February 13, 2014

At 13:00 hrs. Mr.Tharit Pengdit, Director-General, 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 CMPO has received a report from the Metropolitan Police and Provincial Police regional commands regarding the legal proceedings against the election obstructions. So far, there are 156 cases involving election obstructions, 132 cases involving the failure of electoral officers to perform their duties, and 44 person already faced arrest warrants.

 2. The CMPO has cooperated with several government agencies to enable them to resume their functions after being blockaded by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). 48 government agencies have resumed their functions and are ready to provide public services as normal. The CMPO wishes to request the PDRC not to obstruct the restoration of functions of government agencies. On 11th February the protesters mobilized to blockade the Department of Forestry. The security personnel spent 2 hours driving out the protesters.

3. The number of protesters at all protest sites on 12th February peaked at 21.00 hrs. with approximately 5,100 people. The CMPO appreciated the public for not joining the demonstrations as well as not providing financial support.

4. The CMPO has established a working committee chaired by Police Lieutenant General Aree Onchit, Assistant Commissioner, which consists of officials from the police, military, and the Department of Provincial Administration to cooperate with the Election Committee (EC) to carry out the elections in constituencies that were previously unable to hold elections.

5. The Director of the CMPO has ordered the security personnel to proceed with the arrest  of the PDRC leaders with arrest warrants as well as their security guards who are on the wanted list.