February 3, 2014

At 14:30 hrs. Mr.Tharit Pengdit, Director-General, the Department of Special Investigation, briefed the press on the outcome of the meeting of the Center For Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) earlier in the day, gist as follows:

Following the general election held on 2 February, the CMPO expressed its appreciation to the public for exercising their right to vote and not participated in activities that obstructed the election. The CMPO has started legal process against those who violated election laws and further evidences may be submitted to police stations across the country.

The CMPO concluded that problems encountered during the advance polling and the general election were caused by several reasons: the obstructions of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC); a confrontation at the Lak Si Intersection leading to the blockade at the District Office in which all the election equipment could not be carried out to constituencies; and some electoral officers did not perform their duties. The CMPO will take legal action against the PDRC leaders so the problems would not recur.

Following the investigation of the crossfire between members of PDRC and the pro-election crowd in the Lak Si[1] Intersection on 1 February, the Office of Forensic Science Police revealed that long rifles, pistols, and grenades were used, leaving                 7 injured including a foreign correspondent. The trajectories came from both sides. The police are collecting more evidences and further developments will be announced to the public.

At 13.00 hrs. Mr.Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an Election Commissioner[2], joined  a meeting with the CMPO. Election Commissioner Somchai assured the meeting that the EC will proceed with the election in areas that still have problems with the assistance of the CMPO.