Electoral Council calls for postponement of elections
The Electoral Council warns that continuing with the elections on February 2 could lead to even more unrest. The five commissioners call on the government and the protest movement to reach a compromise. According to the Electoral Council, a postponement is possible
Prime Minister Yingluck will ask the Council of State for advice. According to Minister Peerapan Palusuk (Science), a postponement is contrary to the constitution.
"If the conflict continues, the elections will probably not be peaceful," fears election council commissioner Thirawat Thirarojwit. 'It is also possible that the results will not be widely accepted.' Thirawat calls on both camps to scale back their demands and reach a common position.
Chairman Supachai Somcharoen says it is up to the government to decide on a postponement. The Electoral Council is not authorized to do this. Another commissioner says that it is legally possible to change the date, although the date is set by Royal Decree. "It is more important that the parties reach agreements on when the elections should be held."
Opposition leader Abhisit (Democrats) applauds the position of the Electoral Council. "All parties must be able to agree that elections on February 2 will not go smoothly and will likely lead to an escalation of the conflict." Second opposition party Bhumjaithai is also in favor of a postponement.
On Saturday, the Democrats' general board will decide what the party will do. MPs in the South have already announced that they will not stand as candidates in the five constituencies of Surat Thani, the home province of campaign leader Suthep Thaugsuban. The ruling coalition parties do want to participate in the elections.
Yesterday, anti-government demonstrators marched through the city again and a march is also planned for today. The demand is: resignation of the cabinet and postponement of the elections, so that political reforms can take place first. A mass rally is planned for Sunday. Monday is the first day on which candidates can register for the elections.
(Source: bangkok mail, December 20, 2013)
For the other protest news from yesterday, see the Breaking News items below News from Thailand from December 19.
How long will the game last? Will the Thai let that dictator (Suthep) go his own way!!
The good Thai is simply afraid to arrest and convict him. Where has democracy gone in Thailand? What a shame for the future of this country.
LOVE THAILAND
If you really want democratic elections, it is necessary to remove the completely corrupt system first
to deal with ? If you know that Mr Thaksin could pay 500 bath per vote in Isaan then it is best to keep quiet
about a legal government now, it is crumbling here, many people, especially those who have studied or are studying a bit, lawyers, doctors, school staff, but also farmers now know that there
Much was promised that did not materialize at all, and the first lady hardly showed up
parliament but on sweet trips criss-cross the world has gone down the wrong way
so for her very soon elections otherwise her government will be over?
The demonstrators are now (10.30) passing by our hotel Prince Palace Hotel Bo Bae Tower, quite a large group, lots of flags, and noise, they are heading towards China Town
Postponing the elections is grist to the mill of Suthep and co. If they let him have his way, he can postpone the elections until St. Juttemas, until he can push through his plans and completely destroy what little democracy Thailand has had so far. If he wants to play it hard, then the establishment should also play it hard, right?
I hope they arrest that man soon because the maximum has ever been 120000 people who protested. This would never happen in another country... it's unbelievable that this is possible.
The police and army should set an example. If they act...then it will be over soon
But because they allow everything, this can happen
There are many splinter groups among the protesting people who do not get their way, so they take advantage of this situation.
Suthep has a personal vendetta against the Taksin family, which he plays out over the heads of the unemployed and less literate.
And by the way Suthep paid 400 baht per person last election
But he let the other thing happen.
Dear Johny, Monte and others Roger Hemelsoets,
Isn't it typical that farangs, who are completely unaware and apparently have little contact with average Thai people, still want to speak out about the current political situation.
Give the Thais their freedom, because that is what Democracy is, and let them stand up for their rights after years of being sidelined by their so-called leaders who only served their own interests.
As a farang, stay out of politics and enjoy all the beautiful things this country has to offer.
@ Nonkelwin, if you think that I am completely unaware of the situation, you are grossly mistaken. Living here for 6 years and coming to Thailand since 1977 and marrying a Thai in 1984, I have experienced a lot regarding the political situation. In 2010 we experienced the troubles in Bangkok up close, we were there then and during that bomb psychosis we passed those places the same days it happened. My wife went to demonstrate in that stadium with the red shirts and my brother-in-law is also very concerned about what is happening, and I would have little feeling for the average Thai? Living here, I follow the current situation as best as possible. The future of us falangs who live here also partly depends on it and I assume that you only come to Thailand as a tourist and are sitting comfortably somewhere in the Netherlands or Belgium, far from this country? I thought it would be fair to say that all politicians in the various governments and of all persuasions have butter on their heads. Most came to power through disturbances and coups, not through elections. Only when you live here will you get to know the real Thailand, not as a tourist because then you will only see the most beautiful of Thailand, where only tourists come. No, you have to go inland with the ordinary people and the real life here, only then will you get a proper feel for the population.
Mr Hemelsoet,
Mr Nonwinkel's response puts it briefly and concisely.
The fact that you have lived here for 6 years does not in itself mean much. Many foreigners have lived here longer than you. I have lived in secondary education for almost 36 years, including in Thailand since March 2003. I am not Thai and refrain from making any political judgments. It surprises me, and others too, that most foreigners follow the political choice of their Thai partner. Many partners come from Isan and many of them appear to be on the side of the red shirts. I dare to doubt the choice of the partners, with real knowledge of the matter. has been achieved objectively.
No one's reaction shows or reads whether or not someone can or may not have an opinion about current or past Thai situations. That is up to the commenter himself. If people think they shouldn't do that, that's the same for them. It does not matter whether someone lives in TH for a long or short period of time. In a large number of responses, quite a few strong terms are used, tough language is used, and above all it is suggested what TH should do, in which direction developments should move, how players should behave, etc. etc. I think all of that is a bit trumpeting about nothing. That's why no one eats, certainly not the Thai. He doesn't read a Thailand blog. Respondents could express themselves in a more nuanced way. Just frustration or negative talk: that is of no use to me. Nobody will be any the wiser.
Anyway, apart from that: if, like Mr Hemelsoet, one simply states what he thinks, what is wrong with that? The TH situation cannot be clearly explained by anyone at the moment. No one has a monopoly on wisdom, complete knowledge of the state of affairs, nor the light in this. However, the more people on this blog share their thoughts about the circumstances, the more understandable it can become for expats living in TH, among others. They can benefit greatly from it in case events start to look like repeats from the past. And as everyone knows: past results, etc.
roger,
Can I take one guess where you live, probably in Isaan, even though you have been living here for 1 years, I think you should delve into Thai politics a little more, and not just from the Thaksin side.