Thailand's election talks set on Jan 15

BANGKOK, January 14 (TNA) - The caretaker government-sponsored election talks will be held in Bangkok on January 15 to discuss the possibility of the postponement of the new national poll date from February 2, 2014, as earlier proposed by the Election Commission of Thailand (EC). Speaking at a joint press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday with Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana, Caretaker Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Varathep Ratanakorn said the caretaker government has sent a formal invitation to the talks to 70 parties concerned, including all five election commissioners, the EC Secretary-General, political parties, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Chief, the National Police Chief, senior government officials, as well as leaders of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the pro-government red-clad United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). Varathep told the press conference that the talks will be a platform for all stakeholders to inquire the EC about the new general election. According to the caretaker minister, the talks will be held at the Royal Thai Air Force’s conference hall in the capital on Wednesday morning. The EC submitted a formal letter to the caretaker government on January 12, asking the caretaker administration to consider submitting a new royal decree on setting a postponed national election date, from February 2, for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's approval, after election candidates in 28 constituencies in the Thai South were unable to register their candidacy for the February 2 general election during the registration period last month due to anti-government protests. Meanwhile, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an election commissioner in charge of election administration, and PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban announced that they would not attend Wednesday's talks. Somchai voiced his disagreement with Wednesday's forum, reasoning that such the large-scale talks are unlikely to lead to any conclusion on the EC's proposal, while Suthep insisted that he would not join any negotiation with the caretaker government and vowed to continue "Bangkok shutdown" through spreading rallies until the caretaker government would agree to step down.(TNA)