The First Court and Appeals Courts had earlier found the three defendants – Veerakarn Musikapong, 71, Jatuporn Prompan, 54, and Nattawut Saikua, 44 – guilty of defaming Watchara Phetthong during their television programmes in November 2009 concerning the late prime minister, Samak Sundaravej.

The courts sentenced them to a year in jail but suspended the punishment for two years, as well as ordering each of them to pay Watchara compensation of Bt600,000.

The senior Democrat had, however, sought Bt1 million in compensation from them.

The plaintiff took the case to the Supreme Court, which was scheduled to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.  However, Watchara’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that his client wished to withdraw the suits as he and the defendants had been able to settle the matter out of court.

The Supreme Court then ruled to delay the reading of the verdict.

The South has been racked by violence since early 2004.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan met the steering committee on the deep South before flying to the two provinces.

Though no suspects have been arrested, Prawit said the committee had concluded that the recent incident was related to the ongoing violence in the region and had nothing to do with politics.

“Since they could not do it [engage in violence] in the deep South, they moved to new locations,” Prawit said yesterday.

National Police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and his deputy Srivara Ransibrahmanakul also flew to the two provinces, and came to the same conclusion that the bombings had nothing to do with politics or the upcoming election.

Srivara added there were no early warnings from the intelligence and the police had no clue who was behind the bombings.

Improvised explosive devices, or pipe bombs, either exploded or were found at 11 locations in Phatthalung province. Seven more were found in the neighbouring province of Satun, of which five exploded.

Police inspect the area after an overnight explosion outside a provincial police station in the southern Thai province of Satun on March 10, 2019. // AFP PHOTO

Since early 2004, insurgents have orchestrated violence mostly in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla, killing nearly 7,000 people. It’s rare to see such incidents take place in other provinces in the South.

Phatthalung is predominantly Buddhist and Satun is mostly populated by Malay-Muslims and relatively peaceful.

Prawit’s adviser, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said military intelligence had recently noticed that insurgents from the deep South were starting to attack the upper South, adding they had safe houses in several locations in the new areas.

“We also have good relations with neighbouring countries to provide strict checks at border crossings,” he said.

Security officials in Satun and Phatthalung fanned out yesterday to collect more evidence from the bombing sites as well as seek more clues and leads about the suspects. Officials have reportedly questioned many people in the area, but have failed to pinpoint any suspects so far. Images from surveillance cameras at the scene have also failed to provide any useful leads, as the persons captured on film mostly wore helmets to cover their faces, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Narathiwat province, officials found banners in Malay that read: “110 tahun tergadainya bangsa patani” or 110 years of sacrificing Patani, hanging in several locations. Similar words were seen sprayed on walls in many locations.

The insurgents want to use these banners as a symbol to mark the Anglo-Siamese Treaty signed on March 10, 1909 between then-Siam and the British empire handing the Sultanate of Patani over to Siam, an official said.

Prior to the March 24 general election, Thailand is holding advance voting in the Kingdom on Sunday, while overseas voting is scheduled from March 4-17.

Parit Wacharasindhu, a Democrat Party candidate in Bangkok’s constituency 13, yesterday said a printed document distributed to voters in London, showing the names of candidates, was flawed and left the voters confused

As an instance, Parit pointed out that information about him – his photo, name, number and his party name – were not on the same page.

The candidates’ name-list distributed to voters that caused confusion.

“I’m not the only one; even candidates from other parties are affected. It could lead to confusion among voters or they may pick the wrong number for their chosen candidate,” Parit posted on his Facebook wall.

A similar problem was encountered by Future Forward Party candidate Nittcha Boonlue, a candidate in the same constituency as Parit. She posted on her Facebook that the party name above her photo was misleading and could have led voters to misunderstand that she was a candidate of that party.

Niphatphon Suwanchana, a candidate in Bangkok’s constituency 16 from the Seri Ruam Thai Party, yesterday filed a complaint with the EC, seeking corrections to the document.

He said a voter had asked him which party he represented, as the document showed him representing the New Phalang Dhamma Party.

