BANGKOK – The family of an army colonel allegedly assaulted by anti-government militants has rejected the compensation money offered by the protesters

Col. Witthawat Wattanakul, a staff officer at the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters, was allegedly attacked in northern Bangkok on 25 April after he attempted to remove traffic cones set up by protesters near their rally site on Chaeng Wattana Road.

When Col. Witthawat got out of his vehicle and attempted to remove the cones, a group of anti-government guards reportedly brutally attacked him. One of the guards also fired a handgun at Col. Witthawat's feet, injuring him with bullet fragments, according to media reports.

Shortly after news of the incident surfaced, Buddhist monk and prominent anti-government protest leader Buddha Issara admitted that a group of overzealous guards attacked Col. Witthawat "due to misunderstanding."

Buddha Issara, who is a core leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), recently arranged a ceremony with a group of high-ranking army officers to ask for forgiveness over the incident and offer 50,000 baht to help pay for Col. Witthawat's medical costs.

However, Col. Witthawat's family has not accepted the money and says they intend to pursue legal action against the PCAD guards, according to Pol.Col. Thanawat Wattanakul, a commander at Chokechai Police Station and the elder brother of Col. Witthawat.

The money will be returned to Buddha Issara by the army staff, Pol.Col. Thanawat said.

Pol.Col. Thanawat added that his family will organise a press conference in order to present CCTV footage of the attack to the press this Sunday.

Read More: Mysterious Military Leaflets Denounce PCAD Guards' 'Thuggery'

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

BANGKOK — A prominent Redshirt activist has denounced anti-government protesters' call for His Majesty the King to directly intervene in Thailand's ongoing political crisis.

Buddhist monk and anti-government activist Buddha Issara announced yesterday (1 May) that he would lead a demonstration to Hua Hin district of Prachuab Kiri Khan province, where the His Majesty's summer palace is located, on 16 May in a bid to "return the royal power" to the king.

Buddha Issara, who serves as a co-leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), argued that the 2007 Constitution permits His Majesty the King to replace Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with a new leader of his own royal discretion.  

According to the monk, the public can choose to "return" sovereign power to the king in accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution, which would grant him a legal basis for appointing his own Prime Minister.

Numerous legal experts and scholars have rejected this interpretation in the past, noting that Article 3 of the 2007 Constitution clearly states that His Majesty the King can only exercise sovereign power through the three branches of administrative, legislative, and judicial powers as a symbolic Head of State.

But Buddha Issara appears to be confident that his three-day rally in Hua Hin district from 16-18 May will be successful. 

"If Suthep and other PCAD leaders cannot close the game [against Ms. Yingluck]," Buddha Issara said, referring to PCAD sec-gen Suthep Thaugsuban, "They should turn to Article 3 and join the demonstration with us."

"I believe this method will not embarrass the leaders or the demonstrators," the monk said.

Weng Tojirakarn, a core leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), denounced Buddha Issara's plan for the march to Hua Hin in a press conference today, calling the move highly inappropriate.

According to Mr. Weng, the plan to "return the royal power" is simply a euphemism for forcing His Majesty the King to take sides in the conflict.

"The monarchy should remain above politics," Mr. Weng insisted.

The UDD leader also said that Buddha Issara's demands are essentially equivalent to an attempt to restore the system of Absolute Monarchy, in which the king can exercise executive power and appoint Prime Ministers at his own discretion.

"I want to ask Buddha Issara and his supporters whether they are in fact campaigning to restore the Absolute Monarchy," Mr. Weng said in the press conference.

His Majesty the King, who is recovering from his illness at Klai Kang Won Palace in Hua Hin district, has been silent on the anti-government protesters' call for a direct royal intervention into the current conflict.

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

BANGKOK — The general election on 20 July will go ahead even if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is removed by the court, an Election Commissioner confirms.

Ms. Yingluck is facing charges of unlawfully removing a former head of the National Security Council. The Constitutional Court is expected release a verdict this month, and if  found guilty, Ms. Yingluck and her Cabinet members could be stripped of their caretaker positions.

Supporters of the government have expressed concern that a guilty verdict will result in a political vacuum that could disrupt plans for the new general election, scheduled by the Election Commission to take place on 20 July. The previous general election on 2 February was invalidated by the Constitutional Court because the poll's voting session and candidate registration were not conducted on the same day across the kingdom. 

But Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters today even if the court rules to remove Ms. Yingluck from office, the 20 July election will not be affected. 

"Many political factors will take place in May, especially the Constitutional Court's ruling on Ms. Yingluck's status as a Prime Minister," Mr. Somchai said. "But it won't affect the election arrangement, because any other caretaker Prime Minister or Government can submit the [election date] to the King for his royal approval." 

Mr. Somchai said that he will present a draft of the Royal Decree that paves the legal way for the next election to the current caretaker Cabinet by 6 May. 

He believes it won't take much time for the government to consider the wording of the Royal Decree and submit it to His Majesty the King for final approval.

Mr. Somchai refused to comment on reports that Democrat Party chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva will unveil his "blueprint" of political reforms for Thailand tomorrow (3 May), stating that reporters should ask the government and the public for their opinions on the issues instead of the EC.

Nevertheless, Mr. Somchai said the EC is willing to participate in the "blueprints" and postpone the election accordingly if the government agrees to Mr. Abhisit's plan.

"It's up to the government, because the EC will not comment on the matter," Mr. Somchai said. "We would like to be the last person to make decision." 

Although the Constitutional Court has not appointed the date for the verdict, many analysts expect the ruling to be due in early May.

The speculation grows even more intense after the Office Constitutional Court announced today that the court's conference with reporters between 7-9 May in Krabi province has been "indefitinely postponed".

The court officials gave no reason for the postponement, a source said, causing many observers to suspect that the verdict will be delivered within that period.

Related Story: Yingluck Accepts 20 July Election Deals

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish