Suthep Thaugsuban, who is leading protesters in the Bangkok shutdown, challenged the Thai police to arrest him after the country’s government asked police to capture opposition protest leaders.
The challenge was thrown down on January 16, the day after Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul announced that the police will take a scrupulous, well-guarded approach to arrest the protesters’ leaders, who have threatened to take the prime minister captive and paralysed parts of Bangkok.
The country saw increasing disturbance when its government announced it will continue implementing the election, while the anti-government camp tries to take advantage of the situation to call for more support from protesters.
The Thai Election Commission (EC) has tried to contact Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss the delay of the election scheduled for February 2 after the government did not reply to its initiation of a joint meeting.
On January 15, participants at a special forum organised by the government agreed to hold the election on February 2 as scheduled. Yingluck said at the forum that an election is the best way to solve the current political crisis.
Meanwhile, on January 16 and the fourth day of demonstrators’ “Bangkok Shutdown” campaign, anti-government protest leader Suthep announced that they will blockade all State agencies still operating by the end of this week.
The campaign is scheduled to last for 20 days, with the aim to stop the upcoming general election.
Since the anti-government demonstration wave broke out in Thailand on October 31, eight people have been killed and many others injured.
“Bangkok Shutdown” campaign is estimated to cost the national economy around 1.25 billion USD.-VNA
The challenge was thrown down on January 16, the day after Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul announced that the police will take a scrupulous, well-guarded approach to arrest the protesters’ leaders, who have threatened to take the prime minister captive and paralysed parts of Bangkok.
The country saw increasing disturbance when its government announced it will continue implementing the election, while the anti-government camp tries to take advantage of the situation to call for more support from protesters.
The Thai Election Commission (EC) has tried to contact Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss the delay of the election scheduled for February 2 after the government did not reply to its initiation of a joint meeting.
On January 15, participants at a special forum organised by the government agreed to hold the election on February 2 as scheduled. Yingluck said at the forum that an election is the best way to solve the current political crisis.
Meanwhile, on January 16 and the fourth day of demonstrators’ “Bangkok Shutdown” campaign, anti-government protest leader Suthep announced that they will blockade all State agencies still operating by the end of this week.
The campaign is scheduled to last for 20 days, with the aim to stop the upcoming general election.
Since the anti-government demonstration wave broke out in Thailand on October 31, eight people have been killed and many others injured.
“Bangkok Shutdown” campaign is estimated to cost the national economy around 1.25 billion USD.-VNA
