The number of parties boycotting a Friday meeting with the junta grew yesterday with Democrat leader and Thailand’s former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announcing that his party also will not be attending, according to The Nation. Leaders of Thailand’s major political parties turned down a meeting organized by the junta, which sought to bring more than 100 parties together to discuss their platforms ahead of the first elections due after almost five years of military rule. In a meeting with Japan Premier Shinzo Abe last October, Prime Minister Prayuth assured that the Thai government will hold a general election in February 2019.