Thai military leaders back February 2 election

Thai military leaders on Saturday expressed solid support for an upcoming general election. Following a seminar designed to gather public views on the country's prolonged political conflict, army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, navy chief Adm. Narong Pipatanasai, air force chief ACM Prajin Juntong and supreme commander Gen Tanasak Patimapakorn resolved to endorse the nationwide election, scheduled for Feb. 2, following last week's dissolution of parliament by acting premier Yingluck Shinawatra. "The election will certainly be held under democratic rule scheduled for February 2, following the dissolution of parliament, " concluded Gen. Tanasak. The seminar, held in the compound of the Thai Armed Forces headquarters in the northern suburbs of the Thai capital, was viewed by the military top brass as "smooth and peaceful" with different, contradictory viewpoints about the country's political conflict. Meanwhile, the supreme commander suggested that a "central committee" might be set up to help the Election Commission see to it that the nationwide election will be held in fair and clean fashion and without any vote-buying scams. He did not elaborate but said the people in all parts of the country should be encouraged to go to the polls while soldiers might join a nationwide campaign for a maximum voter turnout. Former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the anti- government protesters which call themselves the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy, told the seminar he did not agree to the election without "national reforms" being made ahead of it and vowed to eradicate "Thaksin's rule," referring to Yingluck's exiled brother, former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra.