Thailand's new election commissioners sworn in

BANGKOK, December 16 (TNA) - Thailand's five new election commissioners have been sworn in and taken an oath to be good government officials. A ceremony of the swearing-in of the new election commissioners was held at the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) in Bangkok on Monday afternoon. The five new election commissioners include EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen, election commissioner for election administration Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, election commissioner for investigation and ruling Boonsong Noisophon, election commissioner for political party affairs and referendums Theerawat Theerarotewit and election commissioner for public participation Prawit Ratanapian. At the ceremony, the new election commissioners also acknowledged a Royal Command on their appointment. The new EC chairman then led other commissioners and staffs of the EC office to take an oath to be good government officials, work for the national and public interest, be honest and be determined to solve the problems of the nation and the public, along with lighting candles and extending their best wishes to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Meanwhile, Singthong Buachum, a lawyer of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, filed a case with the Constitution Court, seeking the court to order Suthep Thaugsuban, a former MP of the Democrat Party and secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), to stop his group's anti-government protest and to disband the Democrat Party, as the PDRC protesters allegedly used weapons and seized government offices in violation of Section 63 of the Constitution on peaceful demonstrations and members and executives of the Democrat Party supported the protest. The Democrats are also accused of lese majeste in accordance with Sections 112, 113, 215, 216 and 356 of the Criminal Code for obstructing the new general election, set on February 2, 2014 in a Royal Decree issued on December 9, 2013. (TNA)