EC asks Thai govt to postpone Feb 2 election

[JAG]

Am I right to assume that constitlonally if the election is postponed then the government remains in place, on a caretaker basis?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[whybother]

Am I right to assume that constitlonally if the election is postponed then the government remains in place, on a caretaker basis?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I think that is a correct assumption. That is what happened in 2006 when the election didn't produce a result.

[fredob43]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

Wishful thinking on your part.

The Prime Minister has already agreed to set up her own People's Council .Suthep has been outsmarted at every move he tries to make:giggle:

Been turned down outright due to the fact that Yingluck want's to do it after they win so it's bent before it starts.

How has he been outsmarted ??? they want her and all her cronies read Family out and this will go on till they get their way.

Suggest you read ALL the news and not just the bit's that you like.

[tragickingdom]

Unless the law only applies to non royalists it is impossible/ Elections need to take place between 45 and 60 days and there is already a Royal degree issued.

By the way who would give in to thugs and police murderers? It wil only encourage them if 32 parties have registered the Democrat Party loses out, but than again they are born losers and cannot win elections anyhow.

[tezzainoz]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

No, the EC has an opinion. The government could say they don't agree and tell the EC to proceed with 2nd Feb.

At the same time big brother makes a few payments. And the Shin world is rosy again....

Just it might be too obvious.....

There was never much doubt the February 2nd election would be cancelled.What was less certain which coup created set of judges would be instructed to take the decision.

There are many here that say the care taker government should hold the power

then others say the new Suthep mob

both have individual bias and there own program

so where can we find a party that sits in the middle and wants the best for Thailand

Enter the Military

[h90]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

No, the EC has an opinion. The government could say they don't agree and tell the EC to proceed with 2nd Feb.

At the same time big brother makes a few payments. And the Shin world is rosy again....

Just it might be too obvious.....

There was never much doubt the February 2nd election would be cancelled.What was less certain which coup created set of judges would be instructed to take the decision.

There are many here that say the care taker government should hold the power

then others say the new Suthep mob

both have individual bias and there own program

so where can we find a party that sits in the middle and wants the best for Thailand

Enter the Military

No one ever said Sutheps mob should hold power. They were speaking about old experienced people who prepare for new elections, but without Suthep.

[rogerdee123]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

No, the EC has an opinion. The government could say they don't agree and tell the EC to proceed with 2nd Feb.

At the same time big brother makes a few payments. And the Shin world is rosy again....

Just it might be too obvious.....

There was never much doubt the February 2nd election would be cancelled.What was less certain which coup created set of judges would be instructed to take the decision.

There are many here that say the care taker government should hold the power

then others say the new Suthep mob

both have individual bias and there own program

so where can we find a party that sits in the middle and wants the best for Thailand

Enter the Military

not necessarily and also not necessary

[rogerdee123]

Am I right to assume that constitlonally if the election is postponed then the government remains in place, on a caretaker basis?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I think that is a correct assumption. That is what happened in 2006 when the election didn't produce a result.

I don't think that will wash with the current realities

[winstonc]

Unless the law only applies to non royalists it is impossible/ Elections need to take place between 45 and 60 days and there is already a Royal degree issued.

By the way who would give in to thugs and police murderers? It wil only encourage them if 32 parties have registered the Democrat Party loses out, but than again they are born losers and cannot win elections anyhow.

hahahahahaha type something grown up with which debate could entail,but alas your not capable are you..

[BuddyPinkham]

Here we go! Another agency thinking it has more power than the other

Edited December 26, 2013 by BuddyPinkham

[Emptyset]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

No, the EC has an opinion. The government could say they don't agree and tell the EC to proceed with 2nd Feb.

At the same time big brother makes a few payments. And the Shin world is rosy again....

Just it might be too obvious.....

Why do people keep suggesting that Thaksin would have to pay the EC, to, like, do their job? The EC is bound by law to hold the election. And by refusing to move the poll registration site to a safer place, they're partly responsible for the violence today imo.

Sunai from Human Rights Watch:

Sunai ‏@sunaibkk4h

Election Commission should strongly condemn violence & thuggery that derail election preparation instead of submissively giving up

Sunai ‏@sunaibkk4h

Today democracy in #Thailand is hijacked by violence & thuggery. Shame!

[Ulic]

Ridiculous, Suthep does not want an election. He will never settle any differences. He wants the interim government

to resign and anoint him supreme leader. End of story. I always thought saner heads wound prevail but maybe not.

If Suthep wins there will just be an even greater and quicker response by the Red Shirts. The fault will be 100%

Suthep. Look at his record. He is not remotely interested in reforming corruption. He is equally corrupt as Thaksin.

