Thai opposition party to boycott February 2 polls

Thailand's main opposition party on Saturday decided to boycott a general election scheduled for February 2, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said. "Over the past eight to nine years, people have lost their trust in Thailand's political system, and their respect for political parties and elections," Abhisit said. "Although there will be an election on February 2, people will not have confidence in the new government unless we have political reforms beforehand, so we have decided not to contest it," he said. The decision was reached by the Democrats' executive committee on the eve of a mass protest planned in Bangkok for Sunday, aimed at preventing the polls from taking place. The party boycotted the 2006 polls, and last won an election in 1992.