EC issues warning, suggests poll delay

20 ธันวาคม 2556

The Election Commission yesterday warned that proceeding with the upcoming general election may fuel further unrest, and urged the government and protesters to reach a compromise.

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The newly-approved election commissioners, from left to right: Thirawat Thirarotwit, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, Supachai Somcharoen (chairman), Boonsong Noisophon and Prawit Rattanapien. THITI WANNAMONTHA

EC pushes poll delay to avoid unrest

Result 'faces rejection' if rivals can't reach accord

Mongkol Bangprapa
Nattaya Chetchotiros

The Election Commission yesterday warned that proceeding with the upcoming general election may fuel further unrest, and urged the government and protesters to reach a compromise.

The five election commissioners also warned that holding an election during this time of intense political strife could lead to many people rejecting the poll result.

The EC made the statement as anti-government protesters, led by former Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban, marched in Bangkok to campaign for a boycott of the Feb 2 election.

Anti-government demonstrators, led by People’s Democratic Reform Committee secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, march up Phetchaburi Road yesterday in a bid to persuade Bangkok residents to join the PDRC mass rally on Sunday to seek the ouster of Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. SEKSAN ROJJANAMETAKUL

Mr Suthep has also called for a mass gathering on Sunday, one day before the EC opens the registration for party list candidates.

The protest leader has vowed to ensure the polls do not take place.

Election commissioner Thirawat Thirarojwit said the polls have become another source of conflict in society. One side believes that maintaining the caretaker government and proceeding with the election is the solution, while the other demands that a new, neutral cabinet be installed until a "people's council" is formed to reform the country, he said.

"If the conflict continues, the Feb 2 election may not proceed peacefully. It is also possible that the result of an election under the circumstances won't be widely accepted," Mr Thirawat said.

He called on the government and the protest group, which calls itself the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), to lower their demands and try to find common ground. Mr Thirawat insisted the EC is capable of holding the election despite the warnings. Still, he said the date can be changed if necessary and the poll should not be held as an obstacle to resolving the political standoff.

EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said the question of whether to postpone the election or not now rests with the government. He said the EC is authorised to hold a free and fair election, but not to schedule one.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, the commissioner in charge of election administration, said it is possible to change by legal means the date of the election, which is presently fixed by the royal decree which dissolved the House.

Mr Somchai said it is more important for the parties to find an agreement on when the election should be held instead.

The five commissioners did not offer suggestions on how the government and the PDRC could reach agreement.

But Pravich Rattanapian, the commissioner for public participation, urged the government to pay attention to the EC's concerns.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she is not certain the caretaker government has the power to move the election date.

"I don't know on what basis can we follow the EC's recommendation," Ms Yingluck said during an inspection tour in Roi Et. The caretaker premier said she would have to consult the Council of State, the government's legal adviser.

Ms Yingluck said the caretaker cabinet has done its duty in calling for an election. It's now the EC's obligation to hold it according to the royal decree, she said.