Asia-Pacific

Thai protesters scuffle with riot police at Bangkok rally

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Thai riot police and hundreds of anti-government demonstrators have scuffled outside the prime minister’s house in Bangkok.

Hundreds of angry protesters converged outside the suburban residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra amid tight security on Sunday.

This comes while security sources say at least 150,000 people had gathered at several sites across Bangkok by Sunday evening. Protest leaders say the number is several times higher.

The latest protest rally comes a day after the main opposition Democrat Party said it would boycott the elections scheduled for February the second.

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.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says the rally is aimed at raising pressure on the government to resign.

Suthep also urged protesters to blockade the site where the Election Commission is due to hold party registrations from Monday.

“Whoever wants to go inside to register will have to pass through us,” he said, adding, “If we do not hold the country by February 2, we will shut the country down. No one will go to vote.”

Prime Minister Shinawat called the election earlier this month in a bid to end persistent protests.

The anti-government campaign began last month when Bangkok tried to pass an amnesty law that could parole politically-related crimes. It could also pave the way for the return of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Although the Thai senate rejected the bill to end the protests, the demonstrations have even gained momentum.

Protesters say they want to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck, who is Thaksin’s sister, and also to end the influence of Thaksin’s dynasty in Thai politics.

Yingluck’s administration is accused of corruption and her opponents call her an incompetent puppet. The demonstrators want the current prime minister to step down.

Thaksin was toppled in a military coup seven years ago, following rallies accusing him of corruption. Since then, Thaksin has lived in a self-imposed exile to avoid a prison sentence.

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