27/12/2013 13:48
Two killed and 143 injured in Bangkok street clashes
Bangkok’s administration has published on Friday updated data on the number of injured in street clashes on Thursday near the Thai-Japanese friendship stadium. According to the report, two people were killed and another 143 were injured, the Voice of Russia said.
Among the injured are 25 police officers, one of them died in hospital of a gun wound. All injured were brought to Bangkok hospitals, where they undergo medical treatment. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in the clashes. The demonstrators used fire arms and self-made firecrackers.
The situation near the Thai-Japanese friendship stadium, where today the election committee finishes accepting documents from those who want to participate in the parliamentary election, can be described as calm. The oppositionists left the territory that they had been occupying earlier in front of the residence of acting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. They have been holding a rally for several days, trying to make as much as possible noise. Thus, they wanted to pressure the head of the cabinet, who, as they believe, should immediately resign.
Thailand said Friday that it would ask the army to provide security for February elections after violent clashes between police and opposition protesters left two people dead and more than 150 wounded.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government on Thursday rejected a call by the kingdom's election commission to postpone the vote, after a policeman was shot dead during political violence in the capital.
Thailand's Election Commission on Friday said it would support nationwide polls on February 2, a day after the government rejected its call to postpone the vote amid clashes and street protests.
"This is our duty," Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen told a press conference.
"We will try our best to hold a free, fair and transparent election."
The commission on Thursday called for the polls to be postponed, saying it could not guarantee safety amid anti-government street protests in the capital since November.
A police officer was shot dead Thursday when protesters tried to storm a sports stadium where election registration was taking place.
At least 143 protesters, journalists and policemen were injured in the clashes, The Nation daily reported.
Anti-government protesters have vowed to sabotage the polls, which the opposition Democrat Party is boycotting.