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Violence Precedes Thailand Elections

Christianna Wiggins |
February 1, 2014 | 2:25 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

At least 6 people are suffering from gunshot wounds after anti-government radicals opened fire on policeman and pro-government demonstrators in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday.

Anti-government protesters are trying to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Pheu Thai party out of power by thrwating national elections, which are scheduled for Sunday, February 2.

The opposition also attempted to stop the elections last week by physically keeping officials from collecting and counting ballots, according to CNN correspondents. 

Shinawatra tried to subdue the political unrest by postponing the general elections, but it was determined unconstitutional to do so. 

The protests began in November 2013 after the lower house approved of an amnesty bill that critics said will ultimately enable the prime minister's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, to return to Thailand, BBC News said. 

Thaksin Shinawatra is the former prime minister of Thailand who was exiled after a military coup in 2006 exposed corruption under his regime. 

Anti-government demonstrators are rioting in hopes that a "people's court" will be enforced, as opposed to one leader. 

Reach Executive Producer Christianna Wiggins here and follow her on twitter here



 

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