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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thailand crisis: Polls to proceed despite protests | Thailand crisis: Polls to proceed despite protests |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's election is set to go ahead as planned on 2 February, the government says, amid protesters' "shutdown" of the capital, Bangkok. | Thailand's election is set to go ahead as planned on 2 February, the government says, amid protesters' "shutdown" of the capital, Bangkok. |
| The news came after a meeting that was boycotted by the protesters. | The news came after a meeting that was boycotted by the protesters. |
| The protesters, who began their "shutdown" on Monday, want the prime minister to resign and an unelected "People's Council" to enact reforms. | The protesters, who began their "shutdown" on Monday, want the prime minister to resign and an unelected "People's Council" to enact reforms. |
| They have blocked major road junctions in Bangkok and are camped out in some areas. | They have blocked major road junctions in Bangkok and are camped out in some areas. |
| Thailand is facing its worst political unrest since 2010, which left 90 people dead. | Thailand is facing its worst political unrest since 2010, which left 90 people dead. |
| Protesters say the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is controlled by her brother, ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and are demanding it step down. | Protesters say the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is controlled by her brother, ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and are demanding it step down. |
| Ms Yingluck, who leads an elected government that enjoys strong support in rural areas, has called an election for 2 February in response to the protests - but the opposition is boycotting it. | Ms Yingluck, who leads an elected government that enjoys strong support in rural areas, has called an election for 2 February in response to the protests - but the opposition is boycotting it. |
| The election commission has recommended delaying the polls until May. | |
| Ms Yingluck offered to hold talks with opponents on Wednesday morning to discuss postponing the polls, but protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has rejected any compromise and did not attend. | Ms Yingluck offered to hold talks with opponents on Wednesday morning to discuss postponing the polls, but protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has rejected any compromise and did not attend. |
| Following Wednesday's meeting, Ms Yingluck told reporters that there was no legal way to delay the polls. | Following Wednesday's meeting, Ms Yingluck told reporters that there was no legal way to delay the polls. |
| "The rights of the people are important," she said. | "The rights of the people are important," she said. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said: "We believe the election will bring the situation back to normal." | Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said: "We believe the election will bring the situation back to normal." |
| "We can see that the support of Mr Suthep is declining. When he is doing something against the law, most people do not support that," he added. | "We can see that the support of Mr Suthep is declining. When he is doing something against the law, most people do not support that," he added. |
| Shots fired | Shots fired |
| Large parts of Bangkok have continued to function during the shutdown. But the protesters have blocked intersections and surrounded government departments in a bid to disrupt officials' work. | Large parts of Bangkok have continued to function during the shutdown. But the protesters have blocked intersections and surrounded government departments in a bid to disrupt officials' work. |
| They say they will remain in place until the government resigns. | They say they will remain in place until the government resigns. |
| In an overnight incident, a witness said several shots were fired towards a protest barricade over a two-hour period. Police said that a man was hit in the ankle and a woman in her arm. | In an overnight incident, a witness said several shots were fired towards a protest barricade over a two-hour period. Police said that a man was hit in the ankle and a woman in her arm. |
| A small blast - attributed either to a small device or a firework - also occurred overnight at a house belonging to opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. | A small blast - attributed either to a small device or a firework - also occurred overnight at a house belonging to opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. |
| The blast at Mr Abhisit's property caused no injuries. | The blast at Mr Abhisit's property caused no injuries. |
| Eight people have been killed since the anti-government protests began in November. | Eight people have been killed since the anti-government protests began in November. |
| The campaign was triggered by the government's attempt to pass an amnesty bill that critics said would have allowed Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption. | The campaign was triggered by the government's attempt to pass an amnesty bill that critics said would have allowed Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption. |
| Mr Thaksin, who was ousted by the military in 2006, is a deeply divisive figure - loved in rural areas but hated by many of the urban elite, who are at the heart of the current protest movement. | Mr Thaksin, who was ousted by the military in 2006, is a deeply divisive figure - loved in rural areas but hated by many of the urban elite, who are at the heart of the current protest movement. |
| So far his supporters - the "red-shirts" who shut down parts of Bangkok in 2010 - have mainly stayed out of these protests. Analysts fear a trigger that led to their return to the streets could signal further violence. | So far his supporters - the "red-shirts" who shut down parts of Bangkok in 2010 - have mainly stayed out of these protests. Analysts fear a trigger that led to their return to the streets could signal further violence. |