Constituency candidate registrations in six southern provinces suspended

The EC said 343 of 375 constituencies in other provinces could proceed with the candidate registrations.
The six southern provinces are Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Patthalung. Protesters in the provinces blocked candidates from submitting their applications.
EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said mounting pressure from protesters prompted EC officials in the six southern provinces to suspend the candidate registrations.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, the provincial EC committee did not receive permission from local government offices to use the offices as registration venues. When they rented a place from a private firm, protesters intimidated the firm and the EC officials. Somchai said the number of protesters in Nakhon Si Thammarat was growing, prompting the registration to be suspended.
In Chumphon, a constituency director resigned, he said. In Surat Thani, the number of protesters surrounding registration venues were growing and the protesters camped outside since Friday night.
In Krabi, the protesters allowed only the provincial EC chief and two officials to enter the registration venue while protesters surrounded all registration venues in Songkhla, Somchai said.
He added that the protesters in Prachuap Khiri Khan were gathering more outside registration venues.
Somchai said he would hold a video conference with EC officials in the six provinces at 4:30 pm to hear their problems and to access the situation.