Opposition snub EC
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday called on representatives of political parties to meet today to discuss a new date for the general election, according to a memo circulated by EC deputy secretary-general Pokkrong Sunthornsut.
Opposition parties refused to join. The memo, to all EC deputy secretary-generals, said EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, had issued an invitation to the Cabinet secretary-general and all political party leaders to meet today at 2pm at EC headquarters. It said the election should be rescheduled because the original date of October 22 interfered with Ramadan, as noted by the Islamic Committee of Thailand. A Democrat Party spokesman Theptai Senpong, said the party would not attend the meeting, as scheduling the election day was the duty of the EC. However, if the date was set for October 29, as many expected, it wanted the EC to open candidate registration not more than 45 days beforehand to allow more candidates to meet the 90-day party membership requirement. Mahachon Party director Thaweephong Wichaidit said the party would not join the meeting either. The EC held a meeting on May 15 and agreed to schedule the election for October 22, but that day falls at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Moreover, the country's three highest courts rejected their decision and said the commissioners should resign for organising the flawed April 2 poll.
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