Thai Protesters Vow to Nullify Election

Thai protesters vowed today to stage larger rallies in central Bangkok and push ahead their efforts to nullify the results of elections that were expected to prolong a national political crisis. Despite fears of violence, voting proceeded peacefully in 90% of polling stations yesterday. The protesters forced polling booths to close in Bangkok and southern Thailand, disenfranchising millions of registered voters. As a result, not all Parliament seats will be filled and a series of by-elections are required to complete voting, extending political paralysis for months.

After disrupting voting yesterday, protesters say they will fight the election on several grounds, including that it is required by law to be held on one day. The struggle to hold the polls was part of a three-month-old conflict that has split the country between supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and opponents who allege her government is too corrupt to rule. "We are not giving up the fight. We still keep fighting," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says. "Our mission is to keep shutting down government offices, so don't ask us to give those back." (More Thailand stories.)