Pro-election movement begins to make voice heard in Thailand

Angered by opposition protests seeking to thwart polls, a burgeoning pro-election movement in Thailand is taking a stand to demand their votes are respected, with candlelight vigils and Facebook campaigns.

Seeking a middle ground in a bitterly divisive political conflict, the kingdom's newest street activist group aims to challenge anti-government demonstrators who want to install an unelected "people's council" to run the country.

"We want to vote. We want to vote! February 2, go to vote!," several hundred campaigners chanted while holding candles in a central Bangkok park this week.

"Now Thai people don't listen to one another, so we want them to see the light instead," said one of the campaign organisers, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by rival demonstrators.

Opponents of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have staged more than two months of street protests aimed at forcing her elected government from office.

They aim to curb the political dominance of Yingluck's billionaire brother, fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they accuse of controlling the government from self-exile.

Thousands marched in the centre of the city yesterday. "We have to go on with our fight because what we are doing is for our country," rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban said, although he added the movement was on "full alert".