The February 2 general election will go ahead, a meeting between the PM and EC has just decided. Earlier a there was a shooting incident outside the meeting venue as protesters gathered there.
Deputy caretaker Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn have just announced that the February 2 election will go ahead as scheduled despite obvious difficulties. Mr Pongthep said postponing it would cause even more problems.
Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn made it clear that the EC itself was in favour of postponing the election. Even if it goes ahead, he said parliament might not be able to convene for up to 3 to 4 months as voting will clearly not finish in many districts this Sunday.
Still, the EC will try to prevent violence and will hold second elections for voters in areas where protesters disrupt the polls or where candidates have been unable to register, Mr Somchai added.
According to Blue Sky TV reporting from the scene, there was a shooting incident outside the Army Club at about 2:40pm.
According to witnesses two suspicious individuals were seen on or near a walkover over the highway. Guards tried to stop them, they resisted and shots were fired, injuring a protester in the leg and grazing the leg of another who was saved from injured by a cigarette lighter. A chase followed and the shooter was captured and badly injured by the angry crowd. He was later taken to Ratchathewi Hospital by some very brave rescue workers who may have saved his life. The other man escaped.
A motorcycle belonging to the shooter was seized and significant evidence was found, including a gun magazine, two police radios with identification on one of them, a small camera and a motor-cycle taxi jacket. Rally leaders have just said that the man at the hospital has been identified as a policeman. (He has been identified as an undercoverpoliceman assigned to take photos of the rally. He has broken ribs and fractured skull but is out of danger. The PRDC guard was shot on the left side of the stomach and is awaiting surgery. He, too, will recover.)
Meanwhile, PDRC protesters have continued their rally outside the Army Club where the cabinet held its meeting this morning. Apparently they have been told that the Prime Minister is still inside, together with some cabinetministers and Election Commission members. The protesters have been inching their way forward, but have not had any confrontation with police or army officials.
Reports are coming in that PDRC protesters outside the Army Club are demanding the cabinet members leave the Army Club and the meeting with the Election Commission be cancelled. At least unconfirmed report says that the meeting has indeed be cancelled. More later.
The prime minister held a cabinet meeting this morning at the highly-secure Army Club but not long after she and hercabinet arrived, large numbers PDRC protesters came for a visit. They have stayed outside making their complaintsknown through loudspeakers. CMPO director Chalerm Yubamrung was the main target.
Since the Army Club is to be the venue for this afternoon's meeting with the Election Commission it was unclear for a while where the meeting would take place. It has now apparently been confirmed that the meeting place will remain the same.
Tough talk all around as election negotiations begin
As meetings to consider postponing the February 2 general election begin, leaders on both sides are talking tough.
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban has flatly rejectednegotiations with the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) on allowing government offices blockaded byprotesters to reopen.
"Protesters at all PDRC rally sites will definitely not negotiate. Don't waste your time contacting us because we won't talk with you. We will continue to protest so that government officials no longer serve as a tool for the Thaksin regimeto do harm to the country," Mr Suthep said.
At the same time, CMPO director and caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung announced that teams ofraiders will be dispatched to round up the PDRC-led protesters laying siege to various government offices in 72 hours.
He said he would order the action using powers available under the emergency decree, but insisted the move would not equate to a crackdown on protesters since no weapons would be used.
PDRC core leader Thavorn Senneam, however, yesterday asked the Civil Court to nullify the state of emergencyand prohibit the use of force to disperse anti-government protesters. A ruling is scheduled for Thursday morning.
This afternoon, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a group of her ministers are scheduled to hold talks with all five Election Commissioners on the possibility of rescheduling the general election.
Government sources have hinted that the prime minister might be open to a rescheduling but only under toughconditions. She would demand assurances that the protests stop, the Democrats pledge to end their electionboycott, the EC would be responsible for the additional costs and that no legal action would be filed against her and her cabinet since there are no clear laws governing the scrapping of one election to call another.
Any delay, however, will not be popular among key members of her party.
Thai PBS reports this morning that Pheu Thai party leader and caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has threatened to bring upcountry supporters to carry out his own demonstration if the February 2nd election is postponed.