Sunday Times 2
Thai opposition weighs poll boycott in crunch weekend
View(s):BANGKOK, Dec 21 (AFP) -Thailand’s opposition is meeting today to mull a possible boycott of snap elections in a crunch weekend for the crisis-gripped kingdom as protesters prepare to ramp up rallies aimed at toppling the government.
The opposition Democrat Party, whose MPs resigned en masse to join the demonstrations, is set to hold talks on whether to participate in February 2 polls called by embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thai anti-government protesters wave national flags as they march through the streets of Bangkok as part of their ongoing rally on December 20 (AFP)
Bangkok has seen weeks of street marches, with protesters invading government buildings and gathering in their thousands in the latest eruption of political unrest in the turbulent nation.
The protests are calling for democracy to be suspended and want to rid the country of Yingluck and the influence of her brother Thaksin — an ousted billionaire ex-premier who is despised by a coalition of the southern Thai poor, Bangkok middle classes and elite.
Analysts say the elections pose a grave dilemma for the Democrats — Thailand’s oldest party, which has not won an elected majority in more than two decades.
If it chooses to boycott the poll, it risks being excluded from the political process, while a decision to join will dismay protesters who have vowed to disrupt the vote.
Some 200 party members will begin meeting Saturday afternoon, said deputy leader Ongart Klampaiboon, adding that he was uncertain how long the deliberations could go on for.
He said the party appeared to be split “50-50″ on whether to participate in the election.
The Democrats on Friday sent a letter to other parties requesting a postponement of the polls because of the ongoing protests, Ongart said.
But the suggestion was rejected by the ruling Puea Thai, which is widely expected to win the election.