Arrest warrants for the culprits have been issued based on images from CCTV recordings.

“At this point, it is quite clear that the killer wanted his asset [the phone],” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn said yesterday.

He added that Wasin’s family and friends say he did not have any personal conflicts with anyone.

On Wednesday night, Wasin walked out of his office and crossed a road in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district to withdraw cash and buy something at a convenience store. As he was about to walk back to his office, a motorcycle stopped in front of him and a man riding pillion threatened him with a knife.

Witnesses said they saw a fight break out and the man on the motorcycle repeatedly stabbed Wasin. The victim sustained wounds on his back and neck.

“I never thought that such a thing would happen to my family,” the victim’s father, Jesada Luangjame, 66, said tearfully. Wasin was his youngest child and only son.

“He was always a good boy. He was also hard working,” he said.

After graduating from Srinakharinwirot University, Wasin worked as a loader at Suvarnabhumi Airport but he quit his job in September to prepare himself for a pilot-training course. However, last month he decided to start an e-commerce business with his friends, which he believed he could do while simultaneously training as a pilot.

His office is about 200 metres from the scene of the crime.

Sanit said he was confident that police would be able to apprehend the culprits because the brutal robbery was recorded on CCTV cameras.

CCTV footage shows the culprits fleeing the scene towards the frontage road along the Art Narong-Ram Indra Expressway Route, Sanit said. They left behind a crash helmet and did not touch the victim’s cash, car key or wristwatch.

“Police are checking recordings from CCTV cameras in nearby areas. We believe the two culprits are still hiding in Bangkok,” he said.

“We are investigating the case. We will bring the culprits to justice,” said Pol Colonel Sarawut Jindakham, the acting superintendent of the Kokkram Police Station.

The PM made the remarks to Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie when she called on him at Government House yesterday, Deputy Government Spokesman Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said.

This is the first time the prime minister has hinted that the elections were not likely to be held this year as set out in the road map.

In the discussion with the Canadian ambassador, the premier spoke about the country’s political situation and stressed on the implementation of the road map and national reforms, the spokesman said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he was not worried about the next general election being delayed until next year, as long as the political “road map” remained intact.

He said the next national vote would be held in 2018 if the timeframe allowed for the drafting of its organic laws – 240 days – and the preparations for the voting – 150 days – were fully utilised.

The count for the timeframes start after the new constitution is promulgated, which is expected early next month. The draft charter was submitted for royal endorsement in early November and His Majesty the King has 90 days to decide whether to endorse it.

The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) is drafting the four organic laws required under the new constitution for holding the next election – ones on political parties, the Election Commission, the election of MPs, and the appointment of senators. The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will have 60 days to complete deliberations on those draft laws.

“Don’t be overly worried. You should get worried when they say the road map is no longer valid. I understand that the prime minister remains firm on the current road map,” Abhisit said yesterday.

He said the new law on political parties was expected to be completed first to allow political parties to prepare for the next election. “I think the drafters know the process well. We should not be worried too much,” the Democrat leader said.

Abhisit, a former prime minister, said as far as he knew the people responsible for holding the election were planning a smooth poll. “After the four organic laws are completed, it would be time to start counting down to the election,” he added.

Meanwhile, NLA members said they were convinced the next election would be held this year, as had been originally planned under the road map set by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

General Noppadon Inthapanya, who is also an NLA whip, said he believed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would exercise his power as the NCPO chief to make sure that the next election could be held this year.

He said the NLA members would have to work overtime to ensure deliberations on the organic laws were completed within the timeframe under the road map.

Wanlop Tangkhananurak, another NLA member, said he was sure the next election would not be delayed.

He said he did not think the CDC would need the maximum timeframe of eight months to complete the four organic laws. “At most, they could complete the work in six months. There are no reasons for a delay,” he said.

“As you know, campaigns can be frustrating, so when should they really be held? If campaigning starts today, they [politicians] will only be scolding each other,” the premier said after a Cabinet meeting. “Everybody first has to understand the steps provided under the [junta’s] road map.”

The charter, organic laws and procedures on preparing for elections must first be put in place before candidates are selected and conducting campaigns, he said.

Prayut added that if the new constitution and organic laws somehow failed to go into effect in line with the road-map timetable, then it would simply mean that things could not be completed as stated in the road map.

