THAILAND: Pro-government, red-shirted supporters drive through the outskirts of Bangkok to call on people to head to the polls on February 2.

Record ID: 214157

  • Title: THAILAND: Pro-government, red-shirted supporters drive through the outskirts of Bangkok to call on people to head to the polls on February 2.
  • Date: 31st January 2014
  • Summary: NONTHABURI PROVINCE, THAILAND (JANUARY 31, 2014) (REUTERS) PRO-GOVERNMENT RED SHIRTS RAISING TWO FINGERS TWO FINGERS PROTESTERS ON MOTORCYCLES T-SHIRT READING (English): "RESPECT MY VOTE" (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 60-YEAR-OLD GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, JANTEE ROJANASIRI SAYING: "On February 2nd we'd like to all people to come out to vote, because we want a democracy." MAN ON MOTORCYCLE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 54-YEAR-OLD GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER PADET KAMKAEW SAYING: "The anti-vote campaign should stay at their locations and not obstruct us. It is not right." VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING LEADER SPEAKING ON TRUCK VEHICLES DRIVING ON ROAD
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1YO0ACTY7QOJ2TJ1PC5ZH6X8U
  • Story Text: A small group of pro-government red-shirted supporters on Friday (January 31) drove motorbikes through Nonthaburi on the outskirts of Bangkok to rally support and encourage people to go to the polls during Sunday's disputed election.
    The government has vowed to push ahead with the general election despite threats by anti-government protesters, camped out at major intersections in Bangkok, that they will disrupt the polls in an attempt to stop Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Puea Thai Party from returning to power.
    The anti-government protesters took to the streets in November in the latest round of an eight-year conflict that pits Bangkok's middle class, southern Thais and the royalist establishment against the mostly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in 2006.
    The main opposition Democrat party, which backs the anti-government protests, is boycotting the election, which Yingluck's party is bound to win but without enough members to achieve a quorum in parliament.
    But pro-government campaigners urged people to attend the vote.

    "On February 2nd we'd like to all people to come out to vote, because we want a democracy," campaigner, Jantee Rojanasiri said.
    Another red shirt campaigner urged anti-government protesters not to obstruct voters.

    "The anti-vote campaign should stay at their locations and not obstruct us. It is not right," Padet Kamkaew said.
    Ten people have been killed and at least 577 wounded in politically related violence since the end of November and many voters fear Sunday's (February 2) vote will end in bloodshed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register