“The mistake would affect the results of my party. I want to know how the EC would take responsibility for these shortcomings, as advance voting is going to be held in Thailand on Sunday,” he said.

In response to the complaints, the EC yesterday held an urgent meeting and ordered an investigation into the misleading information in the candidate name-list document. It urged voters to download the “Smart Vote” application to check information about candidates.

In Kuala Lumpur, reports said around 4,000 Thai voters formed a long queue in front of the Thai embassy as they registered to cast their ballots on Saturday. But their enthusiasm to vote was overshadowed by a photo circulated in social media of a cardboard box being erected to serve as polling booth.

Netizens questioned the legality of using a cardboard box and criticised the poor preparation by the authorities.

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma defended the move, saying using a cardboard box as a voting booth may not look good, but it was not illegal. The boxes were used to create additional voting booths to accommodate more voters, he added.

To accommodate the thousands of overseas Thai voters, the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur extended the time to cast ballots from 5pm to 9.30pm and until the last registered voter had cast their vote, according to Busadee Santipitaks, director-general of the Department of Information.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday reiterated that he would not support Prayut Chan-o-cha’s return to power as prime minister.

“Our goal is to win the election and become the core party [to form the next government], not a coalition. So, I’m announcing clearly that if I win, I will form a government that is not corrupted and does not cling to power,” he said.

The ex-premier made it clear for the first time that if his party failed to win, they will be the opposition as their stance is to neither join a government led by Pheu Thai nor a party that supports the military retaining power.

Abhisit said that if his party won, he reserved the right to choose their coalition partners.

“I won’t invite Phalang Pracharat to join the coalition unless they deny the perpetuation of power and ensure Prayut will not be involved [in the Cabinet],” he added.

“Because the most likely situation that could create a conflict is the retaining of power, and Prayut is most likely to become the centre of the conflict after the election,” Abhisit added.

However, it would all depend on the poll result, he added.

His announcement on his stance, which he said was also his party’s position, was meant to sincerely inform voters on the scenarios. Abhisit told a press conference with party executives that he was ready to welcome all reactions, positive or negative.

“It is possible that my stance may result in my party losing popularity or votes, but I’m glad that we are being fair to the voters [informing them of our position before they cast their votes],” he added.

Lt General Pongsakorn Rodchompoo had earlier admitted sharing an article and photo that falsely accused Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan of buying cups of coffee for Bt12,000. He claimed he deleted the post within minutes after realising that it had originated from a website promoting fake news.

Pongsakorn said he was reporting for the first summons by police, and had not fled as had been reported by some outlets. He stressed that he shared the story as he believed it was real after seeing the logo of a mainstream news outlet on it.

Three minutes later somebody warned him that it could be fake. He deleted the post and issued an apology on his Facebook page.

In those three minutes between posting and deleting, somebody had captured the message and reported it to police..

“I believe it is politically motivated,” he said. His party has Thanathorn Juengrungruangkit as leader and the sole candidate for the premiership in the March 24 national poll. Thanathorn has been popular among younger generations, but more controversial among some other voters.

Patcharin Sumsiripong, a candidate competing for a parliamentary seat in Constituency 2 that covers Pathum Wan, Bang Rak and Sathon went to the Technology Crime Supression Division accompanied by Puttipong Punnakanta, an executive member of the party.

They handed over copies of photos allegedly posted by “Thanit Wor” on his Facebook page. The photos appeared to show an election manual distributed by the Election Commission (EC), together with Patcharin’s introductory election card. The photo caption, which has triggered the complaint, said he (Thanit Wor) had received the manual and the card together.

“It’s not true that the EC distributed the manual together with Patcharin’s election card,” Puttipong said. “[Thanit Wor’s] posting and caption [were] intended to create misunderstanding and confusion among the public that the EC was not neutral by helping the Phalang Pracharat candidate.”

“Thanit Wor” appears to live outside Thailand and is a strong supporter of a political party competing in the March 24 nation election, said Puttipong. He believes that “Thanit Wor” was part of a campaign to discredit Phalang Pracharat.

