Meeting of EC commissioners, Acting PM Niwatthamrong aborted as Suthep leads PDRC to meeting room

[webfact]

BANGKOK: -- The meeting between the Election Commission and the government representatives led by acting premier Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan at the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters was aborted immediately after anti government protesters led by Suthep Thaugsuban sealed off all exits and entrances to pressure the acting premier for talk.

The meeting ended in 20 minutes with the acting PM and his team left hastily through the back gate.

Suthep is pressuring Niwattumrong to step down to pave the way for a new premier to run and reform the country before going to the poll.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/41395/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-15

------------------------

Protesters force the suspension of EC-government meeting



BANGKOK: -- The meeting between the government and the Election Commission was abruptly called off after anti-government protesters laid siege to the Karntarat conference hall at the Royal Thai Air Force.

Informed sources said that the meeting to discuss the upcoming election and the EC’s demand for more powers to call off an election in case of an emergency went on for about 20 minutes before the arrival of the protesters.

The sources said that acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan and a handful of cabinet ministers left the conference hall through a back door before it was sealed off by the protesters who demanded to see Mr Niwatthamrong.

Protest leader Suthep Thaubsuban said he would try to locate Mr Niwatthamrong wherever he was in order to talk him into quitting to pave way for the installation of an interim prime minister.

The prime minister was accompanied by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana, caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri, caretaker PM’s Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn and caretaker Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Thepakham in the discussion with the EC.

After the sudden departure of the cabinet ministers, the protesters were allowed into the compound of the RTAF. The protesters said they would have lunch there before moving on to the Election Commission’s office in Chaengwattana area this afternoon.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/protesters-force-suspension-ec-government-meeting/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-15

[Snig27]

Mini-Mussolini and his thugs are determined that the people won't have a say in how Thailand is governed, aren't they.

[pxlgirl]

me thinks, no matter what other party would win the election, Suthep would still do anything to kick hem out...

[dinom]

Don't stand your ground and talk, just leave hastily through the back gate... seems to be still the trade of Mr. T's cronies.

[webfact]

Thai poll body calls for election delay after new unrest

BANGKOK, May 15, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's Election Commission on Thursday called for the postponement of key parliamentary polls due to be held on July 20 because of political unrest shaking the kingdom.

The appeal came after an attack on an anti-government rally in Bangkok the same day that left three dead.

Hours later opposition demonstrators stormed a meeting between the government and vote officials, forcing caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan and other ministers to flee.

"The election on July 20 is no longer possible. It must be postponed," Election Commission secretary general Puchong Nutrawong told AFP.

He said early August was one option for the polls but "may be too soon".

"The election cannot be held if protesters do not agree," Puchong added.

The dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office last week in a controversial court ruling has sent tensions soaring in the Southeast Asian nation, which has endured years of political turmoil.

Yingluck's supporters have accused the Election Commission of conspiring with the anti-government movement and parts of the judiciary to prevent her party's return to power.

Grenade blasts and gunfire at an anti-government protest site in Bangkok early Thursday left two dead and 24 wounded, stoking fears of wider political violence in the crisis-hit kingdom.

The attack comes as opposition protesters push for the appointment of an unelected premier in a move that has infuriated government supporters.

An election held in February was later annulled after demonstrators blocked voting in many areas.

The opposition refuses to take part in elections unless reforms are held first to tackle what it says is widespread corruption and cronyism.

Thailand has been torn apart by political divisions since 2006 when Yingluck's older brother Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup after frictions with the country's royalist establishment.

Thaksin-led or aligned parties have won every election since 2001, but have also seen four premiers removed by coups or court rulings.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-15

[citizen33]

An election commission that does not want to organise elections! But I suppose we knew that months ago.

[Prbkk]

The brown shirts will do anything to have their way. Suthep has become little more than a pathetic pale pink imitation of a genuine reformer.

[Asiantravel]

Don't stand your ground and talk, just leave hastily through the back gate... seems to be still the trade of Mr. T's cronies.

Not appropriate for the replacement Prime Minister to talk to a terrorist and seditionist

[Fat Haggis]

It's well past getting beyond a joke is there another final battle tomorrow scheduled?

[Thai at Heart]

Is someone going to.do.anything about these idiots disrupting elections?

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

me thinks, no matter what other party would win the election, Suthep would still do anything to kick hem out...

And Vice versa !!!

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Don't stand your ground and talk, just leave hastily through the back gate... seems to be still the trade of Mr. T's cronies. alt=giggle.gif>

Run Rabbit run

[Fat Haggis]

Smart move on the CTPM behalf as it's NOT about what Suthep wants it's what the country needs as in establishing a date for the country to show exactly who they support and believe !!

Suthep is showboating nothing more and acting with impunity into the bargain.

[fab4]

Don't stand your ground and talk, just leave hastily through the back gate... seems to be still the trade of Mr. T's cronies.

[webfact]

EC, Govt abort meeting following besieging of meeting venue by Suthep-led protesters

BANGKOK: -- Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, led protesters to besiege the meeting venue of the Election Commission and the government, prompting the meeting to be aborted.

Suthep and other PDRC leaders, including Satit Wongnontoey, Witthaya Kaewparadai, and Tavon Senneam, led protesters to travel by vehicle to besiege the Kantarat Auditorium of the Royal Thai Airforce where acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan agreed to meet the EC to discuss the preparations for July 20 election.

The protesters rallied in front of the auditorium and surrounded all the gates, hoping to block Niwattumrong from leaving.

