Key events on 14 December 2013

In the morning, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary-General of the PDRC, attended the public forum hosted by the PDRC at Thammasat University where he called on academics to join his movement to set up an appointed people's council to carry out reforms of the political system. The PDRC’s Secretary-General reiterated his call for the cabinet to resign to pave the way for an appointed premier who would set up a 400-member people's council, with 100 of the members appointed by the PDRC.  The proposed reforms would also include stricter penalties for vote buying and political corruption. The proposed interim government will undertake necessary political reforms before the next election. 

           Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn chaired the Royal Thai Armed Forces-hosted forum held at the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ Peace Operations Centre, the Government Complex, on Chaeng Wattana Road from 15.00 to   17.00 hrs. Among those in attendance were the PDRC’s Secretary-General, Thammasat University law lecturer Parinya Tewanarumitkul, representatives of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, the National Press Council and the Thai Chamber of Commerce. The participants expressed their views on how best to resolve the political situation. At the conclusion of the event, Supreme Commander General Tanasak gave a press interview saying he was satisfied with the event in that various different proposals were put forward as approaches in moving the country forward. General Tanasak informed the forum that he wanted the general election to be held on 2 February 2013 as stipulated by the Royal Decree Dissolving the House of Representatives B.E. 2556.

Key Events on 15 December 2013

Mr. Tongthong Chandrangsu, the Permanent Secretary for the Prime Ministers’ Office, moderated the open forum on how to move Thailand forward convened by the interim Government, which former MPs, senators, academics, representatives of political parties, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), civil servants and the private sector attended.   The PDRC and the Democrat Party did not, however, send representatives to attend the forum. After the event, the Permanent Secretary for the Prime Ministers’ Office gave a press briefing stating that the participants had agreed that reform plans must be implemented to address political and economic problems and corruption, and to support power decentralization and reduce social injustice. Those present agreed that the 2 February general elections should take place and that measures are needed to ensure that voting is free and fair. The forum was inconclusive on implementing the reform and would be reconvened on    17 December 2013 at 09.00 hrs. at the Sukosol Hotel.

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