Thai election candidates seek police protection

[News_Editor]

Thai election candidates seek police protection

2011-05-28 21:21:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- More than 70 election candidates are requesting police protection as Thailand's general election approaches, MCOT online news reported on Saturday.

Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, advisor to the Royal Thai Police and supervisor of the election peace-keeping centre, said that at least 77 MP candidates have sought police protection for fear that they may be targets for attack, up from 49 candidates earlier. Two uniformed policemen will offer round-the-clock surveillance to each candidate who has requested police protection.

Eight policemen have been dispatched to provide protection to four candidates contesting in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, while a total of nine candidates have so far asked for police protection in the lower Northeastern region, said Lt Gen Dechawat.

In addition, police have seized more than 200 weapons as part of a crackdown on hired gunmen. Police also warned that people who are caught destroying campaign posters and billboards will be severely punished.

Thailand will hold a general election on July 3, after the king endorsed a royal decree to dissolve the lower house of parliament earlier this month.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has encountered both political conflicts and economic problems during its tenure of two-and-one half year. Last year, the Red-shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship held a 69-day demonstration in an effort to topple his government. Protesters clashed with police, leaving 92 dead and more than a thousand injured.

This is the 12th Thai government that ends with the dissolution of the House. The last dissolution took place in 2006 when fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra announced the move following the pressure from the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy.

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