Source; AFP/VNA)
Thai anti-government protesters on February 1 continued marching through Bangkok in a final effort to oppose the general election slated to take place on February 2.Speaking to his supporters on January 31, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban called on them to surround streets in the capital in a peaceful manner, saying that the demonstrations will not hinder Thai people from voting.
The leader also made an appeal to supporters in the south of Thailand, who are besieging polling locations, to demonstrate peacefully.
Meanwhile, the Thai Civil Court on January 31 heard a request for the suspension of the country’s state of emergency - announced on January 21 to prevent protesters from blockading governmental buildings and banks.
Taworn Senneam, a leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, filed the suit with the court, alleging that the government had declared the extreme measures despite the peaceful nature of protests. The court will hold the first hearing of the case on February 6.
The eyes of the world will be on Thailand on February 2, after an advance voting ballot was disrupted on January 26 by protesters encircling polling stations and preventing voters from entering.
The move resulted in 49 out of 50 voting areas in Bangkok failing to conduct the voting, while stations in 10 provinces were also affected by the anti-government camp.
VNA
