10 March 2014

At 13:00 hrs. Mr.Tharit Pengdit, Director-General, the Department of Special Investigations, briefed the press on the outcome of the meeting of the Center For Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) earlier in the day, gist as follows:

1. Following the ruling of the Civil Court that has prevented the CMPO from performing its duties under the law, the director of the CMPO has earlier filed a petition to the Prosecutor's Office to appeal the ruling. Today, the prosecutor filed an appeal to request a stay of enforcement of the ruling. This is to reaffirm the prerogative of the executive branch in invoking the Emergency Decree.  Evidence have been gathered and will be presented to the Court to show that the demonstration is no longer peaceful, open and unarmed. It will also be shown that the Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban et al. under the charge of insurrection.

2. Following the case of Mr. Ravee Maschamadol and associates who were arrested for violating the Emergency Decree and later granted bail by the Court on the condition that they not engage in further incitement and other activities that cause public disturbances or danger, Mr. Ravee and associates have continued to incite protesters and leading the blockade of the ENCO building, where the Ministry of Energy is located, causing damage. As these actions are a flagrant violation of the Court's order, the CMPO has ordered investigating officers to petition the Court to revoke bail accordingly.

3. Following the signing of the order to annul Mr. Sehgal's residency permit by the director of the CMPO, the CMPO wished to reiterate that the authority to sign the order is under the purview of the director of the CMPO. According to Article 7 of the Emergency Decree, the authority to revoke a residency permit is under the Prime Minister, who has authorized the director of the CMPO to carry out this responsibility.