Thai government confident general election can be held as planned

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he is confident that the February 2 election could be held on scheduled despite disturbances and blockade at several polling booths on Sunday’s advance voting, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

He told a press conference that the problem occurred in some Bangkok districts and between eight to 10 per cent of the Southern region, where anti-government protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) blocked polling stations and prevented voters from exercising their rights.

Surapong, who is also an adviser of the newly-formed Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), said his only concern was that the Election Commission (EC) did not ask for an assistance from police and the military to guard the booths in sensitive areas, which they knew problems would occur.

It looks as if some of the EC officials do not want the election to be held, he said, adding that the EC “should not cooperate with the culprits” and should help bring back perfect democracy system to the country because international community is watching Thailand.

He also warned that lawsuits would be filed against those obstructing the election and intruders would be considered as violating the Emergency Decree and the Constitution as well.

According to Surapong, CMPO will start arresting leading PDRC protesters on Monday, adding that the caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also expressed worries over Sunday’s violence at polling stations.