Thai Protesters Continue Blocking Election Registration Venues

BANGKOK, December 30 (TNA) – Candidates wishing to register and contest the February 2 general election under the constituency system in several southern provinces of Thailand are unable to submit their applications for the third consecutive day on Monday because anti-government protesters continue blocking registration venues. Protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who are demanding for political reform prior to election have blocked the entrance of a school which is the registration venue in the southern province of Phatthalung and prevented Election Commission (EC) officials from performing their duty. Despite efforts by the provincial EC director and the police chief urging the protesters to open the entrance, the protesters did not allow anybody to enter the venue. A similar situation occurred in the resort province of Krabi. The protesters blocked every route leading to the provincial EC office where the process is to take place for the third day. EC officials in the office could not perform their duty while directors of all the three constituencies have resigned. Pheu Thai Party candidates have already filed complaints at the provincial police station while one of the party’s candidates said he would file complaint to police everyday until the last day of submitting the application. In nearby Trang province, the situation is worrisome after the protesters seized a sport stadium which is the registration venue and blew whistles in pressuring officials to leave the area. They also locked the doors, aimed at disrupting the registration process. However, the situation in the two Central provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ratchaburi is calm because of the absence of the demonstrators. Candidates could submit their applications to the officials conveniently. (TNA)