Thai EC urged to set new election date

BANGKOK, March 25 (TNA) - The caretaker government has urged the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) to soon schedule the new general election date. Caretaker Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Varathep Rattanakorn told journalists on Tuesday that the EC is solely duty-bound to organize the new general election and the election agency should do it quickly without having to wait for the domestic political situation to relieve, noting that a new Thai government should be formed rapidly. Varathep stressed that the caretaker government is ready to discuss an appropriate date for the new general election with the EC. According to the caretaker minister, the EC can approach the caretaker government for the issue so that a royal decree for the new general election will be issued and submitted for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's approval. Regarding calls for an interim prime minister, the caretaker minister cautioned that all parties should stop any unconstitutional movement. Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led demonstrators to march on Bangkok streets for the second day to woo public support for the PDRC's demand for a national reform before the new general election and to invite people to join in the PDRC's new mass rally planned on March 29, 2014. In another development, grenades were fired at the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Bangkok's suburban Nonthaburi Province late Monday night. Police investigators initially assumed that the grenades were fired from the east of the buildings. Deputy National Police Chief Police General Aek Angsananont and bomb experts inspected the scene on Tuesday morning, while National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew ordered quick investigation and preparation to intensify protection for important persons, inclucing anti-graft commissioners. NACC Secretary-General Sansern Poljieak told reporters that he views the attack was a threat, insisting that the NACC has worked straightforwardly, remained independent and had nothing to do with any alleged movement to have an interim prime minister. (TNA)