About 2,500 people marched in Bangkok on December 19 in an effort toforce Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down in response toprotest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
The demonstrators calledon others to join a big rally slated for December 22 that they say willparalyse the capital.
However, the number of protestorswas well down from the huge demonstrations of the last few weeks whichprompted the Prime Minister to call the snap election for February.
On December 17, Suthep announced that the anti-governmentprotesters would rally on December 19 and 20 before another massdemonstration on December 22 to pressure PM Yingluck to resign.
Yingluck, however, reiterated that she would not resign, but wouldcontinue working until the mission to coordinate with the ElectionCommission to hold a free and fair general election on February 2 iscomplete.
The same day, the Thai Election Commissionrecommended the upcoming election be postponed because of fears offurther unrest. It also called on the Government and demonstrators tohold talks, in an attempt to solve the ongoing political crisis.
The commission has set December 23-27 for the registration ofcandidates in the Party list system and December 28 - January 1 forcandidates running in constituencies.
Leader of the Puea ThaiParty Charupong Ruangsuwan said the Party is ready for the electionfollowing the House’s dissolution with 500 candidates in the Party listand more than 400 others in constituencies.
Meanwhile,Democrat Party officials said they have not yet decided whether to takepart in the upcoming election, which must be held within 60 days of theHouse’s dissolution.
Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakornsaid on December 18 that the military supports the calling of a generalelection and is ready to deploy troops to help oversee it if asked.-VNA
The demonstrators calledon others to join a big rally slated for December 22 that they say willparalyse the capital.
However, the number of protestorswas well down from the huge demonstrations of the last few weeks whichprompted the Prime Minister to call the snap election for February.
On December 17, Suthep announced that the anti-governmentprotesters would rally on December 19 and 20 before another massdemonstration on December 22 to pressure PM Yingluck to resign.
Yingluck, however, reiterated that she would not resign, but wouldcontinue working until the mission to coordinate with the ElectionCommission to hold a free and fair general election on February 2 iscomplete.
The same day, the Thai Election Commissionrecommended the upcoming election be postponed because of fears offurther unrest. It also called on the Government and demonstrators tohold talks, in an attempt to solve the ongoing political crisis.
The commission has set December 23-27 for the registration ofcandidates in the Party list system and December 28 - January 1 forcandidates running in constituencies.
Leader of the Puea ThaiParty Charupong Ruangsuwan said the Party is ready for the electionfollowing the House’s dissolution with 500 candidates in the Party listand more than 400 others in constituencies.
Meanwhile,Democrat Party officials said they have not yet decided whether to takepart in the upcoming election, which must be held within 60 days of theHouse’s dissolution.
Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakornsaid on December 18 that the military supports the calling of a generalelection and is ready to deploy troops to help oversee it if asked.-VNA
