Govt bids to firm up poll timeline

Govt bids to firm up poll timeline

Prayut seeks assurances on post-election security

on the nose: Participants of a pro-election activity wear masks resembling Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with a long nose likening him to Pinocchio.
on the nose: Participants of a pro-election activity wear masks resembling Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with a long nose likening him to Pinocchio.

The government plans to call a meeting with political parties to determine the election's timeframe and encourage them to make a public commitment on a national unity strategy after the poll.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha rejected speculation that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was trying to stall the election by having the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) shoot down two organic bills on the election of MPs and the selection of senators.

"We don't want the roadmap to be pushed back, as some people claim, except if there are circumstances such as public disorder, violent conflict, or political divisiveness like in 2014. That's another story," he said in his weekly national address.

The prime minister added that the two bills are under review by a joint committee of the NLA, the Election Commission (EC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee, which disagree with some of the changes the NLA made to the content.

"The government and the NCPO never think about interfering and have never intervened to have the draft laws shot down, as speculated," he said.

The prime minister said after the organic laws come into force, an election can take place in any time within 150 days, depending on the readiness of those involved including political parties and the EC.

"The cabinet will ask the NCPO to call a meeting of the concerned parties to discuss and decide an appropriate date and take it as a 'national agenda'," he said.

Political parties, political groups and other concerned entities will be required to make a public commitment on national unity and pushing the country ahead after the election, he said.

"A mutual contract on how we will move the country forward in line with the national roadmap will be required," he said.

"They [political parties and political groups] have to make a commitment that after the election, we will have a government and the opposition that join hands to move the country forward following the national strategic plan," he said.

Gen Prayut also urged all stakeholders to help maintain the election roadmap by keeping order and stability and refraining from conflict.

His remarks came after the NLA last week voted to reject all seven candidates chosen to be EC members, a move some feared will delay the elections further, to beyond February.

eager to vote: Pheu Thai member Watana Muangsook poses with a backdrop which says 'Waiting for the election' as he joins the event at Thammasat University.

Gen Prayut announced there would be an election in November, but the prospect was cast into doubt after the NLA voted to suspend the enforcement of the MP elections law for 90 days after it was published in the Royal Gazette.

According to the 2017 charter, an election must be held within 150 days of a bill taking effect.

In his national broadcast, Gen Prayut also thanked the 1.5 million people who answered the 10 questions on politics he posted last year. The questions were raised on two occasions for members of the public to answer.

He said he considered these answers voluntary and genuine and they offered a lot of interesting information, as well as informing future governments and politicians of the public's expectations.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday brushed off a report that European Union diplomats had expressed concerns during their recent meeting with Deputy Prime Minister ACM Prajin Juntong about the election roadmap after the NLA's rejection of shortlisted candidates for the EC.

He said it was a standard procedure for them to ask questions concerning the political situation, noting the government gave assurances to the EU representatives that the NLA exercised its judgement independently.

Lt Gen Sansern insisted the EU's concern was not an attempt to pressure the government.

He also played down a human rights report by Amnesty International (AI) which accused the government of human rights violations, saying the government was doing its best to address the country's problems.

AI Thailand director Piyanut Kotsan said the agency had named Thailand "among the worst nations in the Asia-Pacific region" in its report on the state of human rights for 2017/2018, which covers 159 countries.

Pheu Thai member Amnuay Khlangpha, meanwhile, called on the so-called five river bodies to hold talks on the EC issue and decide if elections should be organised by the new EC or the caretaker one.

Despite the government's claim that the new selection process would not affect the roadmap, the NLA's vote suggested otherwise, he said.

According to the Pheu Thai politician, the rejection of the candidates raised two possibilities: those in power were not happy with the list, or the NLA did not want an election.

He also warned about possible public discontent, calling on concerned parties to pay heed to the people's demands.

"The matter is within their power but they should think about the people who want to see an election. Their patience may run out," he said.

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