While I see the populist policy's of Yingluck as absolute disasters she has been democratically elected. People

vote for the party that will do the most for them. Eventually enough people will see the error of those policy's and

vote her/them out. In general the people who got the most benefit from those programs will suffer the most.

[rhino533]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

"So is game set and match to Suthep"

I don't see the police using live fire on this group thins morning, But these thugs most certainly are using live rounds against the police and even murdered one of the police officers, and shot several others, So do you really applaud Suthep as having the "game" through the murder of this police officer???

Hey " Cobber" ... Can you tell us all where you got that information ?? QUOTE.. ", But these thugs most certainly are using live rounds against the police and even murdered one of the police officers, and shot several others...". Just a simple Link will be ok .. Maybe I've missed some news .....

Go to the website of the newspaper were not allowed to mention. (Bangkokp**t) They have an artical there about a policeman being shot and killed today.

[blaze]

It also implied that if nothing is done to settle the conflicts, it might decide to take such actions as may be within its authority to settle the situation.

Now I wonder that thoe actions might be? Perhaps deniying the citizens to a right to elect a goverment 'for a while' and permitting a terrorist to define the new Wolrld Order?

I got a feeling this will not go down well in Khon Kaen and Roi Et.

[fxe1200]

Sounds like a face-saving option for Yingluck I guess Suthep's foot soldiers will go home only to be replaced by the red brigade Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sometimes I wish, there was a throw-up emoticon!!

...here we go!

Edited December 26, 2013 by fxe1200

[blaze]

Is there anywhere in the world where a commission set up to gurantee the constitutionally guaranteed voice of the people to be heard is best implemented through -- cancelling their voiice?

Oh- sorry- 'delaying' their voice -- (till what? the cows come home?_

\

Edited December 26, 2013 by blaze

[blaze]

most recent

Just it is the opposite of what he told.........Actually he want fair elections in 14 month.

You are from Europe aren't you? So you know that 14 months under a dicatatorship can be a long time.

Or did your history lessens skip over the 20s, 30s and 4os.

Come on man- hating Thaksin is one thing (probably based on some legitimate concerns)....

///but this?

Oh- and even Korn as well as Suthep have declared the most recent elections were fair-- but based on bad economics (and when Thailand figures out what are good options, let the rest of the owlrd know).

And where are the Thaivisa yellows of yesteryeat? Ashamed to come out leaving only you and Waza and Nibbles to fight the good fight?

Edited December 26, 2013 by blaze

[GeorgeO]

If they have to wait until "all parties in conflict could settle their differences" then they'll be waiting forever. Isn't that exactly what Suthep wants?

Could simply have the election and let the people choose?

...and allow the current administration to clear out the coffers before slinking off into the night....?!

[blaze]

If they have to wait until "all parties in conflict could settle their differences" then they'll be waiting forever. Isn't that exactly what Suthep wants?

Could simply have the election and let the people choose?

...and allow the current administration to clear out the coffers before slinking off into the night....?!

For a government or its elected reprresntative to 'clear out the coffers' Iis illgal under Thai law.

If you can prove your allegation -- do so. I*the courts are not exactly pro-red).

If not- why speak shit? Because the Nation has corrupted your resaoning with innuendo? Grow up!

[philw]

most recent

Just it is the opposite of what he told.........Actually he want fair elections in 14 month.

You are from Europe aren't you? So you know that 14 months under a dicatatorship can be a long time.

Or did your history lessens skip over the 20s, 30s and 4os.

Come on man- hating Thaksin is one thing (probably based on some legitimate concerns)....

///but this?

Oh- and even Korn as well as Suthep have declared the most recent elections were fair-- but based on bad economics (and when Thailand figures out what are good options, let the rest of the owlrd know).

And where are the Thaivisa yellows of yesteryeat? Ashamed to come out leaving only you and Waza and Nibbles to fight the good fight?

And who knows what might happen in that 14 month time frame, which allows or causes, it to be extended..........

We all know a transitional period is coming and whoever holds power ( by whatever legitimacy ) at that time benefits in one way or another.

This is a critical juncture and has little to do with Thaksin, in my opinion.

It's about securing power for the period to come, which makes it even more important that there is an elected government with a clear mandate that can at least be said to have the backing of the people.

This is an impossibility for Suthep and the Dems to achieve, hence the current situation, which will only get worse over the next few weeks unless they get their way, which is unlikely.

The immediate to short term future of the Country is now at stake.

This will be a very difficult period and to those on here who think that Thaksin is the root cause of the problem, ( and the devil incarnate) i suggest he is only a part of a much larger power based malaise.

As our Chinese friends say, interesting times are coming.

There must be some very worried, deep thinking Thai people, within the "powers that be" that are very concerned for the future.

I hope their sense and wisdom prevails and it is, as yet, unheard.

