February 7, 2014

At 13:00 hrs., Mr. Tharit Pengdit, Director-General of 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:

First, the CMPO has instructed the Immigration Bureau not to allow 19 leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) with arrest warrants and another 39 PDRC accused members to leave the country. If any of the aforementioned persons appear before      an immigration officer, the Immigration Bureau is under instruction to detain the said persons and notify the CMPO immediately.

Second, the Metropolitan Police Bureau and several Provincial Police Region commands have reported the proceeding of legal actions on the obstructions of advance and general elections. Recently, the Criminal Court has approved the issuance of arrest warrants against  5 PDRC members including Luang Pu Buddha Issara, the PDRC leader at Chaeng Watthana rally site. The Court also approved the issuance of arrest warrants against 12 people in the provincial areas. The CMPO urged the agencies concerned to immediately proceed with legal actions in order to deter any obstruction in the next elections.

Third, currently, 38 government agencies have resumed their functions. For further inquiry on the function of government agencies, call 1111.

Fourth, following the deportation proceeding against Mr. Sathit Segal, the CMPO affirmed that the Royal Thai Police and the DSI have proceeded on the basis of facts and evidences. Mr. Sathit, an ethnic Indian with residence in Thailand, has committed crimes against national security by inciting demonstrators to break the laws of the land and leading the protesters to blockade several government agencies such as the Department of Civil Aviation. As a result, the Immigration Bureau has agreed with the CMPO in deporting Mr. Sathit.

Fifth, the number of protesters from all sites combined on 6^th February reached the maximum at 21.00 hrs. at approximately 5,900. The CMPO appreciated the public for not joining the demonstration as well as not providing financial support. The CMPO reaffirmed that the protest has not only violated the law but also affected the national economy.  In addition, the obstruction of elections by members of the PDRC constituted a violation of people's right to vote. Such action was already commented on by Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, that any action that undermines democratic processes and hinder democratic rights cannot be condoned.

February 8, 2014

At 13:00 hrs., Mr. Tharit Pengdit, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigations, 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:

1. The Director of the CMPO issued summonses to executives of Dusit Thani Hotel and Intercontinental Hotel to meet with CMPO officers on Tuesday 11 February at 14.00 hrs. to furnish reasons to the authorities for providing shelter to PDRC protest’s leaders. The CMPO called for the immediate cease and desist of any assistance extended to PDRC protesters including financing, food and shelter.

2. Currently, 36 government offices have resumed their functioning while many are gradually opening. However, the PDRC leaders still instruct protesters to besiege government buildings, to put pressure on government officials and chain the doors. The CMPO instructed security personnel to avoid any use of force and to exercise maximum restraint. The PRDC protesters only besiege government buildings as a symbolic gesture. If the siege takes more than one hour, the CMPO will dispatch a combined military and police unit to pressure the protesters at the site.

3. The Criminal Court has approved the arrest warrants against 20 individuals who obstructed both the early election on 26 January and general election on 2 February. The CMPO will proceed with legal actions against these individuals in due course. The CMPO has been informed of 20 cases related to election personnel failing to perform their duties. The CMPO wishes to encourage the public to submit photo evidence of these wrongdoings.

4. The CMPO wishes to explain the legal procedure concerning the deportation of Mr. Sathit Segal, a foreign leader of the PDRC. The investigations have been completed by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Immigration Bureau. The case would be submitted to a committee set up by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Interior, to decide on validity of inquiry made by the DSI and the Immigration Bureau. The case will then be submitted to the Director of the CMPO to issue a deportation order. Under the Emergency Decree, an appeal could not be requested. For Mr. Segal’s case, the Director of the CMPO will soon issue a deportation order. In addition, the CMPO wishes to inform the public that during the major demonstration in 2010, Mr. David Donor, an Australian Red-shirt protester, was detained for 89 days before being deported by the Government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

5. The CMPO wishes to ensure the public that the Royal Thai Police will arrest those PDRC core leaders for whom the arrest warrants were issued. The apprehension will be carefully carried out to minimize any possible damage.

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