Small political parties call for new general election, national reform

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - Small political parties have demanded that Thailand's next general election be held on July 20, 2014 and a national reform council be set up simultaneously. Surathin Pijarn, leader of the New Democracy Party, and members of other small political parties filed the demands with the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) on Wednesday, saying that they want the proposed national reform council to work out national reform while the general election is on the way. Surathin vowed to exert public pressure on the EC if the election agency refused to organize the national poll on July 20 as demanded. Meanwhile, Khanin Boonsuwan, a legal expert of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, insisted that Acting Caretaker Pheu Thai Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan has authority to propose a royal decree on setting the next general election date. Niwatthamrong is scheduled to discuss the next general election with the EC on May 14. Pheu Thai Party Spokesman Prompong Nopparit, in the meantime, asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take legal action against Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai and some senators for discussing the nomination of an interim prime minister as demanded by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), stressing that the movement was unconstitutional. Receiving the complaint, DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdith told reporters that Surachai's movement was considered facilitating insurrection. (TNA)