Thailand to go to polls in December to restore democracy

Bangkok, Mar 30 (UNI) Elections to restore democracy in Thailand will be held in December this year, the country's military rulers have declared amidst growing public disenchantment with their coup d'etat last year.

After a meeting with coup leader and Army Chief Sonthi Boonyaratakalin yesterday, interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the polls would take place either on 16 or 22 December.

The election of a new Parliament would be organised after a national referendum on the constitution being drafted by a panel appointed by the military rulers. The referendum would be held by September, the prime minister said.

The announcement of a specific date for the much-awaited democratic election came as the civilian government and the coup leaders who appointed it faced flak from the media and civil society activists for not delivering on their promises.

Widely welcomed by the urban middle-class, the 19 September military takeover was justified as the unavoidable answer to the alleged chronic misuse of public office by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, with public prosecutors yet to prove any of the corruption charges against Mr Thaksin, his family and senior members of the ousted government, the interim government and the coup leaders have begun facing public criticism.

A number of U-turns on key administrative and policy decisions by the interim government since December have also adversely affected its image.

Pressure has also been mounted on the government by supporters of the ousted prime minister who have been denied permission to launch a satellite TV station.

Executives of the so-called People's TV have joined civil society anti-coup activists in organising their own weekend public demonstration against the coup and the stifling of freedom of expression.

The growing crowd at the People's TV rallies are causing concern among the military rulers that these could spin out of hand into street protests in a manner similar to those organised by an anti-Mr Thaksin media tycoon which led to the military intervention last year.

However, the interim Prime Minister has not agreed to a suggestion by Gen Sonthi, head of Thailand's all-powerful Council for National Security (CNS) to declare emergency rule in Bangkok to prevent mass demonstrations.

The suggestion, made publicly yesterday on the eve of the weekly Friday rally by People's TV was criticised by civil society activists and Thailand's National Human Rights Commission.

Prime Minister Surayud said the interim government was trying to create understanding among different groups in society. ''I don't want to see confrontations or a showdown between Thai people,'' he added.

Bangkok city and police authorities have nonetheless slapped a ban on public rallies at the famous Sanaam Luang public ground, the traditional venue for public gatherings.

UNI