February 24, 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 requested the Prosecutor's Office to appeal the ruling of the Civil Court. The prosecutor has stated that an appeal will be filed, and a stay of enforcement requested to reaffirm the prerogative of the executive branch in invoking the Emergency Decree. Evidence will be gathered and presented to the Court to show that the demonstration is no longer peaceful, open and unarmed. It will also be shown that the Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban et al. under the charge of insurrection. The Prosecutor's Office will file the case with the Court of Appeals this week.

Given the violence that ensued after the Civil Court's ruling,the CMPO has been extremely concerned. It asks the various sides -- including pro- and anti-PDRC groups, UDD and other groups -- to exercise restraint and refrain from using violence, as it may deepen the crisis and even lead to civil war, which would cause great damage to the country. The CMPO has added 2,000 policemen to those looking after Bangkok, but they are constrained by the PDRC's prohibition of police at protest sites.

2. The Special Committee set up by Ministry of Interior has determined that Mr. Satish Sehgal, a foreign PDRC leader, may reasonably be believed to have engaged in activities that brought about the emergency situation, and is a danger to society and public order or safety. Under the Emergency Decree, the director of the CMPO has the authority to order the annulment of Mr. Sehgal's residency permit and will consider signing the order expeditiously.

3. 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 185 cases involving election obstructions, 170 cases involving the failure of electoral officers to perform their duties. 124 persons already faced arrest warrants, 43 of whom have been arrested.

4. The CMPO had managed to reopen 53 government offices. But since the Civil Court's ruling, PDRC protesters have blockaded the government offices earlier this morning. Five government offices and two corporate offices, namely Department of Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Revenue Department, Voice TV and M link Cooperation have been blockaded and government officials forced to leave their offices.