Asia-Pacific

Thai opposition to hold major demo

341293_Bangkok-protestersAnti-government protesters in Thailand plan to hold a major demonstration in the country’s capital, following the main opposition party’s declaration to boycott the general election of February.

Hundreds of thousands of opposition protesters are expected to gather for the event in central Bangkok around 1100 GMT Sunday, protest leaders said.

Earlier on Sunday, some 1,000 people converged outside the suburban residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra amid tight security, with thousands more expected to show up.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the demonstration iss aimed at raising pressure on the government to resign.

The protest comes a day after the main opposition Democrat Party, Thailand’s oldest political party, said it would boycott the upcoming election.

The party unanimously voted in a meeting on Saturday that its involvement in the election would legitimize the government of Shinawatra.

Demonstrators said electoral reforms are needed before any elections are held.

On December 9, Shinawatra dissolved the parliament and called the snap election to calm the situation.

Protests in Bangkok began on October 31, when the government proposed an amnesty bill that would 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 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.

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