Thailand's Caretaker PM asks for justice from independent agencies

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) - Thailand's Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called for justice from independent agencies, after they have sought the annulment of the February 2 general election from the Constitution Court. Yingluck made the call on Friday, saying that her caretaker government has rendered full cooperation with the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) in organising elections. Yingluck, however, declined to give any comment on reports that independent agencies are being used to topple her caretaker government, stating only that each agency should perform duties straightforwardly and justly so that the country could move forward, but it is up to the court to decide. Regarding calls by business operators for her caretaker administration to revoke the executive decree, having enforced in all areas in Bangkok and some areas in peripheral provinces as it has affected their businesses, Yingluck noted that the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) and other concerned security agencies have the authority to assess the updated situation and to decide on whether the special law should be lifted. The caretaker prime minister asked the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to end its protesting demonstrations as soon as possible because the persistent rallies are affecting the national economy despite efforts by her caretaker government to maintain or restore international investors' confidence in the Thai economy, as there is a delay in the forming of the new Thai government. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Thavorn Senniam, a PDRC leader, submitted a complaint with the independent Constitution Court, seeking the court's interpretation on the legality of the caretaker government, after the Thai House of Representatives cannot convene within 30 days after the February 2 general election and MPs cannot vote for a new prime minister within another 30 days as required by the Constitution. The Ombudsman Office also submitted a complaint to the Constitution Court, urging it to rule for the annulment of the February 2 general election, as earlier proposed by a law lecturer at Thammasat University. But the Ombudsman Office also urged the EC to organise a fresh general election. (TNA)