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| Thai Election Body Urges Vote Delay as Unrest Flares, but Top Officials Reject Idea | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BANGKOK — After chaotic clashes between the police and antigovernment protesters in Bangkok on Thursday left one police officer dead and dozens of people injured, the Election Commission of Thailand urged that national elections scheduled for Feb. 2 be postponed, further clouding the country’s future after a month of debilitating street protests. | BANGKOK — After chaotic clashes between the police and antigovernment protesters in Bangkok on Thursday left one police officer dead and dozens of people injured, the Election Commission of Thailand urged that national elections scheduled for Feb. 2 be postponed, further clouding the country’s future after a month of debilitating street protests. |
| The proposed delay was rejected by Phongthep Thepkanjana, a deputy prime minister, who said that the government had no power to postpone the elections and warned that a delay could lead to “prolonged violence.” | The proposed delay was rejected by Phongthep Thepkanjana, a deputy prime minister, who said that the government had no power to postpone the elections and warned that a delay could lead to “prolonged violence.” |
| A postponement would be a victory for the protesters, who oppose the elections on the grounds that they will probably return to power the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Her party is very popular in the northern half of the country but is despised by many southerners and members of the Thai elite. | A postponement would be a victory for the protesters, who oppose the elections on the grounds that they will probably return to power the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Her party is very popular in the northern half of the country but is despised by many southerners and members of the Thai elite. |
| Over the past month, protesters have raided government ministry buildings, cut power to government offices and police stations, and marched through Bangkok in huge numbers. On Thursday, they tried to raid a Bangkok stadium where political parties were completing pre-election formalities. | Over the past month, protesters have raided government ministry buildings, cut power to government offices and police stations, and marched through Bangkok in huge numbers. On Thursday, they tried to raid a Bangkok stadium where political parties were completing pre-election formalities. |
| Their attacks on the stadium were thwarted by riot police officers. One officer was killed by gunfire, 15 officers had gunshot wounds and 17 suffered other injuries, the police said. | Their attacks on the stadium were thwarted by riot police officers. One officer was killed by gunfire, 15 officers had gunshot wounds and 17 suffered other injuries, the police said. |
| Although many of the protesters who have marched through Bangkok in recent weeks are from the upper echelons of Thai society, the group that attacked the riot police on Thursday was part of a hard-core faction. About 70 protesters were injured, as were several journalists. | Although many of the protesters who have marched through Bangkok in recent weeks are from the upper echelons of Thai society, the group that attacked the riot police on Thursday was part of a hard-core faction. About 70 protesters were injured, as were several journalists. |
| Election Commission officials were evacuated from the site by helicopter. | Election Commission officials were evacuated from the site by helicopter. |
| Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher in Thailand at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter that democracy in the country had been “hijacked by violence and thuggery.” | Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher in Thailand at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter that democracy in the country had been “hijacked by violence and thuggery.” |
| “Shame!” he wrote. | “Shame!” he wrote. |
| Thailand is politically divided between its north and south and between allies and detractors of the Shinawatra clan, the country’s most influential political family, which protesters accuse of subverting Thai democracy and overshadowing the country’s king, a highly emotional issue. | Thailand is politically divided between its north and south and between allies and detractors of the Shinawatra clan, the country’s most influential political family, which protesters accuse of subverting Thai democracy and overshadowing the country’s king, a highly emotional issue. |
| The political crisis comes as the Thai economy is slowing and vulnerable. The protests may have contributed to a drop of more than 10 percent in the value of the baht, the Thai currency, since April, although other currencies in the region have also fallen against the United States dollar. Thailand’s Finance Ministry said on Thursday that the country’s economy probably grew at an anemic 2.8 percent this year, lower than forecast, and that growth would suffer next year if the political turmoil endured. | The political crisis comes as the Thai economy is slowing and vulnerable. The protests may have contributed to a drop of more than 10 percent in the value of the baht, the Thai currency, since April, although other currencies in the region have also fallen against the United States dollar. Thailand’s Finance Ministry said on Thursday that the country’s economy probably grew at an anemic 2.8 percent this year, lower than forecast, and that growth would suffer next year if the political turmoil endured. |
| In comments to reporters on Thursday, the head of the Election Commission, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, said he had urged the government to postpone the elections. But he also said they would not take place on Feb. 2 unless protesters reached an accommodation with the government. | In comments to reporters on Thursday, the head of the Election Commission, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, said he had urged the government to postpone the elections. But he also said they would not take place on Feb. 2 unless protesters reached an accommodation with the government. |
| “If there’s no understanding or agreement in our society, the election on Feb. 2 is not going to happen,” he said. | “If there’s no understanding or agreement in our society, the election on Feb. 2 is not going to happen,” he said. |
