For the second time in three days, protesters have gathered in downtown Bangkok to protest against a risk of delays in the country’s elections scheduled for next month.
The first of these protests was held on Sunday the 6th of January, after the military government lifted the ban on political gatherings in the country, which was enacted back in 2014 after the infamous Thai coup.
The country’s junta has made several promises to conduct an election in the country but has failed to each time. Through postings on Twitter, several activists were seen, hoisting placards, asking for the country’s government to stick to the original election date set for the 24th of February and not postpone it.
However, the Thai government has signalled it may have to reschedule the elections as post-election activities will fall on a coronation day for the king. The Straits Times reports that “… the vote faces yet another postponement after Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam suggested on Friday that post-election events might clash with rituals related to King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s coronation from May 4-6.”
Thailand’s voting commission has not officially announced a postponement but it has acknowledged the suggestion from the government.
“Since there’s been a lack of clarity on the timeline of the election, many people have come out to show their discontent, whether through social media or by organizing, which shows that Thais are ready for an election,” tycoon-turned-politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the anti-junta Future Forward party, said in a statement.
At the protest, Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer and anti-junta activist who organised the protest at the Victory Monument area in central Bangkok said: “We want the government to hold an election as soon as possible, so that democracy can move forward in our country.” Protestors carried signs which read “We Want Election” and “Election only on Feb 24, 2019”, chanting “No delay!” in unison.
Bloomberg reports that “Thailand has a volatile history of elections followed by unrest and coups. While Tuesday’s protest and another held on Sunday appeared small compared to the many thousands who took the streets before the coup, concerns are growing about rising political risk in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.”
