Protesters remain on Bangkok streets

Thai protesters have once again taken to the streets of the capital, Bangkok, to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and reforms before the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The protesters on Thursday marched along one of the main streets of Bangkok, holding banners that read, We are anti-corruption, and, No elections before reform.

More protesters are expected to join the demonstrations in central business areas of the capital.

Protests in Bangkok began on October 31, when the government proposed an amnesty bill that could have cleared Thaksin Shinawatra, brother to the current prime minister, of graft convictions and paved the way for his return to the country.

On November 11, the upper house of the Thai parliament rejected the controversial bill amid growing outrage on the streets. However, the demonstrators have not stopped holding protests ever since.

Thaksin is said to be the power behind the current government and has been in self-imposed exile since 2006, when he was ousted in a military coup. He faces a jail term over his convictions if he returns.

The Thai premier dissolved the parliament on December 9 and called snap elections for February 2 in an attempt to calm the situation. Yingluck said she would run in the elections herself and would remain the caretaker prime minister until then.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, however, says a “people’s council” should replace the government before the upcoming elections.