EC Boss Favours 3-Month Poll Postponement

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24 January 2014, 18:50

Officials handing out full verdict of the Constitutional Court to reporters, 24 January 2014

(24 January) Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the 2 February election should be postponed by at least 3 months.

He told our correspondent that he plans to propose the deferment to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 27 January – a day after the scheduled advanced voting session on Sunday.

Mr. Somchai′s comment came after the Constitutional Court ruled that the 2 February can be constitutionally postponed, and granted the joint authority for the poll deferment to the government and the Election Commission (EC).

The verdict effectively invalidates the existing Constitutional requirement which dictates the government to hold a snap election within 60 days since the Prime Minister dissolved the Parliament; Ms. Yingluck dissolved the House in early December.

The Election Commissioner, who has been a vocal advocate of poll postponement, welcomed the verdict.

"The verdict is a good solution," Mr. Somchai said, "It is another door for the government. It doesn′t see the election as a sole solution, but points to legal provision that can postpone the election".

Since the Constitutional Court has removed the mandatory timeframe associated with the election, Mr. Somchai argued, the poll can wait for at least 3 months.

Nevertheless, the advanced voting on 26 January will go ahead as planned, he added.

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Spokesman Can't Promise Protesters Won't Disrupt Election

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24 January 2014, 17:57

Mr. Ekkanat Prompan displaying the route of protesters' next demonstration, 24 January 2014

(24 January) The leaders of the anti-government protest movements will not disrupt the upcoming election, a spokesman has insisted.

Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, spokesman of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said that the despite the group′s opposition to the 2 February election, PCAD leaders have decided to let the election take place.

"We will not impede the advance-voting on 26 January and the actual election on 2 February," Mr. Ekkanat said.

His remark contradicted PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban who told the protesters yesterday that PCAD will employ every available means to disrupt the 2 February election. Mr. Suthep has previously demanded that an unelected "People′s Council" be established to implement "reforms" of Thai political system before any election can be held.

"I do not know the reason why he changed his mind," Mr. Ekkanat told reporters.

However, he said PCAD will still organise rallies and demonstrations on election days to stress their "reform before election" stance.

Mr. Ekkanat also hinted that individual protesters might stage activities to voice their opposition to the election on their own accord.

"We won′t prevent them from doing so, because it is their rights to express their beliefs," Mr. Ekkanat said, "But we will request that they stick to peaceful and non-violence principles".

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Court Sides With PCAD's Call For Poll Postponement

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24 January 2014, 16:38

Anti-government protesters with the banner "Reform Before Election" in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, 23 January 2014

(24 January) The Constitutional Court has paved a legal path for the postponement of 2 February election as demanded by anti-government protesters.

The Court has ruled that, despite the constitutional requirement which dictated that an election must be held in 60 days after the House is dissolved, a postponement of 2 February election would not be unconstitutional.

The Court also clarified that the government and the Election Commission (EC) have the joint authority to postpone the election, namely by issuing a Royal Decree.

It advises the government and the EC to discuss the matter.

The verdict followed a request filed by the EC to the Constitutional Court, asking the judges to determine whether the poll can be postponed.

Key Election Commissioners support the postponement, citing a potential widespread violence which might occur on 2 February should the election go ahead as planned, as anti-government protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have vowed to disrupt the election in every possible way.

PCAD demands that an unelected "People′s Council", whose members would be selected by PCAD leadership, be established and implement series of "reforms" before any election is allowed to take place.

The EC′s reluctance to organise the election, and its filing to the Constitutional Court, has led pro-government faction to accuse the EC of conspiring with PCAD to scuttle the 2 February election.

While it is unclear whether the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will agree to postpone the election, the verdict is bound to raise the ire of supporters of the Redshirts movements, who view the judicial and other "independent" bodies as sworn enemies of the elected government and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Many Redshirts were previously angered by the Constitutional Court′s verdict which aborted the government-backed amendment of the 2007 Constitution late last year.

