US: Election delay 'unwise and unjustified'

US: Election delay 'unwise and unjustified'

WASHINGTON - A four-month delay in holding a general election is "unwise and unjustified", the US State Department said after being briefed officially on the new schedule by the government.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu (right) on Tuesday briefed the top US diplomat, Charge d'Affaires W Patrick Murphy, on plans to delay the election by at least four months. (Photo from Mr Murphy's Facebook page)

The goal to return Thailand to democratic vote will not be held until February, 2016, at the earliest, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krue-ngam told US Charge d'Affaires W Patrick Murphy.

"I told the US charge d'affaires today (Tuesday) that elections will take place at the earliest in February, 2016," Mr Wissanu told reporters. "But if we have to have a referendum, polls could be delayed by a further three months," he said, referring to a possible plebiscite on a new constitution.

A State Department spokesperson responded on Wednesday. A spokesperson said the US government believes Thais should be allowed to choose a democratically elected government "as soon as possible".

"We ... believe a delay until 2016 would be unwise and unjustified," the spokesperson added.

The United States had already expressed dismay at the May 22 coup, after which it froze $US 4.7 million of security-related assistance, cancelled high-level engagements, some military exercises and training programmes for the military and police.

Almost-complete plans to transfer frigates to the Royal Thai Navy at no cost were put on indefinite hold, and the warships likely will be given to another country.

The military regime had said earlier that an election promised for late 2015 would be delayed until 2016, giving more time for reforms and hopes for political stability to end the decade of factional rivalry.

Mr Wissanu's talk with Mr Murphy further clarified the issue and the date.

Reuters news agency, however, threw more cold water on hopes for an election.

A senior Western diplomat said told Reuters he was not optimistic about the possibility of an election in 2016, fearing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha could come up with a justification to delay.

"It is not inconceivable that Prayut will stay in power for two to three years," said the diplomat, who declined to be identified.

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