PM refuses to comfirm end to political gathering ban

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday refused to reveal when the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would lift its ban on political gatherings, which has prevented political parties from making official moves since the 2014 coup. 
The premier said that despite the ban, politicians had still been “doing their things” although in a low-key manner. 
“Do you think they haven’t done anything for the past three years?” he asked. 
Prayut insisted that the NCPO would make sure that all election processes follow procedures stipulated in the 2017 charter. 
While the charter says that an election must be held within 150 days after four essential organic laws are enacted, it does not say how much time legislators have to finish deliberating those laws. 
Prayut promised last month that the election would be held in November next year. 
So far, two of the four organic laws are already enacted, involving the Election Commission and political parties. The new EC law resulted in all former commissioners being removed. Applications for the new commissioners have been open since mid-October, but no one has applied so far. 
Yesterday, Prayut said the new commissioners are needed to line up rules and regulations for the general election. 
“We have to wait for them to work and ensure that the election will run smoothly,” he said. The premier also called on all sides to “stop all the hatred” and to “move forward to perfect democracy with a government with good governance and transparency”.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan echoed the premier’s remarks, saying he could not say when the NCPO would deliberate lifting the ban on political gatherings. 
He said the timing was “not yet right”.However, he said political parties could at present carry out certain activities under the law, such as the registration of party members.
Prawit urged politicians to wait for the right time to lift the ban and said this would follow the government’s road map.The deputy PM said there were still some “disturbances” in the form of opposing political sides attacking each other.
Chief charter-drafter Meechai Ruchupan said the junta ban on political gatherings would not have much impact on political activities in regard to the coming election, as “solutions were available”.
He said the new political party law allowed the Election Commission to extend the statutory preparation period by a further 180 days by making an announcement to that effect in an emergency.
Another option is for the EC to shorten the period of time for political campaigning ahead of a national poll.
“I don’t believe that they [political parties] would have much trouble [getting things organised in time]. They might just feel worried, that’s it,” Meechai said.