Former health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan on Monday floated a proposal that she would invite veteran politicians to discuss political solutions for Thailand, as she believed the new charter – if it does make it through the upcoming referendum – would create a “controlled democracy”.

Prayut said politicians who wanted to stage any political movements should undergo judicial procedures before planning any discussions with the government.

Observers believe that Prayut was referring to the Pheu Thai Party, whose de facto leader former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been living in exile to escape a two-year sentence for abuse of power.

“Do they conform to justice procedures? They must start from there before talking to me. I cannot hold talks with violators of the law,” Prayut said.

When asked if he would block talks among politicians, Prayut said he knew politicians had been in contact with one another. “They meet in parties and at their homes,” he said.

When asked for a comment on Sudarat’s claim that if the new charter is promulgated, the existing political camp would be dissolved because new parties must be registered, Prayut said the matter was his own business. “I use my powers with honest intentions, to make the country safe and to make people happy,” he said.

When asked to confirm whether dissolving political camps was possible, Prayut cut reporters short by saying, “It’s my business. I’m not saying if it’s possible or not.”

Sudarat issued her statement at a public talk titled “How the Draft Constitution Will Direct the Government” at Mahidol University.

Referring to Sudarat’s move to hold talks among politicians, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan said no political gatherings of five or more people were allowed.

Asked if he had close ties with Sudarat, Prawit abruptly denied it.

Asked if he wanted to go into politics, Prawit said, “I say every day that I will not set up a political party.”

Sudarat said that if the new charter makes it through, then the system of checks and balances would be absent and political parties would not be able to compete based on policies because a “superboard” would restrict them.

Prawit, however, denied that the junta had initiated the idea of a “superboard” to control politicians.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said he had no confirmation of political talks being held by veteran politicians recently, saying each person had his or her own way of communicating. “But we have to look at many factors and details to see if it is legal or not,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) vice president Alongkorn Ponlaboot yesterday rejected as groundless reports that he will lobby the two major political parties to backPrayut or his deputy Prawit to become the new prime minister in exchange for amnesty.

“This rumour has no basis in fact and shakes public confidence in the NRSA. We meet political parties to create cooperation and understanding to steer the country’s national reform that has been planned for a month now. No lobbying is being done to set up a national [unity] government as rumoured. The assembly has never crossed the line of reform duties,” he said.

He also insisted that the NRSA was politically neutral, adding: “If we create public doubt, we will not be trusted. We are ready to invite smaller political parties to help with national reform.”

Alongkorn welcomed Sudarat’s offer to act as coordinator for political parties to help find solutions for Thailand. “It is good that politicians cooperate and find solutions for the country, but the NRSA will not get involved,” he said.