(26 January) Members of the public who had been barred from entering election venues by anti-government protesters are filing legal complaints in droves.
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Supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have blocked entrances to venues for advance voting in numerous districts of Bangkok and other provinces, as a part of their campaign to scrap the 2 February general election.
PCAD argues that Thailand needs "reforms" to eradicate the legacies of "Thaksin Regime" before any election can be held.
The Election Commission (EC) has subsequently cancelled the voting session in many constituencies as the result of the protesters′ campaign against the election.
Angered by PCAD and the EC, who has been accused of conspiring with anti-government protesters, many citizens in Bangkok have flooded local police stations to file legal complaints over the obstruction of their Constitutional rights to vote.
Attempts to disrupt an election is punishable by a maximum of 5 year jail sentence and a fine of 100,000 baht.
Minister of Interior Affairs, Mr. Jarupong Ruengsuwan, also urged citizens who were barred from participating in the advance session to take legal actions at their local police stations.
According to Mr. Jarupong, the Election Commission will be held responsible under the laws on charges of duty negligence if the officials refused to re-open the voting venue after anti-government protesters had left.
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