BANGKOK, April 14 – The opposition Democrat Party today called on Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party to assign a fully-authorised member to attend a discussion on the upcoming general election, initiated by the Election Commission (EC).
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Indrakomalsut said party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will join the meeting, scheduled for next Tuesday, if the Pheu Thai leader, or a party executive with full power, also attends.
He also called for a live broadcast of the forum so people will be aware of politicians’ sincerity towards the nationwide polls.
The EC has invited all political parties to dialogue on preparations for the new general election after the Feb 2 nationwide balloting was annulled by the Constitution Court.
Mr Chavanond said the political crisis was not related to the Democrats’ decision not to contest in the Feb 2 election, as charged by the Pheu Thai Party.
He said the ruling party’s behaviour, including its disrespect to the monarch and corruption, during the two-year administration has deteriorated the country’s political atmosphere.
Pheu Thai deputy spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been the victim of attacks by the opposition which has repeatedly lost in general elections but wanted to rule the country through an “unconventional procedure.”
He was referring to a recent statement by Mr Thaksin, extending good wishes to the Thai people to mark Songkran, the Thai New Year.
Mr Thaksin called on the Thai people to end their conflicts and look to the future, said Mr Anusorn who insisted that the ousted premier’s Songkran statement did not mean to attack the Democrat Party.
He charged the Democrat Party with manipulating people to remove the popularly-elected government and boycott two general elections in eight years.
He also blamed the EC for delaying the election, resulting in a political vacuum and a dead-end for Thailand.
