BANGKOK: In an effort to disrupt the February 2 elections, hundreds of protesters on Monday surrounded a stadium in Bangkok where representatives of political parties were trying to register to run in the polls.
The stadium was being used as the election registration place. However, political parties were forced to file their nomination papers at a police station after the protesters surrounded the stadium.
According to the Election Commission official Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, nine parties managed to enter although members were unable to complete registration. He said that about two dozen parties filed complaints with the police because they were prevented from entering the registration area.
The Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the elections last month in a bid to calm the deepening political crisis in Thailand but the demonstrators say political reforms are needed before any elections are held.