In 2008, the Court also ousted 2 Prime Ministers allied to Mr. Thaksin in what the Redshirts described as dubious legal cases.

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Venue For CMPO Changed To Police Bureau

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24 January 2014, 15:20

(24 January) Officials have abruptly informed reporters that headquarters of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) had been changed.

The government has installed the CMPO to exercise emergency powers following the enactment of the State of Emergency over Bangkok.

Although CMPO was previously based at the Office of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, today Gen.Lt. Panuphon Bannakitsophon told reporters this morning that the headquarters of CMPO are no longer at the Office.

The Office of Permanent Secretary will now serve only as temporary headquarters for the Cabinet, Gen.Lt. Panuphon said.

Gen.Lt. Panuphon also reminded the reporters not to place cameras or take photographs in unauthorised areas, and to display their issued press cards at all time, as the Office of Permanent Secretary is a state agency dealing with many crucial national security matters.

"I am not censoring the press. I am merely asking you to respect the code of conduct of the venue," Gen.Lt. Panuphon assured the reporters.

Later, at around 11.15, soldiers and governmental officials proceeded to remove the logo of CMPO from the room where CMPO had previously staged press conferences. The logo was later replaced by the emblem of the Government House.

Officials said the CMPO would be housed in a police bureau, possibly the headquarters of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.

The move came at a time when the relationship between the military and the government is rumoured to be increasingly strained. One anti-government news agency has heralded the "eviction" of CMPO from the military office as a sign that the armed forces are distancing themselves from the beleaguered government.

Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra briefly met with reporters as she made way to her vehicle in the Office of Permanent Secretary′s parking lot. Ms. Yingluck joked with the reporters that she merely wanted them to see her, as she had nothing to tell the press for the moment.

True to her words, Ms. Yingluck refused to answers questions about the possible postponement of 2 February election, or the ongoing campaign by anti-government to scrap the election.

After a brief chatting with reporters, Ms. Yingluck left the Office for unknown destination.

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Cultural Departments Closed Down By Protesters

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24 January 2014, 14:30

(24 January) Anti-government protesters have forced staff at a number of culture-related state agencies to leave work.

Supporters of Student and People Network For the Reform of Thailand (SRT) have embarked on a daily campaign to disrupt or close down governmental agencies across Bangkok in the bid to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Today′s targets include the Department of Fine Arts, the Office of Archaeology and its operational facilities, such as the Office of National Museum, the Office of Architecture, and the Office of Literature and History.

Rallying in front of these offices, the protesters demand that all civil servants abandon their works as a "civil disobedience" against "Thaksin Regime".

Mr. Anand Chuchote, deputy director of the Department of Fine Arts, later negotiated with SRT core leaders and instructed his staff to immediately leave the offices.

Many officials and civil servants could be seen hurriedly packing their belongings and leaving the agencies shortly afterwards. SRT guards later entered the buildings to make sure that no official stays behind inside the department offices.

SRT protesters also laid siege to a number of other departments, such as Cooperative Promotion Department, Cooperative Auditing Department, and the Ministry of Culture.

Due to the demonstration, heavy traffic is reported in western Bangkok.

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Survey: Most Thais Will Go To Vote, Oppose Coup

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24 January 2014, 13:16

Pro-election rally at Benjasiri Park, Bangkok, 23 January 2014

(24 January) A survey has claimed that a vast majority of Thai population plans to cast their votes in 2 February snap election.

The survey, named Bangkok Poll as it was conducted by research centre of Bangkok University, interviews 1,018 respondents over the age of 18 from "every region" of the nation.

To the question "If the election is still held on 2 February election, will you exercise your voting rights?", the 79.6% of those surveyed answered yes, while 9.9% answered no, and the other 10.5% said they were not sure.

The result came at a time when anti-government protesters led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) intensified their campaigns to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and scrap the 2 February election.

The PCAD demands that an unelected "People′s Council" be established and implement series of reforms before any election can take place.

However, according to the survey conducted by Bangkok Poll, only 28.1% said they want to see "reform before election", while a majority of 51.5% believed the election should go ahead as planned.

