BANGKOK, March 18 – Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said he will end his attempt to mediate political conflicts if the proposal of six independent agencies to solve the crisis is rejected by the caretaker government and anti-government movement.
Mr Somchai made remarks as he is sending a letter to the caretaker government and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) today regarding the agreement of six constitutional organisations to propose setting up a non-partisan committee to collect proposals from both sides and adjust them until a conclusion is mutually reached.
The decision was made yesterday when the six agencies — the Ombudsman, the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, the Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor General — met to discuss a way out of the country’s political deadlock.
Mr Somchai said there are seven days, until March 24, for both sides to consider the proposal and that the reply letters proposing list of 10 neutral persons from the government and the PDRC will be opened publicly at the same time.
If both parties reject the idea, Mr Somchai said he and six organisations will end their role, saying that they have done their best.
Mr Somchai reiterated that dialogue is still the best way to solve the problem.
As the Constitutional Court has set its ruling on the legality of Thailand’s Feb 2 general election tomorrow, Mr Somchai said Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen and his legal team will appear in court to clarify the agency operations to hold the election.
Mr Somchai said he believes the court could rule in two possible ways – EC could go ahead with the election or the election on Feb 2 was unconstitutional.
If the court give green light, the EC is ready to hold election immediately. For six provinces, the poll could be held for April 27.
But if the court rules that the election is unlawful, the poll agency is also ready to organise the new election.
