The Election Commission (EC) yesterday expressed confidence that no setbacks would hinder election candidacy registration opening today.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters occupy the inbound lanes on the Taksin Bridge across the Chao Phraya River as yesterday’s mass rally gathers steam. THANARAK KHOONTON
But anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban last night said protesters will block the venue to prevent election candidates from registering.
He urged protesters to march last night from Democracy Monument, the main venue of the anti-government demonstrations, to the Thai-Japanese sports stadium in Din Daeng, the election candidacy registration venue, and to stay overnight and throughout today.
After a two-hour meeting, EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said registration schedules remained unchanged and there would be no change of registration venue.
The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)'s protesters yesterday organised a warm-up mass march to practise attempts to block the election candidate registration.
Several hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters turned up to pack five main rally venues _ the Victory Monument, Siam, Asoke, Lumphini and Ratchaprasong _ and 10 other smaller sites.
The PDRC claimed about 3.5 million people joined its five main rally sites yesterday, while a security unit put the number at 270,000. The estimates from both sides were larger than those for the mass protest on Dec 9.
Mr Suthep announced last night at the Democracy Monument: "Whoever wants to enter the venue to register will have to sneak through our feet to get inside.
"No matter where the venue moves, we will [block it] everywhere," he said.
If the election takes place on Feb 2 as scheduled, "millions of protesters will come out and close the city for the whole day, and close all provinces nationwide". Mr Somchai expressed confidence the "system" which the agency had set up was good enough to keep the candidacy registration secure from attempts to disrupt it.
"We have measures in place to make sure the registration will proceed smoothly. There is no alternative venue. There is no change of date," he said.
He declined to discuss the system, but insisted it was legitimate and fair to all political parties.
An EC source said the commission is likely to advise potential election candidates to file a complaint with police if they are unable to register.
The EC will later check with police which parties were unable to apply to contest the polls.
For those who report to police before 8.30am, the EC would make appointments for them to submit documents and draw ballot numbers, the source said.
For those who lodge complaints with police after 8.30pm, EC would assign ballot numbers to them by order.
Under the regulations, applicants who show up for the registration before office hours will draw ballot numbers.
Those who show up from 8.30am-4pm will be assigned ballot numbers in order of their appearance.
As a precautionary measure, about 40 election officials were asked to stay put at the sports stadium last night to prepare for registration in case some applicants manage to get into the stadium.
The EC is concerned its officials might not be able to get in to handle the registration process in the event of a protest blockade.
Mr Somchai said extra-tight security should be expected. Troops were being prepared to step-up security, but would not be used unless necessary.
EC secretary-general Phuchong Nutrawong said there was no need for all candidates in the party list system to show up.
An authorised representative or a party leader would be able to handle the registration of party candidates.
