Thailand: Elections end in tension.

Thai officials said on February 2 that polling stations across the country had closed amid anti-government protesters attempting to prevent voters from casting their ballots in several locations in the south.

According to the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), the election concluded at 3 PM as planned in 333 out of 375 polling stations nationwide. 42 polling stations were forced to close due to protesters surrounding local offices, preventing the transport of ballots and ballot boxes to polling stations. Meanwhile, voters in 68 out of Thailand's 76 provinces and the capital Bangkok cast their ballots, despite some clashes and altercations at polling stations. In nine out of 14 polling stations in the South, where support for the opposition Democrat Party is highest, the election was canceled due to strong opposition from protesters. Similar situations occurred in several polling stations in Bangkok.

The wave of anti-government protests continued in Bangkok on February 2nd. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

In Din Daeng district of Bangkok, a group of voters dismantled a stage erected by anti-government protesters to prevent them from reaching polling stations, and demanded the district mayor's resignation. According to Xinhua, more than 1,000 voters in Din Daeng filed a complaint with the police, alleging that the National Election Commission had failed to ensure voter rights and urging the Din Daeng district mayor to resign. Earlier, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), an anti-government movement, had erected the stage along a road, preventing voters from reaching polling stations in Din Daeng.

According to preliminary statistics, approximately 12 million out of a total of 48.77 million eligible voters were unable to participate in today's election due to a shortage of staff, ballots, and obstruction by anti-government protesters.

In a statement, EC Secretary-General Puchong Nutravong said that voters who were prevented from voting in this election can inform local officials to ensure their right to vote in the by-election, scheduled for February 23. According to Thai election law, the EC will hold by-elections at polling stations that were closed for unforeseen circumstances within a six-month period.

The vote counting is currently underway, and the results are not expected to be announced today (February 2nd). The results will be sent to the EC and announced after the by-elections at polling stations that were obstructed by protesters.

Thai police reported that on election day, February 2nd, several shootouts and explosions occurred at major intersections in Bangkok, leaving 10 people injured. Meanwhile, four people were killed in bombings and shootings in Pattani province in southern Thailand. Insurgents staged an attack on a security checkpoint in Kokpho district of Pattani on the evening of February 1st to lure local officials to investigate. There, the separatists detonated a roadside bomb, killing one district official and injuring two others. Additionally, another bombing and shooting incident killed three soldiers and injured two others as security forces arrived to investigate an explosion in Pattani.

According to VNA