Controversial anti-government protests have been ongoing in Thailand since October 2013, aimed at removing the influence of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Thai politics.[12] The protests were triggered by a proposed amnesty bill that would have pardoned Thai politicians Abhisit Vejjajiva, Suthep Thaugsuban over murder charges[13] and Thaksin Shinawatra over corruption allegations. The bill could have made it possible for Thaksin, brother of the current prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, to return to Thailand after a self-imposed exile without facing an existing conviction.[1] Although opposition from both the Democrat Party and the pro-government Red Shirt movement caused the bill to be rejected unanimously by the Senate of Thailand on 11 November,[14] protests led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban continued and turned towards an anti-government agenda. Red Shirts also staged counter-protests in support of the government, but avoided demonstrating near any anti-government protests. An independent poll reported that the majority of Thai people wanted all protests to end.[15] In a separate incident, the Constitutional Court ruled that a government-proposed amendment to the criticised[why?] 2007 constitution – which would have made the Senate a fully elected body – was invalid.[16][2]