The Election Commission (EC) has resolved not to allow a live broadcast of its meeting with representatives of political parties scheduled for this afternoon to discuss a framework for a new election, reports said.
The resolution was made at an EC meeting which began at 10am. First item on the agenda for consideration was the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order's (Capo) order that Channels 9 and 11 television stations broadcast live today's meeting between election commissioner and political parties.
The meeting reportedly decided to defy Capo's order and not allow the live broadcast. The decision was based on the fact that the EC had never allowed a live broadcast of its meetings with political party leaders before.
Moreover, today's meeting, due to start at 2pm, was an internal discussion intended to hear opinions and reasons from political parties for consideration.
However, members of the news media would be allowed to listen to the discussion.
Sixty-four of the 70 registered political parties were reported to have agreed to send representatives to the meeting.
At the government offices complex on Chaeng Wattana road, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) used four buses to block the road and cordon off members of the People's Radio for Democracy Group (PRDG).
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, EC member for election management, said the venue for today's meeting would not be changed. The EC had asked the Royal Thai Police Office and Thung Song Hong police to provide security, he added.