Multi-parties agree to proceed with Thailand's Feb 2 general election

BANGKOK, January 15 (TNA) - Thailand's caretaker government and its discussion partners have agreed to proceed with the new general election on February 2, 2014. The concerned parties reached the conclusion in their talks, held at the Royal Thai Air Force's auditorium in Bangkok on Wednesday. Before the agreement, the caretaker government and other concerned parties discussed a proposal recently raised by the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) for the caretaker administration to postpone the national poll date from February 2, 2014. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana told a press conference, after the election talks, that most participants wanted the new general election to be held on February 2, reasoning that there is no law to legalize the proposed postponement. According to the caretaker deputy prime minister, participants in the election talks also wanted the Thai military and government agencies to fully support the EC in organizing the general election in troubled areas, covering personnel, needed equipment and places. Besides, the participating parties agreed that the EC is duty-bound to organize the new general election until the number of elected MPs fills their seats in the House of Representatives. The caretaker deputy premier stressed that authorities concerned need to ensure order on the February 2 national poll. Present at Wednesday's multi-party election talks were representatives of political parties, independent organizations, courts and election-related agencies, but all the five newly-appointed election commissioners, as well as representatives of the Democrat Party and the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) did not attend the caretaker government-sponsored forum.(TNA)