Key events on 13 December 2013

Mr. Tongthong Chantharangsu, the Permanent Secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, held a press briefing explaining the modality of the open forum for which he has been assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to hold talks with representatives from all sides in an effort to find a solution to the current political stalemate. Mr. Tongthong said he would try to extend an invitation to former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun and Senior Citizen Prawase Wasi along with 100 other individuals who represent, among others, seven major business organizations, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the King Prachadipok's Institute. They would include university rectors, permanent secretaries, police and military officers, state enterprise employees, the media as well as senators. The Prime Minister Office’s Permanent Secretary said the meeting would initially be chaired by the most senior person. A chairman and a secretary are expected to be selected during the course of the meeting.

The seven private sector organizations  today held an open forum to discuss options that would help ease the current political tension. They did not reach any conclusion as to which direction they would choose because they wanted to listen to opinions of all parties. They, however, agreed that no matter what conclusions were arrived at must be endorsed by all political parties to avoid the risk of repeated conflicts in the future.

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary-General of the PDRC, told members of the media at a press conference at the Royal Turf Club that the PDRC repeated its call for the Prime Minister to resign from her post. The PDRC’s Secretary General expounded on the notion of the People’s Council that following the political vacuum created by the Prime Minister’s resignation, a politically neutral figure would be selected to assume the post in Prime Minister’s stead. A People's Council would then be set up to carry out reforms, which is expected to take 8 to 14 months. The PDRC’s Secretary General told the media that after the political reforms,        if a party with linkages to Former Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is again voted into power, he would accept the outcome.     The reforms, nevertheless, must ensure that future elections are free and fair and political parties must truly belong to the people.

The open forum for political consultation hosted by the Supreme Commander is scheduled to take place on 14 December 2013. Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as well as the National Police Chief are among those confirmed to attend. The PDRC’s Secretary-General had announced that he would be joining the forum.
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