"Even though protests are going on, I believe you can go out and vote. I ask everyone involved in the election, particularly security forces, to ensure that people can out and vote," the caretaker premier told reporters today.
The 2,00,000 police personnel will provide security at 93,535 polling units in 375 constituencies across 77 provinces. They will avoid using force if problems arise due to protests, Police Lt Gen Amnart said.
Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of enforcing a 60-day state of emergency imposed last week, said 10,000 police will be deployed in the capital to prevent protesters from blocking voting polling units.
"Those who are thinking of going and shutting polling stations in the morning should think twice because the police will not allow them to," he said.
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"On February 2, we will completely shut down Bangkok. Roads will be turned into pedestrian walkways and people do not have to go to vote," Suthep, a former deputy premier and opposition MP, told protesters.
"Don't regret for any loss of political rights" resulting from not going to vote, he said.
Protesters said the decision to press ahead with the polls would provide "ammunition" for their months-long rally after the caretaker government failed to reach a consensus with the Election Commission on postponement of the polls yesterday.
Protesters, who launched their campaign in November, have been demanding that Yingluck should step down and make way for an unelected "People's Council" to carry out reforms aimed at curbing the political dominance of the Shinawatra clan.
They accuse her of acting as a proxy for her fugitive brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a coup in 2006. He lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai to escape a jail term on a corruption conviction.