| In separate comments made to a Thai television station, he gave what appeared to be the rationale for the proposed delay. | In separate comments made to a Thai television station, he gave what appeared to be the rationale for the proposed delay. |
| “We used to think that elections were the way to solve problems in society, like starting over,” Mr. Somchai said. But the dissolution of Parliament this month and the call for elections seemed to escalate violence. | “We used to think that elections were the way to solve problems in society, like starting over,” Mr. Somchai said. But the dissolution of Parliament this month and the call for elections seemed to escalate violence. |
| “I am afraid that the society will be in conflict and turn violent,” he said. “It’s as if it’s not worth it to have elections.” | “I am afraid that the society will be in conflict and turn violent,” he said. “It’s as if it’s not worth it to have elections.” |
| Charupong Ruangsuwan, the head of the governing party, Pheu Thai, and also the country’s interior minister, reacted angrily to the proposed postponement. | Charupong Ruangsuwan, the head of the governing party, Pheu Thai, and also the country’s interior minister, reacted angrily to the proposed postponement. |
| “I insist that the Election Commission has to comply with the law,” he said in televised remarks. “The Election Commission has a duty to carry out the whole process.” | “I insist that the Election Commission has to comply with the law,” he said in televised remarks. “The Election Commission has a duty to carry out the whole process.” |
| The protests on most days have been confined to a limited area of Bangkok, and many visitors to the sprawling city have been unaware of the turmoil. But hoteliers say the crisis has led to cancellations during what is traditionally Thailand’s peak tourism season. | The protests on most days have been confined to a limited area of Bangkok, and many visitors to the sprawling city have been unaware of the turmoil. But hoteliers say the crisis has led to cancellations during what is traditionally Thailand’s peak tourism season. |
| The protesters are closely allied with Thailand’s Democrat Party, the oldest political party in the country, which has struggled over the past decade to compete with the popularity of Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister who is Ms. Yingluck’s older brother. | The protesters are closely allied with Thailand’s Democrat Party, the oldest political party in the country, which has struggled over the past decade to compete with the popularity of Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister who is Ms. Yingluck’s older brother. |
| The Democrats announced last weekend that they would boycott the Feb. 2 elections. Every other major party has said it will participate. | The Democrats announced last weekend that they would boycott the Feb. 2 elections. Every other major party has said it will participate. |
| The crisis has confounded many observers because the protesters — who on some days have numbered in the hundreds of thousands in Bangkok — are opposed to elections, in effect demanding less democracy, not more. | The crisis has confounded many observers because the protesters — who on some days have numbered in the hundreds of thousands in Bangkok — are opposed to elections, in effect demanding less democracy, not more. |
| Chuwit Kamolvisit, the leader of a small opposition party, Rak Prathetthai, said he did not understand the objections. | Chuwit Kamolvisit, the leader of a small opposition party, Rak Prathetthai, said he did not understand the objections. |
| “I don’t know why elections, which are accepted as international standards of democratic systems, are heavily opposed like this,” he said in a Facebook posting on Thursday. The government and the protesters differ over whether they want changes before or after elections, he said. But “at the end of the day,” he added, “it will come down to elections.” | “I don’t know why elections, which are accepted as international standards of democratic systems, are heavily opposed like this,” he said in a Facebook posting on Thursday. The government and the protesters differ over whether they want changes before or after elections, he said. But “at the end of the day,” he added, “it will come down to elections.” |
| Protesters have rejected offers by the government for negotiations. Their goal, they say, is the eradication of what they call the Shinawatra regime from the country. | Protesters have rejected offers by the government for negotiations. Their goal, they say, is the eradication of what they call the Shinawatra regime from the country. |
| Ichal Supriadi, the executive director of the Asian Network for Free Elections, an organization that monitors elections, said people in other countries have opposed elections, sometimes on security grounds. But this is the first time he has witnessed such a mass movement against elections, he said. | Ichal Supriadi, the executive director of the Asian Network for Free Elections, an organization that monitors elections, said people in other countries have opposed elections, sometimes on security grounds. But this is the first time he has witnessed such a mass movement against elections, he said. |
| In what read like an introductory course on democracy, Mr. Ichal issued a statement on Tuesday lauding the “unique role” of elections and urging protesters to allow the voting to proceed. | In what read like an introductory course on democracy, Mr. Ichal issued a statement on Tuesday lauding the “unique role” of elections and urging protesters to allow the voting to proceed. |
| “All efforts and plans to forcibly impede the election process should cease,” his organization said in the statement. | “All efforts and plans to forcibly impede the election process should cease,” his organization said in the statement. |
| Mr. Ichal, who is from Indonesia, said Thailand had shown “a degree of professionalism” in conducting elections in the past. | Mr. Ichal, who is from Indonesia, said Thailand had shown “a degree of professionalism” in conducting elections in the past. |
| Pheu Thai won in a landslide in the last election, in 2011, with a turnout of 75 percent. The Democrats conceded defeat. | Pheu Thai won in a landslide in the last election, in 2011, with a turnout of 75 percent. The Democrats conceded defeat. |
| “We are not taking sides, but we believe that elections are the only mechanism to count every individual in Thailand,” Mr. Ichal said in an interview. | “We are not taking sides, but we believe that elections are the only mechanism to count every individual in Thailand,” Mr. Ichal said in an interview. |