Campaigns 'must follow rules': PM

Campaigns 'must follow rules': PM

Electioneering clipped with or without ban

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha won't set an election date or lift the ban on political activity, but promises new rules on campaigning 'to keep it peaceful'. (Post Today photo)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha won't set an election date or lift the ban on political activity, but promises new rules on campaigning 'to keep it peaceful'. (Post Today photo)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Wednesday shrugged off growing calls for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to lift a ban on political activities, hinting the government was unlikely to let election campaigns proceed freely.

Pressure was intensifying on the regime to allow parties to resume activities after the Constitutional Court on Tuesday cleared the last possible legal controversy that could push back a general election tentatively scheduled for February.

However, Gen Prayut, the NCPO chief, saw no rush to fully repeal the ban.

He said talks would be held to determine which activities could be allowed, as a de facto guarantee against any political activities that may attempt to stir up trouble.

According to the prime minister, parties should not expect to run their election campaigns freely.

"An election campaign must proceed in compliance with the framework and it should be approved on a case-by-case basis. However, certain activities may not require approval. That's how the ban is to be lifted. Some activities need approval and some don't," he said.

"We need to find a way to maintain peace and order to make sure there is no trouble before we get to democracy. Can anyone give me a guarantee?" he asked.

Gen Prayut also said the NCPO was expected to hold a dialogue with parties and related agencies over poll preparations this month.

He insisted the regime would impose no conditions on parties that choose to join the talks, adding that he would have to consider a proposal from the Future Forward Party that its representatives would join if the planned dialogue was broadcast live.

Many politicians believe the ban is preventing parties from preparing for the election.

They expressed concern about a primary vote, which is a time-consuming process, should they not be able to recruit new members or convene an executive meeting to pass resolutions necessary to prepare for the election.

Supachai Somcharoen, chairman of the Election Commission (EC), said it is up to the NCPO to decide when the ban will be lifted.

However, with it now firmly in place, parties cannot proceed in line with the political party law that requires them to recruit members and set up provincial branches, he added.

Mr Supachai dismissed as a personal suggestion a proposal by EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma asking the NCPO chief to issue a Section 44 announcement to empower the EC to draw election boundaries after the law on the election of MPs is published in the Royal Gazette.

He said Mr Jarungvith, as the registrar of political parties, needs as much time as possible to prepare for the polls, but he noted the EC never had such an idea.

Democrat member Wiratana Kalayasiri said Wednesday he respected the court ruling on the NCPO's order but pressed on with a demand for the regime to remove the ban.

"What needs to be done as quickly as possible is for the NCPO to allow political parties to hold general assemblies, elect executive boards, draft policy manifestos and hold primaries," he said.

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, vice-chairman of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said the election roadmap was likely to proceed without any disruption now that three organic bills have been cleared by the Constitutional Court.

Late last month, the court ruled in favour of the draft laws on election of MPs and the selection of senators.

On Tuesday it decided the NCPO's order to amend the organic law on political parities was constitutional.

Mr Surachai said any doubts had now been completely expunged and it was time for all concerned parties to see the country through to the election.

He said the NLA was also expected to pass a law on the national strategic plan in time and along with the reform plan that would keep moving the country forward.

"Every concerned party is trying to stay on course and things are going well. I don't see any external factor that can affect the roadmap," he said.

The NCPO said security would be stepped up after pro-election activists vowed to march from the UN office to Nang Loeng police station today to give moral support to those arrested during protests on May 22.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the activists could go ahead with their plans as long as those plans did not constitute a political gathering of five or more people.

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