But the survey also pointed to the apathy displayed by many political parties toward the 2 February election, as 49.3% of the respondents acknowledged that they had only seen vote-canvassing banners on streets but not candidates physically campaigning for votes.

Another 16.1% said they had not seen any vote-canvassing activity at all, and only 4.9% said they had seen enthusiastic vote-canvassing campaign by candidates.

Nevertheless, 47% of respondents said their determination to participate in the 2 February election is not affected by the ongoing political crisis, while the other 52.6% responded that the crisis have influenced their decisions.

In the latter group, 34.3% said they would wait and see if there would be violence before they decide to cast their ballots, and 18.3% said the crisis has dissuaded them from going to the election altogether.

Asked whether the military should stage a coup to resolve the increasingly violent political confrontation, a majority of 56% opposed the coup, but 21.6% said they would welcome it, while 22.4% said they were undecided about the matter.

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49 Killed By Thailand's Rare Winter: Official

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23 January 2014, 19:31

Frost appearing on crops in Phitsanulok province, 16 January 2014

(23 January) The unusually cold weather in recent months has killed at least 49 people, an official said.

Many parts of Thailand, including the tropical Bangkok, have experienced a prolonged plunge in temperature, a phenomenon described by officials as the coldest winter in several decades.

Dr. Narong Sahamethapat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said three groups of population are particularly at risk in the cold weather: the young, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases such as high-blood pressure, lung disease, and heart conditions.

He also urged the citizens not to drink alcohol in cold weather, and stressed that inhabitants in areas affected by the chilling weather should drink at least 8 glasses of water, keep themselves warm, and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Dr. Sophon Mekthon, Director of the Department of Disease Control (CDC), added that at least 49 lives in 27 provinces have been claimed by the cold weather in the period of 22 October 2013 – 19 January 2014.

The actual death tolls could be much higher, Dr. Sophon warned, as medical staff are investigation an 14 additional deaths suspected of being related to the weather.

The total victims are described as 59 Thais, 1 Cambodian, 1 Laotian, and 1 United Kingdom citizen. 90% of the fatalities are male, Dr. Sophon said.

Only 2 of the fatalities are direct results of exposure to cold weather, and other deaths were caused by chronic disease and other underlying medical conditions, which have been escalated by the weather, according to Dr. Sophon.

Chiang Mai province saw the largest number of winter-related deaths: 6, while Sa Kaew and Nakhon Ratchasima each reported 5 deaths.

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Schools In 14 Southern Provinces 'Closed Down By PCAD'

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23 January 2014, 18:36

Students at Wichutit School in Bangkok reacted to a group of whistle-blowing protesters who were rallying near their school, 23 January 2014

(23 January) Public schools in 14 southern provinces remain closed down due to anti-government campaign, Minister of Education said.

Mr. Chaturon Chaisaeng said hundreds of schools and colleges in these provinces have been forced to cease operations by supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

As a campaign to pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra into resigning from her caretaker position, PCAD has previously vowed to close down state agencies and public schools across the southern region – the stronghold of anti-government movements.

According to Mr. Chaturon, some provinces see shutdown of every single public school in the province, such as Chumpon, while other provinces see partial shutdown of public schools.

46 out of 80 registered vocational colleges have also been closed down by the protesters, Mr. Chaturon added.

"I have been informed that these educational establishments have to close down because they have been intimidated by the protesters," Mr. Chaturon said.

He also told our correspondent that although many schools in Bangkok remain open, many students and teachers are absent because they have great difficulty going to schools, due to numerous roadblocks set by PCAD supporters. The absent rate is around 15%, Mr. Chaturon said.

He suggested that parents, students, and teachers of schools closed down by PCAD should directly negotiate with the protesters about the possibility of resuming the teaching session, since the PCAD has refused to negotiate with Ministry of Education.

"They are bent on changing the system, regardless of losses and damages," Mr. Chaturon fumed.

