http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/21/world/asia/thailand-election-invalid/index.html?iref=allsearch

Page 1 of 2 Apr 09, 2014 09:47:35AM MDT

Thai elections inconclusive

Protesters vow to continue to protestLife in Bangkok amidst political chaos

Thai court declares February election invalidBy Kocha Olarn, Jethro Mullen and Susannah Cullinane , CNNMarch 21, 2014 -- Updated 1354 GMT (2154 HKT) CNN.com

(CNN) -- Thailand's has declared the country's February 2 general election invalid as itconstitutional courtbreached a law requiring that the polling process be completed on the same day nationwide.

The opposition's boycott of the vote and widespread anti-government protests meant that candidates werenot fielded in 28 constituencies. It had been expected that voting would take place in those areas at a laterdate.

However, the court's six to three majority verdict cannot be appealed, meaning a new general electionmust be held across the South East Asian country.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called elections in December, in an attempt to end politicalunrest.

Amnesty bill

Yingluck is the sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in2006 and now lives in exile. Yingluck's critics accuse her of being a proxy for her brother, who wasconvicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison in absentia.

Yingluck's government was largely stable until her party attempted to pass a controversial amnesty bill inNovember, sparking a wave of protests. The bill would have nullified Thaksin's corruption conviction andallowed him to return to the country.

Anti-governmentprotesters havebeen demandingthat an unelected"people's council"be given thepower to carry outpolitical and

electoral changes in a country where parties affiliated withThaksin have dominated elections since 2001.

The main opposition Democrat Party boycotted the February 2polls and protesters blocked officials from gathering ballotsand obstructed voter registration in many constituencies.

That left the outcome of the election inconclusive, withoutenough results to reopen parliament, and with Yingluck in

charge of a caretaker government.

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Page 2 of 2 Apr 09, 2014 09:47:35AM MDT

Red shirt protest

More than 20 people have been killed and hundreds wounded since the protests erupted, with Yingluck'ssupporters -- the "red shirts" clashing with anti-government protesters.

The red shirts have announced they will hold a rally this weekend in Pattaya city, about 90 minutes fromBangkok. CNN's Kocha Olarn says the constitutional court's ruling will likely result in a huge turnout.

The conflict has deepened the country's political divide. The anti-government movement draws its supportfrom southern Thailand, Bangkok's middle class and the established elites. Yingluck's base is in the lessaffluent but more populous regions north and east of the capital.

The Bangkok Post reported that the court hearing was held at the request of Thailand's Office of then. It followed the lodging of a complaint by a law lecturer who argued the February vote wasOmbudsma

unlawful, the paper said.

State of emergency

Earlier this week, imposed on Bangkok andthe Thai government ended a 60-day state of emergencyseveral surrounding areas in the run-up to the election.

The state of emergency had given authorities the power to impose curfews, detain suspects without courtpermission, censor media and declare parts of the capital off limits.

It has been replaced with the Internal Security Act (ISA), which will be in effect until April 30.

Read more: Thailand ends state of emergency

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