Protest leader: Political reform first, election later

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BANGKOK, Dec 17 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has reaffirmed that the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) did not reject the election but want it to be postponed to open the

way for political reform which could take at least a year or a year and a half to complete.

Mr Suthep, in his statement to protesters at the Democracy Monument last night, said the PDRC opposed the election which will be organised under the existing system but want a new system which will prevent corrupt politicians from politics.

He claimed that the existing rules of election has opened ways for vote buying which was the cause of corruption.

Once some laws have been rewritten, some Articles in the Constitution have been amended in accordance with the political reform, the general election could be held and democracy could move forward, the protest leader said.

The former Democrat MP also said the PDRC wants a free and fair election in order to get good MPs and good government. Therefore, he stated that the poll should be delayed for reform which could take a year or a year and a half.

The urgent matters needing to be addressed were how to ensure the free and fair election; corruption eradication; decentralisation and giving more power to the people; to narrow the income gap in society, and to

reform the structure of the police, he said.

Mr Suthep claimed that the PDRC is gaining more support from the people and that provincial committees of the PDRC have been set up in many provinces nationwide as well as in Los Angeles.