Thailand's Caretaker DPM: General Election can’t be postponed

BANGKOK, January 11 (TNA) - Thailand’s Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says that a proposal by the Election Commission (EC) for the caretaker government to postpone the new general election, which has been set on February 2, 2014, is impossible because it is forbidden by the laws. Surapong told journalists on Saturday (Jan 11), however, if the EC finds any way it believes could delay the national poll, it should propose to the caretaker government, along with attached laws which would allow for the postponement. Surapong charged the five-member EC for not performing its duty to its utmost efficiency, namely finding alternative registration sites for election candidates in eight southern Thai provinces after the sites were blocked by anti-government protesters. Because of the blockade, no candidates were able to register themselves in 28 constituencies in the eight southern Thai provinces, causing concerns that even the general election is held on February 2, the Thai House of Representatives will not be able to open due to the lack of sufficient elected MPs and by-elections need to be then organised. Meanwhile, a deputy spokesman of the government-run Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) told the public that combined police and military forces have been positioned at “important places” designated by the CAPO to safeguard the places during the announced “Bangkok shutdown” by anti-government protesters next Monday. On recent movements of military personnel, weapons and vehicles which have caused rumours on a military coup in social media, the CAPO deputy spokesman clarified that the movements were made on the occasions of the National Children’s Day on January 11 and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day on January 18, acknowledging that the military vehicles will be moved back in the evening of January 18 after the parade ends. (TNA)