Puttipong’s party has Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its sole candidate for the premiership.

Patcharin told reporters that her party has no policy to quarrel with any political party, but this had happened many times without her responding. “However now it is time for me to protect my rights. I wish to ask that group of people to stop doing such things. Those who want to share this kind of information should use their best judgement.

He said the country’s economy remained in poor shape during the five years of rule by the military junta under Prayut.

“Let me speak clearly. I certainly don’t support General Prayut to continue as prime minister. Continuation of power [by the junta] leads to conflict and it is counter to the Democrat Party’s ‘people first’ ideology,” Abhisit said.

“The economy has been in bad shape over the last five years. The country has suffered a lot of damage already,” he added.

Abhisit, a former premier, made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page.

He did not, however, say whether his party would be able to work post-election with the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party, which has nominated Prayut as its prime ministerial candidate.

In response, Anusorn Iamsa-ard, a key figure in the rival Pheu Thai Party, said yesterday he wondered whether Abhisit’s stance was his personal view or Democrat policy.

“In today’s politics there are only two sides in the view of the people – one that supports General Prayut’s continuation of power and one that is against it, which is led by Pheu Thai. Abhisit should not confuse the people by offering his party as a third choice,” Anusorn said.

He said that, to overcome any suspicion, the Democrats’ executive board has to confirm what Abhisit said about Prayut.

Meanwhile, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul geared up his campaigning yesterday with a two-minute video on Facebook pitching him as the “captain” who could pilot Thailand out of a decade-long conflict towards prosperity.

“I am piloting my aeroplane throughout Thailand to send my heart and good intention to Thais all over the country,” he said. “I am ready to be the captain who flies Thailand ahead and out of the conflict that has pulled our country backwards for more than 10 years.

“I will fly all Thais to well-being and equality,” Anutin said.

In a related development, almost half the people who participated in a survey last week did not know how many ballot papers they would be given on Election Day.

The survey results were released yesterday, showing 48 per cent of respondents unaware there will only be one ballot paper.

While 51.9 per cent of respondents said they knew how many ballot papers each voter would receive, more than 7 per cent of this group did not know there would be only one. Many voters recall filling in two ballot forms in previous elections.

The National Institute of Development Administration surveyed 1,251 eligible voters in all regions on March 5 and 6.

More than 48 per cent of all respondents also didn’t know that candidates – even from the same party – were assigned different numbers on ballots in different constituencies.

Told of the change, 81 per cent said it would pose no problem for them because they could remember the numbers of their preferred candidates in their own constituencies.

More than 4,000 Thais who work in Malaysia were on hand to cast ballots ahead of the March 24 election.

Sunpet Boonraeng, who works as a cook in Kuala Lumpur, said he’d waited about six hours to cast his ballot and was concerned that voters with homes and jobs outside the Malaysian capital might not be able to wait that long.

He said several elderly voters had fainted in the queue because of the hot weather and rain.

Sunpet criticised the embassy’s poor publicity about early voting. Many Thais only heard about it through word of mouth, he said.

Another voter complained about the way the ballot casting was handled, saying he’d been in the queue for more than four hours.

He suggested more polling booths to accommodate the turnout.

Yet another voter said he’d arrived at the embassy at 9am and was still in the queue outside the compound at noon.

Embassy officials said the polling stations would remain open into the evening, until the last ballot, and would reopen at 8am on Monday.

Election Commission secretary-general Jarungvidh Phumma said he had been informed of the problems at the embassy in KL and it was agreed a fourth polling booth would be added.

Their names were submitted yesterday to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

The selection committee led by the junta’s No 2, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, met yesterday for the last time. Of the 400 people nominated, the junta will appoint 194 as members of the Upper House.

To fill out the 250-member Senate, 50 other candidates will emerge from the normal selection process with the assistance of the Election Commission (EC) and another six will be military or police commanders.

The selection of senators is proceeding in line with the Constitution, which authorises the NCPO to continue filling the bulk of the Senate for the next five years. It requires candidates’ names to be submitted for junta consideration at least 15 days before a parliamentary election.

