Upcountry People In Some Provinces Hold Anti – Government Rally

NAKHON Si THAMMARAT (Southern Thailand), December 22 (TNA) - People in some provinces, mostly in southern Thailand, on Sunday organised anti-government rallies demanding the caretaker government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to conduct a national political reform first before holding a general election. In supporting rallies being held in the Thai capital, people in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat assembled in the provincial seat . They plan to gather later in the day in front of the provincial hall and to monitor movements of core leaders and supporters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) now holding rallies in several places in Bangkok. Protesters in the nearby province of Trang again gathered in front of the governor’s office and demanded the caretaker government to undertake the national political reform before holding the nationwide general election, scheduled to be held next February 2. A large number of policemen, also in plainclothes, were seen patrolling the area to prevent untoward incidents from occurring while the protesters have set up another platform on the street. The demonstrators were allowed to sign their names opposing the so-called ‘Thaksin regime’. Their names will be dispatched later to PDRC major platform set up at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument later. In the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani bordering Laos, anti-government protesters asked the caretaker government to conduct the national political reform prior to holding the general election as it could save about 4 billion baht for the country. They reasoned that Thai political situation would remain unchanged if the election is held first. The protesters also plan to gather at the public park in parallel to PDRC-organised rallies in Bangkok. Members of the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), meanwhile, also marched in Ubon Ratchathani, urging people to cast votes on the general election day. UDD members said the upcoming election is going to be held in line with the democratic system. They plan to establish a platform in the evening and also invited people to express opinions on the current political turbulence in the country. (TNA)