[kikoman]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

"So is game set and match to Suthep"

I don't see the police using live fire on this group thins morning, But these thugs most certainly are using live rounds against the police and even murdered one of the police officers, and shot several others, So do you really applaud Suthep as having the "game" through the murder of this police officer???

Hey " Cobber" ... Can you tell us all where you got that information ?? QUOTE.. ", But these thugs most certainly are using live rounds against the police and even murdered one of the police officers, and shot several others...". Just a simple Link will be ok .. Maybe I've missed some news .....

Go to the website of the newspaper were not allowed to mention. (Bangkokp**t) They have an artical there about a policeman being shot and killed today.

Pol Sr Sgt Maj Norong Pitsit 45,, shot in the chest during a clash with protesters died at the Police Hospital.

[NCFC]

Suphan Srithamma, director-general of the Medical Services Department is reporting 3 civilians admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds, so perhaps Jaidam would like to give a link to his source claiming 50 protesters have been taken to hospital.

[webfact]

FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
EC calls for deferment of poll
The Nation



Commissioner Somchai suggests delay of 4-6 months; Govt says it has no authority to put off Feb 2 election

BANGKOK: -- YESTERDAY'S developments involving the Election Commission (EC) and the anti-graft agency pointed to an even rockier road ahead for the already embattled government.

The EC yesterday asked the government to postpone the February 2 election following violent clashes between police and protesters that left a police officer dead and 96 people injured, including protesters and policemen.

However, the Pheu Thai Party rejected the idea of postponement, saying the government has no authority to put off the election.

At least three people - two policemen and one protester - suffered gunshot wounds during the clashes. But it remained unclear who had fired the shots at them.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday found grounds to pursue charges against former Parliament president and House ex-speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and deputy Parliament president Nikom Wairatpanit, who is also Senate speaker, in connection with the parliamentary deliberation of a constitutional amendment bill to change the Senate composition.

The agency said it would decide on January 7 whether to charge 381 ex-MPs and senators who backed charter amendment. These included caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and many government MPs.

Responding to Pheu Thai's rejection of the proposed postponement, EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the election commissioners would attempt to persuade the government on the matter.

He also dismissed a Pheu Thai remark that the EC was siding with the protesters. "The five election commissioners are doing whatever we can to help maintain peace in the country. We have concerns."

Somchai said the election should be postponed for four to six months to a time when "society is better prepared". He said the parties involved should engage in dialogue and agree on what should be done after the election.

At an EC press conference earlier yesterday, Somchai said if the government opts to go ahead with the February 2 election, some election commissioners might exercise their "personal right to make a decision to help resolve the situation". This was interpreted as the likelihood of them resigning from their posts.

When asked if his remark meant he would resign, Somchai did not deny it. "We have both right and duty. At a certain point in time, we will decide what to do," he replied.

The current team of five election commissioners assumed office only on December 13.

The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order yesterday imposed a ban on people with a tendency to stage violence or provocative acts in an area around the Bangkok Youth Centre Stadium. The ban took effect from yesterday evening. The area covers an area within the 50-metre radius from the centre. Therefore, nearby roads such as Mit Maitree and Pracha Songkroh will also be affected.

Blue Sky Channel yesterday played a video clip of an incident at 4.30pm in which a group of policemen struck the windshield of a car parked near the stadium. The vehicle carried first-aid kits for the protesters.

A group of protesters yesterday evening blocked a section of Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, a main artery of Bangkok, for almost two hours before dispersing.

The clashes yesterday broke out in the morning when the protesters attempted to force their way into the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre Stadium, where representatives from 30 political parties were gathering for lot drawing to determine the parties' election candidacy numbers. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters, who responded by hurling bricks and tear-gas canisters at them.

Afters hours of clashes, the EC held a news conference to recommend that the election be delayed indefinitely.

Pheu Thai, however, called on the EC to go ahead with the election. Bhokin Balakula, a legal expert from the party, said the government has no legal authority to postpone the election.

A postponement would only worsen the conflict, instead of ending it, he said. "We call on the people to decide at the ballot box."

Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected to make a statement on the current political situation today, when he chairs a meeting of Army unit commanders, according to an Army source.

EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen yesterday was present at the press conference along with the four other election commissioners. He read a statement calling on the government to postpone the election until all the parties involved could settle their differences.

Commission member Prawit Rattanapien said, "We cannot organise free and fair elections under the Constitution in the current circumstances."

The election commissioners were taken out of the besieged stadium in a police helicopter.

Yesterday's clash between protesters and police left at least 32 protesters injured, including a guard of the protesters who was shot in the head, according to Dr Suphan Srithamma, director-general of the Public Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support. He added that the guard was seriously injured with a bullet wound. He said most of the injuries were caused by rubber bullets and tear gas fired by the crowd-control police.