The Minister also asserted that Thailand is facing an educational crisis not experienced since the Second World War, during which many schools are forced to close down by the Japanese Army.

Nevertheless, Mr. Chaturon said, the Ministry has urged public schools across the country to educate their students about the upcoming 2 February general election.

"This would help strengthen the learning of democracy among students," Mr. Chaturon said.

However, students can exercise their rights and opt out of pro-election activities organised by the school, Mr. Chaturon stressed.

His comment came few days after a group of students in Ayutthaya province protested against their school director for allegedly forcing them to participate in a pro-election demonstration.

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Protesters Alarmed By 'Sniper' In DSI Building

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23 January 2014, 17:35

(23 January) Anti-government protesters have alleged that a sniper has taken position in the headquarters of the Division of Special Investigation (DSI).

Luang Phu Buddha Issara, Buddhist monk and a leader of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), led the crowd to DSI building on Chaeng Wattana Road this afternoon and asked the officials to let them "inspect" the office.

According to Luang Phu Buddha Issara, he had noticed suspicious-looking individuals taking up position inside the 11-floor DSI building, and a number of PCAD leaders found that they were targeted by "laser" light. The monk then accused the DSI of deploying snipers to intimidate the protesters.

However, the DSI office′s entrance was firmly locked when the protesters arrived, and a DSI official told the protesters that they must force their way into the office on their own because the DSI would not unlock the gate.

PCAD supporters also refused to force their way into the building, as many feared they might be charged with intruding into state agencies.

DSI officials eventually unlocked the entrance on the condition that the protesters would rally in front of the building in a peaceful manner. Lt.Col. Sitthipon Charoenputh, a high-ranking DSI officer, later met with the protesters and assured them that no sniper, or any armed security forces, was stationed in the headquarters.

Assured by Lt.Col. Sitthipon′s assurance, Luang Phu Buddha Issara led the protesters peacefully back to their rally site in front of Government Complex.

Meanwhile, the number of protesters at Government Complex rally site is markedly small today, our correspondent reported. The atmosphere around the protest campsite became more tense after Luang Phu Buddha announced that he had received reports of an impending police crackdown on the protesters.

PCAD guards also imposed strict security measures around the rally site, such as forbidding vehicles to approach the campsite out of concerns that the protesters might be attacked.

Luang Phu Buddha Issara later said that he has been informed of the DSI pressing insurrection charges and issuing summon warrant against him, but he insisted that he would not meet with DSI officers as requested unless Mr. Tharit Pengdit, chief of the DSI, personally served him the warrant.

"We will guarantee him safety if he does show up," the activist monk said.

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21 Protesters Sought In Police HQ Vandalism Case

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23 January 2014, 15:24

BANGKOK — Police said they have identified 21 suspects who defaced the police headquarters′ sign on 22 January.

Anti-government protesters led by the Student and People Network for Thailand Reform (STR) marched to the Royal Thai Police headquarters yesterday and removed the letters from the granite sign. They later spray-painted their group name and other insulting remarks on the sign.

The act was seen as a direct challenge to the State of Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 21 January.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya Uthayo, spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said in a press conference today that he regretted the protesters′ action, as the sign was constructed under a public budget and blessed by the late Supreme Patriarch on 17 October 2004.

However, the police saw the incident as a test of the third ethical principle adopted by the police force, which is to endure all kind of offensive gestures, Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya asserted.

"Let me assure you that we are not angry," the police spokesman told reporters.

Pol.Maj. Piya nevertheless vowed to locate the 21 protesters involved in the vandalism and prosecute them according to the laws, adding that CCTV footage has already identified the individuals. The crime has a prescription period of up to 10 years, he warned.

According to Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya, the Chief of the Royal Thai Police, Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, has stressed that all police officers must be stoic in the face of provocative acts committed by the protesters, otherwise the situation will escalate into violent confrontation.

The spokesman also dismissed the protesters′ offer that they will pay for a new sign for the police headquarters, stating that the police will construct their own new sign which will be inaugurated in a dignified ceremony.

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