Key events on 28 December 2013

                       The volunteer guards of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) were attacked in a     drive-by shooting in the early hours of the morning at the Chamai Maruchet Bridge’s rally site, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has ordered the Office of Forensic Science Police to carry out an investigation.

            The nationwide candidate registrations for the upcoming general elections started today. In Bangkok, all registration was without incident. Protestors, however, blocked the entrance to the registration sites in six southern provinces, namely: Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Chumphon, Trang and Phuket. The Election Commission decided to halt the registration for these provinces. No violence was reported. Candidate registrations have to be carried out from 28 December 2013 through to 1 January 2014 and the dates cannot be postponed, said Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.

Key events on 29 December 2013

            Five volunteer guards of the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT) were injured, one of them seriously, when a giant firecracker was thrown at the rally site near the United Nations building around 13.30 hrs.

            Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Varathep Rattnakorn made a press statement reaffirming that candidates application process were able to register in 72 out of 77 provinces and that a total of 53 political parties had participated in the first day of registration to run for constituency seats. This showed that the majority of the country wants the general elections to take place on 2 February 2014. The Pheu Thai Party was, therefore, confident that the general elections would not be postponed.

            The representatives of the Election Commission (EC) reportedly met with cabinet-level representatives of the Government as part of the EC’s attempt to mediate the political differences among key actors in Thai politics.  Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said both sides exchanged political assessments and agreed that they expected undesirable situations. Election Commissioner Somchai stated that representatives of the EC will also be meeting with the representatives of the Democrat Party and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in the coming days.

            The Civil Servants’ Association of Thailand issued a statement calling on the country to undergo reforms especially the bureaucratic systems so that civil servants can better respond to the needs of the people, not politicians. The Association expressed concern over the ongoing divisiveness among the Thai people and rampant corruption, which has undermined the morale, dignity and honour of civil servants. The Association was of the view that the House dissolution to pave way for the general elections on 2 February 2014 still was not the solution that could solve the country’s current situation.

            The PDRC leaders called for a mass rally to grind Bangkok to a halt after the New Year holidays in a bid to overthrow the Government and return power to the people.

Key events on 30 December 2013

            Government representatives reportedly led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul met with the EC Secretary-General and other EC members. Deputy Prime Minister Surapong said that the security units proposed that the EC use local police and military to secure the registration centres for the constituency Members of Parliament in the eight southern provinces, which has been temporarily cancelled due to pressure from anti-government protestors. The EC was still in discussion whether to comply with the proposal made by the security units.

            The Deputy Army Spokesperson stated that the media speculation that the Army was holding a closed-door meeting to discuss with the Armed Forces about the possibility to stage a coup was groundless.

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News Division

Department of Information