Thailand's Prime Minister Says The February Election Will Go Ahead As Planned

Yingluck Shinawatra's promise comes after anti-government protestors were attacked overnight.

By
Cate Sevilla
by Cate Sevilla

BuzzFeed Staff, UK

Anti-government protestors have vowed to shut down the Bangkok city centre, and are still calling for Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.

AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

However, Shinawatra announced on Wednesday that the February 2 elections will still go ahead, despite pressure by her opponents to postpone the vote.

AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

After a meeting with her cabinet members, Yingluck told reporters that "the rights of the people are important."

The Prime Minister's promise comes after two protestors were wounded in an overnight shooting and attack on the protestors.

Nir Elias / Reuters

An eye witness said that 30 shots were fired over the course of two hours from unknown location toward a protest barricade.

A small explosive device was also thrown into a residential compound, owned by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Nir Elias / Reuters
Agence France-Presse @AFP

#INFOGRAPHIC Shots fired, explosive lobbed, in Thai opposition "shutdown" of Bangkok @AFP http://t.co/aV6cgVwaXN

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Police Colonel Napol Kladkhempetch has also reported that a tour bus that had been used by protesters was also set on fire.

ivy♥ @ohohcita

Bus at Nang Loeng Horse Stable that was on fire earlier. #Thailand #BangkokShutdown

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Despite the "shutdown" most of Bangkok is currently unaffected by the unrest, as the protestors have mostly been occupying the shopping district of the city.

Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

Anti-government protestors have been campaigning to have Yingluck ousted as the Prime Minister since November.

AP Photo/John Minchillo

The International Crisis Group think tank has said of the situation that "there is no clear way out."

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