When Suthep and state enterprise unionists broke into the compound at 10:50 am through a back gate, they found that the prime minister and the EC had already left the venue.


-- The Nation 2014-05-15

[pookiki]

Not sufficient security at an Air Force base to prevent demonstrators from entering?? Hmm..................

[smedly]

Mini-Mussolini and his thugs are determined that the people won't have a say in how Thailand is governed, aren't they.

no they are making sure that Thaksin a convicted criminal on the run from Jail won't have a say how Thailand is governed - do you see a problem with that, the majority of Thai people don't - the sooner this fiasco ends the better

[stickyrice2000]

It is all planned by the EC and Suthep. Sure enough, Suthep and his gangsters invade the election meeting. According to the laws, the EC cannot postpone the election unless there are unforeseeable event. How would Suthep know about the meeting place, time and has time to organize his gangsters to invade the meeting?

[xminator]

Not sufficient security at an Air Force base to prevent demonstrators from entering?? Hmm..................

Not if they want to avoid bloodshed.

[winstonc]

Not sufficient security at an Air Force base to prevent demonstrators from entering?? Hmm..................

i was thinkibg the same..imagine if they get invaded just be women and children left..the men you wouldnt see for dust...but i do believe the acting caretaker pm should have stayed shown some spine..and talked something might have come out of this.i dont mean violence..they gotta sit down and talk sometime..

[pookiki]

Not sufficient security at an Air Force base to prevent demonstrators from entering?? Hmm..................

Not if they want to avoid bloodshed.

Who is 'they'?

[winstonc]

It is all planned by the EC and Suthep. Sure enough, Suthep and his gangsters invade the election meeting. According to the laws, the EC cannot postpone the election unless there are unforeseeable event. How would Suthep know about the meeting place, time and has time to organize his gangsters to invade the meeting?

even i knew where the meeting was..theirs more than tvf on the internet you know take a look you may be surprised at what you find.

[webfact]

Meeting of EC, caretaker government aborted as PDRC arrives
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, May 15 -- The meeting of the Election Commission (EC) and the caretaker cabinet was forced to abort this morning as anti-government PDRC protesters arrived at their meeting place at the Royal Thai Air Force Academy at Don Mueang.

Five EC commissioners led by agency chairman Supachai Somcharoen and the caretaker cabinet led by acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan met at the Kantarat Convention Hall at 10am but after only 45 minutes the meeting came to a stop after protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban led People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters to the meeting venue.

The agenda of the meeting was expected to cover the legal procedures related to the new general election.

The caretaker government proposed to abort the meeting after the arrival of Suthep and PDRC and the caretaker ministers promptly departed the Convention Hall.

EC member for election management Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said later that no agreements or resolution were concluded as the meeting had only begin. No date has been set for the next meeting but it was possible that there would be a video conference meeting to avoid such disruption again.

Mr Somchai said that he believed the July 20 proposed date for the election could be postponed as the meeting with the caretaker government was delayed.

After the Election Commission and the caretaker cabinet departed, Mr Suthep arrived at the meeting room to see whether anyone was still there.

The PDRC secretary general said that he came to meet Mr Niwatthamrong with no intention to intrude.

He said the PDRC agreed with the election with the proviso that it must be a free and fair election after political reform has been accomplished. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-05-15

[winstonc]

Don't stand your ground and talk, just leave hastily through the back gate... seems to be still the trade of Mr. T's cronies.

Not appropriate for the replacement Prime Minister to talk to a terrorist and seditionist

but ok to talk to mr whiter than white thaksin yes...you cant have it all your own way.....

[h90]

me thinks, no matter what other party would win the election, Suthep would still do anything to kick hem out...

yes he told so. He told that he would not trust the Democrats to make the reforms that are necessary to remove vote buying and corruption as they are part of the system.

So an unelected government which get afterwards banned from politics for 5 years has a chance to do it.

[TimCM]

Mini-Mussolini and his thugs are determined that the people won't have a say in how Thailand is governed, aren't they.

I think we should start calling him Pol Potbelly

[wandasloan]

Not sufficient security at an Air Force base to prevent demonstrators from entering?? Hmm..................

This is the military many believe should intervene to keep order. Defeated and overrun by 100 people armed with whistles. And the air force was well prepared with riot troops in Darth Vader suits and all. And totally overrun.

Reason number 327 why the generals should just shut up. Reason 842 why military coup is beyond stupid.

.

[BlueNoseCodger]

So what is the way forward? I don't think the EC intends to run an election. If they're sending representatives to discuss ways of appointing a Prime Minister, then they don't want to run an election, and the Suthep backer control the Election Commission.

I think at this point, the 54 parties that stood for election back in February, need to demand the results of the February 2nd election be released. The EC was determine to suppress those result, refusing to release the details of any province that voted until the South had also voted. Which is a violation of their duty to release the result within 30 days.

We'll then see how the voters responded and work forward based on that.

[FangFerang]

Suthep said "I am going to have closed door private meetings with the Senate Speaker. You cannot have elections without my permission, and I will disrupt all your meetings. Mommy! They won't respect my authoritah!"

[Thailand]

Security services on the ball again. Unable to stop a guy with an arrest warrant on his head yet again preventing talks about elections.

The powers behind Suthep have far reaching tentacles and are determined not to allow the people to decide their fate. A power to the nth degree in Thailand terms.

The EC, well a complete disgrace. They have to be in some sort of alliance with Suthep et all to continually back away from doing their job?