Police Senior Sgt-Major Narong Pitisit, a traffic policeman from Bangkok's Talat Phlu Police Station, was shot dead in yesterday's clash, deputy Police Hospital spokesperson Pol Lt-Colonel Sirikul Srisa-nga said. He was shot in his chest and succumbed to the injury during an operation at the hospital. A total of 28 policemen were taken to hospital, mostly due to bruises. Ten of them were admitted for treatment and the others were discharged.

Yingluck, speaking in Chiang Mai during her trip yesterday, vowed to do her best to deal with the situation. When asked if she felt heavy-hearted, the caretaker PM, with tears brimming in her eyes, likened the current situation to a rocky road. "We have to walk on it because it's the only road available. It's better than walking in the jungle that is a shortcut," she said.

In a related development, stocks declined sharply yesterday as a result of the ongoing political uncertainty. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index dropped 23.99 points, or 1.8 per cent, to close at 1,308.46 with trade volume of Bt26.18 billion.


-- The Nation 2013-12-27

[bunny11kk]

If they have to wait until "all parties in conflict could settle their differences" then they'll be waiting forever. Isn't that exactly what Suthep wants?

No matter how many people get hurt or die but the Yingluck must come back as PM after 2 Feb! Isn't this exactly what Taksin wants?

[rametindallas]

The EC is wasting it's time. They need to resign as they will be dissolved for giving permission to the caretaker government to borrow to pay for the Rice Scheme. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691647-ec-approves-borrowing-to-maintain-thai-rice-pledging/ The EC has is opened the EC up for dissolution on grounds of corruption, overstepping it's authority, and malfeasance for not enforcing existing laws that clearly state that a caretaker government may not take on any new government laws. There are threads on this forum citing the real possibility, that if a new government in not installed in a timely manner, the government will not even be able to pay government workers. http://www.thaivisa....f-govt-delayed/ .

[MaxLee]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

The government has not agreed to anything yet. This is just the EC. Whom they can ignore just like they have other court orders/decisions. Right?

But it is kinda funny. Both the EC and the government have been insisting there's no way to postpone the elections. It will be interesting to see what happens now.

The point here is, that Thaksin probably has connections within the EC and bribed them: "I give you money, and you will delay elections and re-introduce my amnesty bill by the end of July, deal???"

[lovetotravel]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

The government has not agreed to anything yet. This is just the EC. Whom they can ignore just like they have other court orders/decisions. Right?

But it is kinda funny. Both the EC and the government have been insisting there's no way to postpone the elections. It will be interesting to see what happens now.

The point here is, that Thaksin probably has connections within the EC and bribed them: "I give you money, and you will delay elections and re-introduce my amnesty bill by the end of July, deal???"

I think it would work the other way, right? Don't delay the election and the amnesty bill can be revived immediately after the elections. This is one big thing the protesters are unhappy with. That bill was never killed. It's still in the "system".

[Thaddeus]

However, the Pheu Thai Party rejected the idea of postponement, saying the government has no authority to put off the election.

-- The Nation 2013-12-27

Translation.................

We can't do that because it isn't what we want to happen, if we did want it to happen, we could.

[francescoassisi]

The situation is clear..... After parliament is dissolved there must be an election within a certain period..... This will be won by Phue Thai.

Suthep is pushing the situation into a corner where the army (rightly or wrongly) will feel justified in stepping in.

The result will be an unelected despotic CABAL, which will come up with some grossly undemocratic constitution followed by an election followed by street demonstrations...........

One can't but get the impression that this chain of events was Anticipated by K. Suthep and Co. a long time ago....could there be collusion here?

Edited December 27, 2013 by francescoassisi

[rametindallas]

So is this game, set and match to Suthep? All of his demands have been met, after a short but desperate struggle by the government to resist, yet they capitulated every time. Yingluck will cease to be the acting PM imminently, possibly even before the day is out. The situation is very fluid and has been given a shot in the arm by the police sending 50 of the protesters to hospital with gunshot wounds.

The government has not agreed to anything yet. This is just the EC. Whom they can ignore just like they have other court orders/decisions. Right?

But it is kinda funny. Both the EC and the government have been insisting there's no way to postpone the elections. It will be interesting to see what happens now.

The point here is, that Thaksin probably has connections within the EC and bribed them: "I give you money, and you will delay elections and re-introduce my amnesty bill by the end of July, deal???"

I think it would work the other way, right? Don't delay the election and the amnesty bill can be revived immediately after the elections. This is one big thing the protesters are unhappy with. That bill was never killed. It's still in the "system".

Correction: The slate is wiped clean of all unfinished bills when a new government takes over. Since the 'blanket' amnesty bill had not passed into law before the Parliament was dissolved, it is now defunct. Any new Thaksin government will have to start from 'scratch' to pass any new Thaksin whitewash bill.