Bangkok: Anti-government protests to intensify ahead of 2 February election
Anti-government protest leaders have announced the following rallies in the capital Bangkok, ahead of and during the 2 February general election:
• 30 January: March from On Nut along Sukhumvit Road to Asoke intersection.
• 31 January: March from Lad Prao 5-way intersection along Lad Prao and Ratchadapisek roads to Rama IX intersection.
• 1 February: March from Silom to the Yaowarat area.
• 2 February: Major demonstrations across Bangkok to prevent voters from reaching polling stations.
Protesters also remain encamped at the following locations:
• Pratumwhun intersection
• Intersection of Lumphini Park and Silom
• Asoke intersection
• Ratchaprasong intersection
• Victory Monument
• Lad Prao 5-ways intersection
• Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road
• Phan Fa bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue
• Chamai Maruchet bridge on Phitsanulok Road
There is a high risk of unrest around protest sites in Bangkok over the next few days. This could take the form of clashes between demonstrators and the police, or targeted attacks against protesters; since November 2013, there has been a series of grenade and other small explosive device attacks and shootings targeting anti-government protest sites and rallies. Protest activity will intensify on 2 February, with anti-government activists attempting to sabotage polling, and rival groups potentially clashing. The military is increasingly likely to intervene to restore order if violence escalates over the election period.
Outlook
The Puea Thai party is likely to be re-elected in the 2 February election; however, the convening of the new parliament will be protracted because of the inability to hold polls in some constituencies, necessitating by-elections. Advance voting that could not take place on 26 January in 83 constituencies has been rescheduled for 23 February.
Additionally, the election results are highly likely to be contested, either by opposition parties or the Election Commission itself. Protest leaders continue to demand that an unelected interim government be appointed, and they are highly unlikely to end their campaign until the Puea Thai party is out of power, meaning protest activity in Bangkok could continue for some months.
The stability of a Puea Thai government is further jeopardised by charges that the National Anti-Corruption Commission is preparing against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and more than 300 Puea Thai MPs; these could result in their disqualification from politics. There is also an outlying possibility that the Constitutional Court could move to dissolve the Puea Thai party, or nullify the election results, on various grounds. The latter scenarios would almost certainly result in large-scale and probably violent protests by the pro-government United Front For Democracy Against Dictatorship (‘Red Shirts') group.