Many Polling Booths For Advance Voting in Thailand Closed Due to Protests

BANGKOK, January 26 (TNA) - Nineteen constituencies in Bangkok on Sunday abruptly called off advance voting for the scheduled February 2 general election while eligible voters could exercise rights in most northern and northeastern provinces amid blockade by anti-government protesters, said Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of Election Commission (EC). A total of 33 districts in the capital have been surrounded by protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), who have demanded for a national political reform and a postponement of the general election, Mr. Puchong said. Out of the total, polling officials at 19 districts where more than 912,000 eligible voters who have earlier registered themselves to exercise rights on the advance voting day have decided to close the stations on fears of disturbances and violence, he said. Advance voting which started at 8.00 a.m. in 16 northern provinces and 20 northeastern provinces, except Surin, where majority of the people opted for the election to take place went smoothly despite the blockade by PDRC members, Mr. Puchong said. Voters in 26 provinces in the Central and Eastern regions, except Samut Songkhram province, could cast their votes, he said. Five out of 15 southern provinces were forced to call off advance voting after the protesters surrounded polling stations, he added. (TNA)