The Constitutional Court yesterday rejected a request from the government to order an end to anti-government demonstrations.
People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban hands out lunch boxes to officials through a locked gate at the Finance Ministry yesterday. PATIPAT JANTHONG
The petition, lodged by caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung in his then capacity as director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order, called on the court to order the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to end its months-long rally.
It argued the protest had not been peaceful or weapons-free, and had therefore breached Section 63 of the constitution.
The petition also accused the PDRC of seeking to overthrow the government.
In rejecting the petition, the charter court said that although the demonstrators had blocked traffic, laid siege to government buildings and obstructed polls, the law violators have already been subjected to legal action or are facing arrest warrants.
The petition, therefore, did not meet the criteria in Section 68(1) of the constitution which prohibits unconstitutional efforts to seize power, the court ruled.
Meanwhile, PDRC protesters rallied yesterday at the Finance Ministry to draw support from civil servants there.
The group, led by PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban and co-leaders Chumpol Julsai, Phutthiphong Punnakun and Sathit Wongnongtoey, gathered in front of the ministry and called on the permanent secretary to open the gates in a symbolic gesture of support.
The gates remained shut, however, and the protesters did not enter the ministry compound, though a large number of civil servants came out to greet the demonstrators.
Mr Suthep said the protesters had travelled to the ministry to show their gratitude to the officials who had given money to support their protest.
The PDRC also brought about 2,000 lunch boxes to distribute to officials there.
Mr Suthep said the visit was also arranged to enable officials who could not join the main anti-government rally at Lumpini Park to participate in the movement.
He claimed the PDRC had strong support among civil servants.
The PDRC would try to wrap up its fight against the government "as soon as possible", and Mr Suthep said the struggle could be over sooner if civil servants joined the campaign.
He said the Finance Ministry should prepare to provide 120 billion baht to repay farmers owed money from the rice-pledging scheme, saying the payment would be the among the PDRC's top priorities if it won its campaign to remove the government.
Mr Suthep said the PDRC's visit was aimed at explaining the political situation and discussing the country's future to ministry officials. The group was also willing to talk to the permanent secretary for finance and the director of the Bureau of the Budget, he said.
Meanwhile, representatives of 53 political parties yesterday called on the Election Commission (EC) to quickly hold a general election after the Feb 2 nationwide poll was invalidated by the Constitutional Court.
Suratin Picharn, leader of the New Democracy Party, and representatives from smaller parties, petitioned the elections body for an urgently organised election in 45-60 days as ruled by the Constitutional Court and said the EC should return registration fees to candidates in the Feb 2 nullified general election.
He said the elections agency should invite 73 existing political parties to discuss and set a new balloting date, instead of waiting until its original April 22 schedule.
He said two rival factions — the PDRC and the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship — should be invited to the meeting.