NCPO:Thailand's new general election will be held within about 15 months

BANGKOK, May 31 (TNA) - Thailand's army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) says that the martial law will be imposed for a short period, but it will take at least 15 months for a new general election to be held in the country. Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, in his capacity as the NCPO chief, told the public of the updates at his address broadcast live nationwide on Friday night. General Prayuth stated that the NCPO is considering to first ease curfew in some areas to boost tourism-related businesses. Nationwide curfew was imposed on May 22, when the NCPO staged a coup under the martial law, which was earlier declared on May 20. The nationwide curfew has been shortened, from 10pm-5am to from midnight-4am, since May 28. General Prayuth explained that the Thai military needs to seize the national administrative power to move the country forward, after a six-month domestic political deadlock with escalating impacts on the national economy and development. General Prayuth called for understanding from the Thai people and the international community that it is now needed for changes in Thailand. The coup council's chief made it clear that there will be a national reform, under conditions acceptable by all parties, prior to Thailand's next general election. The NCPO chief noted that an interim Thai government will be formed to handle the 2015 state budget, which starts on October 1, 2014, The NCPO chief elaborated that his coup council will first focus on ensuring overall national order and reconciliation over the next couple of months, before a temporary Constitution will be drafted by legal experts and a national assembly will be established to select an interim prime minister to form an interim government. According to the coup council's chief, the 2015 state budget is being worked out, with mega-infrastructure development projects, including dual-rail trains, high-speed trains and water management, to be carefully reconsidered and thoroughly screened impartially based on public and national interests. The NCPO chief insisted that anti-coup protests need to be blocked to prevent them from escalating into a renewed conflict between factions. (TNA)