Thai polling agency to propose 6 month delay for February election

The Thai Election Commission (EC) said on Monday that it would propose a six-month delay for the Feb. 2 general election at the meeting with acting premier Yingluck Shinawatra scheduled for Tuesday. The two sides will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at a venue yet to be fixed, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, commissioner in charge of election management, was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying. The six-month postponement was said to be considerably long enough for a caretaking government to reign. Somchai also said the election should be started all over again and the results of the advance voting should be canceled. The EC has persistently urged Yingluck's cabinet to reschedule the general election to avoid anticipated unrests and violence at polling units, especially those in the capital and southern provinces. Clashes occurred between protesters and pro-government supporters during advance votings on Sunday, resulting in the death of Suthin Tharathin, a core protest leader, and the injury of 13 others. Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has pledged to closely work with the government-run Center for Managing Peace and Order (CMPO) to further strengthen security. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Service Center, clashes between pro-government supporters and protesters since Nov. 30, 2013 have left at least 10 people killed and 571 others injured. Acting labor minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Monday warned protesters to stop blocking government offices within 72 hours before an order of raiding takes effect. Chalerm, who is also director of the CMPO, said protesters would be arrested if they continue blocking government offices but no weapons would be used.