February 21, 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:

Following the ruling of the Civil Court on the Emergency Decree, today the CMPO received an enforcement of judgment from the Civil Court. Complying with this enforcement has limited the authority of the CMPO to implement any order regarding the Emergency Decree for maintaining peace and order.

The CMPO has filed an appeal to the Court and requested a stay of enforcement. During this period, the CMPO is deeply concerned that it might not be able to fully protect and maintain peace and order for the public, which might take things into their own hands, given the inability of the state to enforce the law.

The Court ruling may allow the PDRC to continue blocking traffic, obstructing elections as well as blockading government agencies.

This morning, PDRC core leaders led the encirclement of the Department of Alternative Energy, where a gun was used to threaten security guards to open the gate of the agency.

The CMPO wishes to ask for legal advice and recommendations from legal scholars and experts on how to proceed, given the Court’s ruling.

The CMPO has also filed with the Criminal Court a criminal complaint against Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban et al. for causing others to use explosive devices and firearms against police, which resulted in deaths and injuries during the clashes at Phan Fa Lilat junction on 18 February 2014.

At this moment, the CMPO regrets in inability to fully perform its functions and urges all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and refrain from any action that might create further damage to Thailand, and in particular from confrontation or vigilantism.