Proposed election of provincial governors rejected

BANGKOK, February 13 (TNA) - The Association of Village and Sub-district heads has opposed a call by the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) for the election of Thailand's provincial governors, saying they fear that the proposed idea could lead to the termination of their positions. The association's president, Yongyos Kaewkhiaw, expressed opposition to the PDRC’s idea on Thursday, citing, as an example, that the election of the Bangkok governor had resulted in the termination of the positions of village and sub-district heads in the capital. Yongyos pointed out that people have already had the right to elect their provincial administrative organizations. Yongyos also demanded that PDRC demonstrators leave the Ministry of Interior as village and sub-district heads have been unable to contact the ministry to coordinate their work. Yongyos made the remarks when he led his association's members to take oaths at the Saranrom Park in Bangkok that they will continue doing their best to prevent and crack down drugs and to assist villagers in their respective areas. Besides, the association urged the government to assist people affected by current drought and farmers by delayed payment of the official rice-pledging scheme. Several provinces in the Thai Northeast have been, meanwhile, hit by drought, affecting local farm and fishery sectors, with rising areas declared drought-stricken disaster zones, including those in Buriram and Yasothon Provinces.(TNA)