Tens of thousands of Thais prevented from voting by protesters

Tens of thousands of Thais were unable to cast their ballots yesterday by anti-government protesters who blockaded roads and commandeered polling booths in an increasingly tense political standoff.

Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is likely to be re-elected – as her party, or versions of it, has won every election since 2001 – but thousands of Thais have boycotted the vote in protest and thousands more have been prevented by protesters from casting their ballots.

Almost 500 of Bangkok’s 6,671 polling booths were closed and nine provinces in the south were also unable to cast their votes. Anti-government demonstrators blocked the delivery of ballot boxes, blockaded roads and stood “guard” at polling station in pro-government districts to prevent voting.

Anti-government demonstrators vowed to continue their fight against the so-called “Thaksin regime” until Yingluck Shinawatra stepped down voluntarily or by force.

Protesters claim Thaksin Shinawatra, her brother, controls his sister’s government. He was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006.

Demonstrators want to see the prime minister replaced by an unelected “people’s council”, which they claim would be tasked with reforming the nation’s current “dirty politics” system.

– (Guardian service)