Announcement of the National Council for Peace and Order

No. 57/2557

Subject: the Continuing Validity of Certain Organic Laws

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            As the Announcement of the NCPO No. 11/2557 dated 22 May 2014 on the termination of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand indicated that certain sections of the Constitution remain valid, in particular the determination that all Courts shall continue to function and adjudicate on cases as prescribed by the law and the announcements of the NCPO and that independent agencies and other organizations established by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand  B.E. 2550 (2007) shall continue to function; and as the Announcement of the NCPO No. 24/2557 dated 23 May 2014 on the continuing validity of Organic Laws did not nullify nor order that any Organic Law be terminated, but stipulated that five pieces of legislation are to remain valid until further notice; in order to ensure that Courts, independent agencies and other organizations established by the Constitution can continue to function justly and without disruption, the NCPO hereby announces that the following Organic Laws are to remain valid:

            1. The Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives and the Installation of Senators, B.E. 2550 (2007) continues to be valid until further amendment or nullification, but the election of members of the House of Representatives and the election and appointment of senators shall be temporarily suspended.

            The Election Commission shall have the authority to determine or extend, as it deems appropriate, the time period for submitting revenue-expense statements by senatorial candidates in the election according to the Royal Decree on the General Election of Senators B.E. 2557 (2014).

            2. The Organic Act on Political Parties B.E. 2550 (2007) continues to be valid until further amendment or nullification. Furthermore, in order to maintain peace and order, all existing political parties are prohibited from holding meetings or undertaking any political activity; the establishment or registration of prospective political parties shall be temporarily suspended; the allocation of monetary aid to political parties from the Fund for the Development of Political Parties shall also be temporarily suspended. The Election Commission shall be consulted should there be any questions.

            3. The Organic Act on Referendum B.E. 2552 (2009) continues to be valid until further amendment or nullification.

            4. All petitions, cases, and legal proceedings or other acts under the abovementioned Organic Laws which have already been considered by the Election Commission, the Registrar of the Political Parties, and the Courts before 22 May 2014 shall remain under authority and jurisdiction of the Election Commission, the Registrar of the Political parties, and the Courts to hear and adjudicate.

            5. The Supreme Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate cases concerning elections and revocation of the right to vote in the election of members of the House of Representative or Senators. Procedures for adjudication shall be in accordance with the rules prescribed by the general assembly of the Supreme Court of Justice, using the inquisitorial system and in a prompt manner.

            Where the Election Commission has announced the election results but deems it appropriate to revoke the right to vote of a Senate candidate, the Commission shall file a petition to Supreme Court of Justice for adjudication.

            This announcement shall take effect from 22 May 2014 onwards.

                                        Announced on 7 June B.E. 2557 (2014)

                                                                     General Prayut Chan-O-Cha

                                                  Head of the National Council for Peace and Order