Key events on 21 December 2013

Following the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)’s invitation to join its mass rally on 22 December 2013, several groups and members as well as alumni of academic institutions in Bangkok have already arranged meeting places in various parts of the capital city to conduct relevant activities from 10.00 hrs. onwards.

At approximately 14.25 hrs., the Prime Minister gave a televised statement proposing for the country reform to take place in parallel with the already scheduled general elections and that once the House of Representatives and the Cabinet have assumed their offices, the reform in all dimensions must be a national agenda and the “Country Reform Council” which should comprise all parties concerned, must be established at the earliest opportunity.

Key events on 22 December 2013

The PDRC staged a Bangkok-wide rally. Apart from its main rally site at Democracy Monument, the PDRC set up five more main stages at Victory Monument, Ratchaprasong intersection, Asok intersection, Lumphini Park and the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. Ten small stages were also organized throughout Bangkok, namely: Urupong intersection; Rajthewi intersection; Pratunam intersection; Chareonphol intersection; Ploen Chit intersection; Thong Lor intersection; Sam Yan intersection; Hua Lum Phoang intersection; Klong Toey intersection; and Bang Rak intersection. The PDRC leaders went to different main stages to deliver a statement calling on the Prime Minister to resign from her role as a caretaker and voicing objection against holding a general election on 2 February 2013. A group of PDRC protestors, led by  Dr. Seri Wongmontha and Mrs. Anchalee Paireerak, also staged a rally in front of the Prime Minister’s house to demand her resignation.

At 17.00 hrs., the Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) stated that the protests had been peaceful and that no violence was reported. CAPO also explained that the duty of the police today was to: 1) provide safety and security to the protestors and the general public; and 2) direct the flow of traffic so as to minimize the impact of the protest on Bangkok’s road users.

            The PDRC resolved to stage a protest in front of the Thai-Japanese Stadium on 23 December 2013, where the Election Commission (EC) will be holding the registration of party-list election candidates, to voice their opposition to holding a general election on 2 February 2014. Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the EC would not postpone the registration of party-list election candidates. The planned registration is scheduled to take place from Monday 23 December to Friday      27 December 2013.

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News Division

Department of Information