The Thailand government declared a 60-day state of emergency in the capital Bangkok following ongoing massive protests against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The declaration of emergency allows authorities to ban public gatherings, impose curfews and also censor local news, reports the Associated Press. The ministers said they would not clear the protestors camps set up in seven different parts of the capital.
Media reports claim that following the emergency no major demonstrations were reported. Police presence and number of troops in the streets also decreased.
The government said they wanted no more deaths and injuries due to grenade attacks on the protestors, reported Reuters.
The protests against Shinawatra started in November. The demonstrators want her to step down as the prime minister and install an unelected "people's council." Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister, is leading the protests.
"I know about this well," Suthep told his supporters, discussing the emergency decree, reported The New York Times. He stepped down as deputy prime minister after his party lost the general election in 2011. "We will keep fighting until we win," Suthep said. He described his protest as nonviolent and different from the opposition of his detractors in 2010.
The opposition party in Thailand said that it will boycott the upcoming polls, which Shinatwara believes she will win.
The Thai government has been facing criticisms for continuous interference in government work by Thaksin Shinatwara, the prime minister's brother, who was ousted in 2006 after he was convicted for corruption and abuse of power. He fled into exile in 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence after the conviction, according to the AP.
The Election Commission is seeking a ruling from the Constitutional Court Wednesday, to determine whether the elections can be delayed as fearing violence many candidates have not been able to register , which in effect will prevent a quorum for open parliament.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has rejected the election outright. Since the start of the protests, 9 deaths and 554 injuries have been reported, according to AP.
Reuters reported that the protests have affected the country's tourism and business. The central bank might cut interest rates when it meets on Wednesday to boost the economy.
