Prime Minister chaired discussion on delay of election, most participants from 70 organisations that the government has no authority to change and agreed to the February 2.

Following information is only for business security-alert purposes and not to be treated as political viewpoints.

15 January 2014: Gov discuss delay election date

TEBA Summary:

• Prime Minister chaired discussion on delay of election, most participants from 70 organisations that the government has no authority to change and agreed to the February 2. While MP Chuwit walked out as PDRC was not represented. Tomorrow (17 January), PM will provide more details.
• Shutdown of more government offices is expected and tomorrow (17 January) with Revenue Department and CAT are targeted.
• PDRC is trying to avoid any business affect where possible.
• Supporters from government agencies and state enterprises for the protest.
• It is still highly likely to remain for at least 2 days.

Actual Activities as it happened:

• At 0.10am, the Erawan Centre reported a clash near Hua Chang Bridge, on Phyathai Road.
• An explosive device was thrown at the Sukhumvit Soi 31 housing compound of Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva shortly before midnight on Tuesday, but no one was injured.
• The Foreign Ministry has suggested people postpone plans to apply for new passports during the Bangkok shutdown campaign.Shopping centres and food outlets near major protest landmarks enjoyed brisk business on the first day of the Bangkok shutdown.
• Anti-government protesters under the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) arrived at the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security on Wednesday morning, only to find it had been closed since Tuesday evening and not reopened.
• A meeting to discuss the Election Commission’s (EC) proposal for the government to issue a royal decree to postpone the Feb 2 election, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has begun at Royal Thai Air Force headquarters.
• The election would not be delayed from February 2, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Wednesday.
• Bank of Thailand Wednesday announced the near-normal operations of commercial banks as the “Bangkok shutdown” runs into the third day.
• Army Chief Pol General Prayuth Chan-ocha Wednesday deployed soldiers to keep security and provide medical assistance to protesters gathered outside the Office of the Money Laundering Commission.
• Medical workers who have joined the anti-government protest are being warned not to use rude words to intimidate their rivals as it can be construed as a violation of human rights, the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) said Wednesday..
• The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) on Wednesday said its security measures adopted to provide safety for workers and visitors in the Ratchaprasong shopping and commercial district have been effective and motorists can still reach the area using four specific routes.
• CAT Telecom, which runs Thailand’s international telecommunications infrastructure, will become a target for protesters on Thursday, as the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) continues its campaign to oust caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
• PDSC has given up on Cheang Wattana protest site.
• Most participants at a government-sponsored meeting on Wednesday agreed the Feb 2 general election should not be postponed and that the government has no authority to change it.