A source on the selection committee said candidates were shortlisted based on their credentials and their knowledge of politics. The Senate’s job is to help guide the country through the post-election transition period and help choose the next prime minister, the source said.

“Selecting the candidates wasn’t easy,” the source said. “We had to look for those who understand politics and can work alongside the elected members of the House of Representatives. So each candidate’s personality and social status are important. They have to be ‘accepted’ and they must work to overcome the perception that appointed senators are not good.”

Though opposition has been strong to the idea of a junta-appointed Senate, the source insisted that the Upper House under the current Constitution is obliged to support the elected Lower House. The Senate is not meant to be an “outside factor” intervening in the work of an elected |government, the source |said.

The appointed senators should be “understanding” and be able to communicate well with those who appointed them, the source added.

The committee did not reveal the names submitted to the NCPO, but it is believed that many candidates are familiar faces closely tied to the ruling junta.

Prawit’s brothers – Patcharawat and Sitwatchara – were mentioned, as were his close aides Boonruang Pholpanit, Wich Thephasadin na Ayutthaya, Wallop Raksanoh and Taweep Netniyom.

Meanwhile the pro-Shinawatra Thai Raksa Chart Party, which was dissolved on Thursday, began removing its election banners and online posts.

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said on Friday its members could no longer campaign under the party’s name, though party executives banned from politics for 10 years could help other parties in the pro-Shinawatra camp with their campaigns.

He warned them, however, to be careful and not be perceived as influencing the party they are helping, which could be unconstitutional.

Non-executive members of the party have the right to jump to other parties, Jarungvith said.

The EC had begun disseminating information about the Thai Raksa Chart dissolution, with expatriate Thais already voting overseas, he said. Votes cast for the disbanded party will be declared void.

Headache Stencil — dubbed “Thailand’s Banksy” — has led the artistic charge against the powers that be.

His latest exhibition “Thailand Casino” which runs through the March 24 election, takes a hatchet to the junta and the power plays of its nemesis — self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

“This election is important… we’re gambling as a nation,” says Headache, whose jabs at the junta using Bangkok’s walls as a canvas have made him a hero of the counter-culture.

    The army took power in 2014, its 12th successful coup in under 100 years, stifling dissent with a series of arrests, threats and special laws.

But the lid on dissent has been lifted in the run-up to the election.

Acerbic memes, blogs and tweets are ricocheting across social media, while chat shows, exhibitions — and even t-shirts — are shaping the conversation, caricaturing the main players in Thailand’s political drama.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. You don’t know what’s going to happen in the next two months,” Headache, who keeps his identity hidden, told AFP at the WTF cafe and gallery.

Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha wants to return to government as a civilian leader.

But his foe — the self-exiled Thaksin — stands in his way, buttressed by the enduring electoral pull of his parties.

One of those, Thai Raksa Chart, was dissolved by a court on Thursday for proposing Princess Ubolratana as a candidate — a bombshell move that was swiftly shot down by her younger brother King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In this picture taken on March 6, 2019, Thai graffiti artist, known as Headache Stencil, poses with his artworks during an exhibition titled ‘Thailand Casino’ in Bangkok. // AFP PHOTO

Headache addresses the unprecedented power play with a Chinese calendar marked February 8 — the date the princess made her political cameo — positioned behind Thaksin’s brass head, riven by a lightening strike from above.

A golden piggy bank with the face of the junta number-two sits in the gallery and cash, casino chips, guns and the word “military fund” are stencilled across the walls.

It’s a dystopian vision of a country where army spending is vast and beyond scrutiny.

Headache, who keeps his face hidden behind a mask, says his motivation is to have fun at the expense of “the dictatorship”.

Yet he is pessimistic democracy will ultimately triumph in a kingdom where the army and its allies bristle at political and economic challenges from below.

The former TV producer does however see the flurry of political engagement taking place over social media as a glimmer of hope in a kingdom where over seven million millennials are eligible to vote for the first time.

“It’s powerful,” Headache said, adding there is only one way to “know what people want… just go to elections.”