Thai Government Confident General Election Can Be Held On Feb 2 As Planned

BANGKOK, January 26 (TNA) Despite disturbances and blockade at several polling booths on Sunday’s advance voting for the general election to be held on February 2, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he is confident the election could be held on scheduled. Mr. Surapong told a press conference that the problem occurred in some Bangkok districts and between 8 - 10 per cent of the Southern region where anti-government protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) blocked polling stations and prevented voters from exercising their rights. Mr. Surapong, also an adviser of the newly-formed Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), said his only concern was that the Election Commission (EC) did not ask for an assistance from police and the military to help man the booths in sensitive areas which they knew problems would occur. It looks as if some of the EC officials do not want the election to be held, he said, adding that the EC “should not cooperate with the culprits” and should help bring back perfect democracy system to the country because international community is watching Thailand, Mr. Surapong said. He also warned that concerned officials would file lawsuits against those obstructing the election and intruders would be considered as violating the Emergency Decree and the Constitution as well. CMPO will start arresting leading PDRC protesters Monday, he said, adding that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also expressed worries over Sunday’s violence at polling stations. (TNA)