Anti-government protesters today said they would not target Thailand's airports and the public transport system during a planned "shutdown" of the capital as a display of civil disobedience on January 13.
"Operation Occupy Bangkok does not involve airport closures or the disruption of any mass transport services. Public buses, trains, BTS sky-trains, MRT underground trains, and public boats will operate normally," the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) said on its Facebook page.
The shutdown would be "a potent display of civil disobedience, effectively turning the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra into a 'failed government' that can no longer govern", it said.
Protesters led by the opposition Democrat Party vowed to set up stages around Bangkok during their mass rally to press for the resignation of the caretaker government headed by Yinguck and the implementation of reforms before the February 2 snap polls.
The premier dissolved parliament last month and called for general elections but the Democrats have said they will boycott the polls.
Yingluck came to power in 2011 after defeating the Democrat Party in elections.
The protesters have said government officials will not be able to travel to work on January 13 as they will use their vehicles to block every street and intersection. Water and power will be cut off in government offices and the residences of the premier and her cabinet.
Protesters said citizens' residences will not be affected to avoid disturbing them.
"We will continue our occupation all day, every day, until the Thai people are victorious," their Facebook post said.
Unfazed by the deepening political chaos, the ruling Pheu Thai party said it will launch its election campaign at five spots in Bangkok and four provinces tomorrow.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged the Election Commission (EC) to take legal action against protest leader Suthep Thaugsubanand and other protesters for disrupting the registration of election candidates in several provinces.
