(Updated) Feb 2 election will not be postponed. Shooting incident outside meeting venue
The February 2 general election will go ahead, a meeting between the PM and EC has just decided. Earlier a there was a shooting incident outside the meeting venue as protesters gathered there.
The February 2 general election will go ahead, a meeting between the PM and EC has just decided. Earlier a there was a shooting incident outside the meeting venue as protesters gathered there.
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PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban says negotiations between police and Luang Pu Buddha Issara aimed at reopening the Government Complex at Chaeng Wattana may continue, but other rally sites will not hold talks with anyone. APICHIT JINAKUL
Updates
17:15
Deputy caretaker Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana (left) and Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn announce that despite major differences in opinion between the caretaker government and the EC, the Feb 2 election will go ahead as scheduled. CHANAT KATANYU
Deputy caretaker Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn have just announced that the February 2 election will go ahead as scheduled despite obvious difficulties. Mr Pongthep said postponing it would cause even more problems.
Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn made it clear that the EC itself was in favour of postponing the election. Even if it goes ahead, he said parliament might not be able to convene for up to 3 to 4 months as voting will clearly not finish in many districts this Sunday.
Still, the EC will try to prevent violence and will hold second elections for voters in areas where protesters disrupt the polls or where candidates have been unable to register, Mr Somchai added.
The PM didn't attend the press conference after the EC meeting as she rushed off for another appointment. Busy day. CHANAT KATANYU
15:50
A victim is helped at the scene of the shooting near the Army Club TAWEECHAI TAWATPAKORN
17:10 Some of the items retrieved by protesters after the alleged shooter was captured. PATIPAT JANTHONG
According to Blue Sky TV reporting from the scene, there was a shooting incident outside the Army Club at about 2:40pm.
According to witnesses two suspicious individuals were seen on or near a walkover over the highway. Guards tried to stop them, they resisted and shots were fired, injuring a protester in the leg and grazing the leg of another who was saved from injured by a cigarette lighter. A chase followed and the shooter was captured and badly injured by the angry crowd. He was later taken to Ratchathewi Hospital by some very brave rescue workers who may have saved his life. The other man escaped.
A motorcycle belonging to the shooter was seized and significant evidence was found, including a gun magazine, two police radios with identification on one of them, a small camera and a motor-cycle taxi jacket. Rally leaders have just said that the man at the hospital has been identified as a policeman. (He has been identified as an undercover policeman assigned to take photos of the rally. He has broken ribs and fractured skull but is out of danger. The PRDC guard was shot on the left side of the stomach and is awaiting surgery. He, too, will recover.)
Outside the Army Club the situation is tense, but inside the meeting with the Election Commission did get underway. CHANAT KATANYU
The five election commissioners listen to the government side. CHANAT KATANYU
Meanwhile, PDRC protesters have continued their rally outside the Army Club where the cabinet held its meeting this morning. Apparently they have been told that the Prime Minister is still inside, together with some cabinet ministers and Election Commission members. The protesters have been inching their way forward, but have not had any confrontation with police or army officials.
13:08
The PDRC protesters at the entrance of the Army Club. PHRAKRIT JUNTAWONG
Reports are coming in that PDRC protesters outside the Army Club are demanding the cabinet members leave the Army Club and the meeting with the Election Commission be cancelled. At least unconfirmed report says that the meeting has indeed be cancelled. More later.
12:55
Vendors who say their business has been negatively affected by the protests file complaints at the Crime Suppression department, following a suggestion by DSI boss Tharit Pengdit. TAWATCHAI KHEMGUMNERD
The prime minister held a cabinet meeting this morning at the highly-secure Army Club but not long after she and her cabinet arrived, large numbers PDRC protesters came for a visit. They have stayed outside making their complaints known through loudspeakers. CMPO director Chalerm Yubamrung was the main target.
Since the Army Club is to be the venue for this afternoon's meeting with the Election Commission it was unclear for a while where the meeting would take place. It has now apparently been confirmed that the meeting place will remain the same.
Tough talk all around as election negotiations begin
As meetings to consider postponing the February 2 general election begin, leaders on both sides are talking tough.
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban has flatly rejected negotiations with the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) on allowing government offices blockaded by protesters to reopen.
"Protesters at all PDRC rally sites will definitely not negotiate. Don't waste your time contacting us because we won't talk with you. We will continue to protest so that government officials no longer serve as a tool for the Thaksin regime to do harm to the country," Mr Suthep said.
At the same time, CMPO director and caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung announced that teams of raiders will be dispatched to round up the PDRC-led protesters laying siege to various government offices in 72 hours.
Security has been tightened further at the main PDRC Pathumwan rally site as violence continues and the CMPO threatens arrests. PATIPAT JANTHONG
He said he would order the action using powers available under the emergency decree, but insisted the move would not equate to a crackdown on protesters since no weapons would be used.
PDRC core leader Thavorn Senneam, however, yesterday asked the Civil Court to nullify the state of emergency and prohibit the use of force to disperse anti-government protesters. A ruling is scheduled for Thursday morning.
This afternoon, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a group of her ministers are scheduled to hold talks with all five Election Commissioners on the possibility of rescheduling the general election.
Government sources have hinted that the prime minister might be open to a rescheduling but only under tough conditions. She would demand assurances that the protests stop, the Democrats pledge to end their election boycott, the EC would be responsible for the additional costs and that no legal action would be filed against her and her cabinet since there are no clear laws governing the scrapping of one election to call another.
Any delay, however, will not be popular among key members of her party.
Thai PBS reports this morning that Pheu Thai party leader and caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has threatened to bring upcountry supporters to carry out his own demonstration if the February 2nd election is postponed.
Information adapted from various Bangkok Post stories
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