He said he could not draw any conclusions from the government’s efforts to follow the political calendar because there were many draft laws awaiting deliberation.

“And who said I postponed the road map? Those who want to oust me or those pushing for an earlier election should first explain what they’ll do to reform the country or solve the country’s problems,” he said.

The country has been under military rule since May 2014, when the Army seized power after months of political turmoil and mass demonstrations.

Earlier this week, the junta-appointed NLA suggested it would need at least 15 months to finalise new election laws, which would push the planned poll back to mid-2018.

The premier, who led the deposing of the last elected government, also lashed out at political parties for demanding an election in the near future following remarks from the NLA that the election might be held next year. The parties have been calling on the junta to keep its promise to hold elections late this year.

Prayut, however, hit back by saying the parties were only hungry to return to power and had no idea how they would solve the country’s long-standing problems or address the reform agenda like his government has been doing.

“They never did what ought to have been done and here we are solving what they left for us,” Prayut said. “Go and find out who is able to take over after me. Whoever takes over will have to address these issues like I have been doing. He will also have to answer to me.”

“Fighting with you [politicians] is a waste of time. But I’m tolerant because I play the part of a bridge for the people to cross. I won’t give up,” he said.

He went on to say that more reforms had to be completed and that if politicians wanted the elections to be held soon, then they should cooperate with him on addressing national reforms. “I have promised to return happiness to the people, but whether [elections will be held] sooner or later will depend on the process. The road map is the road map. Don’t listen to what anyone else might have to say,” the prime minister said.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said that even if the election is deferred, it would not have an effect on the international community’s posture towards Thailand.

“They will understand and acknowledge the development of the country. Any changes won’t affect their confidence, so it’s not necessary to have an official explanation,” he said.

However, other government figures denied suggestions that a general election planned for this year would be postponed until mid-2018.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters there was no change to the junta’s road map to return the country to democracy and civilian rule with an election later this year.

“We can’t move it. It has its timetable. Please don’t imagine [things]. There’s no point to postpone [it],” Prawit, who is also defence minister, told reporters.

Army chief General Chalermchai Sittisart also said the lawmakers’ remarks were mere personal opinions that should not be taken as an official position. There was no reason to postpone the election, he said.

RECONCILIATION WILL be the junta government’s main thrust again this year, along with the national strategy and reforms, said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday.

He said reconciliation was essential to engage all sectors in steering the national strategy forward.

To help illustrate the country’s direction, Prayut drew a rough chart on scrap paper demonstrating existing and new bodies that would oversee the strategy, reform and reconciliation. Exact details were not available.

Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the new, elaborate structure would help prioritise the government’s efforts in the three areas of reconciliation, national strategy and reform. The change would be in line with the government’s intention to give the public a better understanding of processes in light of the coming 20-year national strategy, Sansern added.

The structure would also ease the workload of deputy prime ministers, who are overseeing reform and national-strategy schemes with a new workflow allowing them to focus more on policy, Sansern said.

In the premier’s chart, the junta’s existing Strategy Steering Committee, set up in 2015 and chaired by Prayut, is the most senior body, which will control the national-strategy committee and the other committees that would be preparing national reform and reconciliation.

An additional committee overseeing national reforms, reconciliation and national strategy was first mentioned last week. The new committee, which will be formed under the sweeping Article 44 powers granted to Prayut by the interim charter, is meant prepare and manage proposed reforms.

However, as Prayut has yet to issue the order, he said he planned to add a reconciliation agenda to the body.

The committee, initially comprising 19 members, will probably be expanded, Sansern said, adding that representatives from the public and political sectors could be invited to join.

The two bodies would prioritise and manage functional agendas under their areas of responsibility before delivering the agendas to ministers overseeing six working groups. The working groups would be set up in line with strategic goals designated in the upcoming 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan draft, Sansern said.

The two bodies will also have their performances tracked by a follow-up committee, he added. With the Minister to the PM’s Office Suvit Maesincee as secretary, that committee would also consist of officials from the Council of State, Bureau Budget and the National Economic and Social Development Board, according to Sansern.

Meanwhile, Prayut stressed that Article 44 was crucial to advance reform agendas, but it would not be used to grant amnesty to political actors in the sense of reconciliation.

“Would people of this country accept that?” Prayut asked. “If yes, then we’ll talk about that. But if not, we can’t do anything about that. How could we get the desired achievement if there is no mutual agreement?”