Thai Govt backers worried over July vote disruption

May 3 Press TV

Supporters of the Thai government are concerned about possible disruption of a July vote by anti-government protesters who insist that reforms should be brought in before any election.

On April 30, the government and Election Commission agreed to hold a vote on July 20, amid doubts an orderly election can be held."We are all for a July election but anything is possible," said Thanawut Wichaidit, a spokesman for the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, adding, "Protesters could block the polls and the result could be nullified again."

A nationwide election held on February 2 failed to ease a political crisis in the country as the main opposition party boycotted the polls and protesters prevented voting in 28 constituencies.The election was declared invalid by a court in March, which cited a law that requires voting be held on the same day across the country."The commission has said it will prevent a repeat of disruptions to voting and it must stick to that promise," Thanawut said.On October 31, 2013, the Thai government proposed an amnesty bill that could have pardoned Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's brother and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to Thailand.