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BANGKOK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Opponents of Thai caretaker Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration, led by the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD), have agreed to end their rally at the Election Commission of
Thailand (EC) headquarters on Friday morning.
The PAD-led demonstrators announced Thursday afternoon that they would
disperse at 02:00 a.m. (1900 GMT Thursday) local time on Friday, the official
Thai News Agency said.
The campaigners have besieged the election watchdog headquarters in
Bangkok's Pathumwan area since Thursday morning after marching from nearby Siam
Paragon Shopping Complex, Bangkok's newly-opened upscale shopping center, to
pressure all election commissioners to resign en masse alleging them of failing
to perform their duty to disqualify Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party
from running the April 2 general election.
The demonstrators accused the caretaker prime minister and his TRT Party of
vote buying and promising favors in exchange for vote,which breaches the
electoral law.
The opponents' move, however, failed as all the election commissioners had
sneaked out of the building despite the demonstrators' demand to inspect all
vehicles driving in and out of the building.
EC Chairman Vasana Puemlap told journalists that the election watchdog
strictly observes its duty and has considered all complaints, explaining that
the commissioners have to take time toexamine and rule on the complaints.
PAD core members announced Wednesday night that the anti-government
movement would temporarily end their mass demonstrations after marching from
Siam Paragon to the Royal Thai Police and the EC headquarters Thursday morning
to file charges against the caretaker prime minister.
The PAD core members announced that the coalition would resume demonstrations on April 7 at Royal Plaza and nearby Makhawan Bridge where neighbors the Government House. Enditem |