Key events on 23 December 2013

At 08.30 hrs., 8 political parties were able to register with the Election Commission (EC) while 24 others could not gain access to the venue as the protestors blocked the entrance. The latter went to Din Dang police station to file a police report as evidence to be submitted to the Election Commission. At around 11.00 hrs., the EC decided to suspend the number drawing for political parties given the situation. The EC reaffirmed that a total of 34 political parties had expressed their intention to register candidacies for the upcoming general election.

At 12.30 hrs., a group of approximate 2,000 protestors arrived at the Department of Special Investigation demanding to see the evidence used in the complaint against the leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

At 17.00 hrs., around 4,000 protestors led by key PDRC leaders assembled in front of the Thai-Japanese Stadium. The key leaders took turns delivering remarks criticizing the Government.

The Seven Private Sector Organizations[1] issued a statement calling on the Government to consider issuing an Executive Decree to establish immediately an independent entity entitled the “Reform Body” tasked with reforming the country and vested with appropriate legal powers to carry out various reforms in the administration of the country.

Key events on 24 December 2013

            The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced that it would request the Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for core PDRC leaders. The DSI would also ask for permission from the Court to place them in detention without bail as they had no intention of stopping the rallies and would continue to cause a public disturbance if released on bail.

Key events on 25 December 2013

At around 10.00 hrs., law enforcement officials stationed at the Thai-Japanese stadium set up a line of defense against            a barrage of bricks and other makeshift projectiles hurled by the protestors. Clashes ensued while army medics were on standby with stretchers to administer first aid for those injured. The Election Commissioners and staff had to stop working and vacated the Stadium. Key protest leaders and law enforcement officers succeeded in negotiating an end to the clashes.         At 14.00 hrs., around 700 protestors still staged a rally in front of the Thai-Japanese stadium with key leaders taking turns      to delivering anti-Government speeches.                                        

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made a televised speech proposing the establishment of an entity referred to as a “National Reform Council”, comprising 2,000 representatives from various sectors. These representatives will in turn select 499 members to work on the National Reform Council whose task is to study and prepare proposals for amendment of the Constitution, national economic and social restructuring, abrogation of laws, rules, regulations or commands in order to ensure fairness and transparency of elections, prevention and suppression of corruption and misconduct in public agencies and improvement of decentralization of power, enhancement of legal knowledge, preparing and strengthening of local communities, regulation structure of state administration in all levels, improvement of the budget system and procedures, and human resources management in the public sector.  After the general elections, the reports will be submitted to the Prime minister and the Cabinet for approval and implementation based on the intent and direction agreed upon by all parties.

            Due to security concerns over the ongoing protest situation, the Cabinet approved the extension of the Internal Security Act currently in force in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lad Lhum Keaw district in Pathum Thani and Bang Phli district in Samut Prakarn for a period of 60 days from 1 January to  1 March 2014. 

Key events on 26 December 2013

            The EC resumed its work in the morning as per usual with representatives from 27 political parties participating in the number drawing. Police officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd of protestors led by the Student and People Network for Thailand's Reform numbering around 1,500 who were trying to forcibly gain entry into the Thai-Japanese Stadium. Clashes ensued and continued well into the afternoon resulting in both sides sustaining injuries and one police death. Live rounds were reportedly used against both the protestors and police. The Election Commissioners and staff had to be evacuated from the premises. The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order made a televised announcement calling on the protestors to desist from resorting to violence and said that officers on duty were exercising utmost restraint and using proportionate response to the circumstances. Around 14 protestors were arrested and charged.  

            Some PDRC-led protestors staged a rally in front of the residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. No violence was reported.

            At around 15.30 hrs., the EC issued a statement expressing regret at the incident and apologized to the public for not being able to administer the election registration in a peaceful and orderly manner. The violence had been anticipated by the EC, which had duly warned all parties concerned, and would only worsen if the elections were to proceed as scheduled. The EC warned the Government, the conflicting parties as well as other sectors of society that  the elections on 2 February 2014 cannot take place without all parties concerned reaching an understanding and joint agreement for peace. The EC called upon the Government to consider deferring   the date of the general elections until such an agreement is reached. The EC stood ready to act as an intermediary in order to reach a common solution acceptable to all sides. If no action is taken to improve the situation, the Election Commissioners would consider exercising their individual rights and duties to resolve the situation at their discretion.

            Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana made a televised statement announcing that the election date was set pursuant to the Royal Decree dissolving the House of Representatives and there is no legal provision in the Constitution that empowers the government to change the election date, as elections are required to be held within 60 days of a House dissolution. 

Key events on 27 December 2013

            The EC continued to take applications from political parties wishing to contest the 2 February 2014 elections in the party-list system. Law enforcement officers were present at the venue. No violence was reported.

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News Division

Department of Information