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:

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, investigating officers have filed with the Court a petition seeking approval for arrest warrants against Mr. Ravee, Mr. Thawaschai Promchantra and another individual. These three individuals have continued to incite protesters and led the blockade of the ENCO building, where the Ministry of Energy is located, causing damage. The Court has approved the arrest warrants and the CMPO has urged the police to expedite the arrests of these individuals.

Following the Royal Decree scheduling the advance senatorial election on 23 March and general senatorial election on 30 March, the CMPO was briefed by the Royal Thai Police on security measures for the coming election. The Royal Thai Police will set up a Center for Maintaining Peace and Order for the election in each province, as well as provide security personnel at polling stations, ballot printing offices and venues securing ballot boxes.

The CMPO has received a report from the Metropolitan Police and Provincial Police regional commands regarding the legal proceedings against the election obstructions. So far, there are 194 cases involving election obstructions (51 cases in Bangkok and 143 cases in other provinces) and 177 cases involving the failure of electoral officers to perform their duties (66 cases in Bangkok and 111 cases in other provinces). 186 persons have already faced arrest warrants. 105 persons have been brought in for questioning. 1552 Election Commission officers were found to have deliberately neglected their duties. The CMPO wished to reiterate that obstruction of elections is considered a serious crime and carries penalties of imprisonment and fines as well as 5 years of being barred from running for election.

The CMPO wished to reprove Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban for accusing the CMPO of defaming Mr. Issara Somchai for the attempted murder of Mr. Yuem Nillar. The CMPO would like to reiterate that Mr. Yuem said that he had been taken by PDRC guards from Lumpini Park and detained for 6 days at a rally site, where he was beaten and seriously injured, before finally being bound and thrown into the Bang Pakong River. Mr. Yeum later informed the press that it was Mr. Issara who ordered his associates to attack him. The Chachoengsao Provincial Court has issued arrest warrants against Mr. Issara and his associates. The CMPO only reported the facts and did not attempt to defame Mr. Issara.