Ong-arj said Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called the meeting after the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order issued an order to partially relax the political party ban.

Ong-arj said the Democrat’s charter required the executive board to be informed of what decisions would be made during a party assembly.

Ong-arj said the assembly would need to amend the party’s regulations on the election of the party’s leader and executives.

He said Abhisit has proposed extending to non-executive members the right to elect the party leader.

“So, I take the chance to stroll here. I have not returned here for a long time. It has changed a lot and the roads are wider. Sidewalks have been put in order and they are tidy clean, resulting in more tourists and more economic activities,” Yingluck said in her post.

The former Pheu Thai PM fled the Kingdom two or three days before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office delivered a verdict on her rice-pledging scheme case in August last year.

She initially kept a low profile, but now more frequently updates her activities on social networks.

Observers consider the more frequent updates by the fugitive siblings as the nation heads to an election is a signal to Pheu Thai supporters that Thaksin has not abandoned the party.

Phumtham said the executives would discuss the form and date of the assembly and would inform the Election Commission of the decisions in line with the political party law. The law requires a party to inform the EC five days in advance of holding a caucus.

An assembly can be scheduled after the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order issued an order on Friday to partially relax the political party ban.

Phumtham said the Pheu Thai executives need to discuss the form of the assembly because the NCPO chief’s Order No 13/2561 requires the assembly to have a quorum of 250 members.

Phumtham said the party has assigned its legal experts to study the political party law and two orders of the NCPO that seem to have contradictory provisions on certain issues, including the timeframe for parties to set up their branches.

He said the NCPO should have entirely lifted the political ban on parties rather than the easing to certain restrictions, as political parties need to communicate with their supporters via all channels.

Phumtham added that it did not make sense for the junta to cite security reasons to retain much of the ban. There was nothing for the NCPO to fear ahead of the election, he said.

Nikorn said his party would start making preparations to contest the upcoming election now that the NCPO chief, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has relaxed the political ban.

An Article 44 order relaxing parts of the previous the junta ruling was issued on Friday, after the promulgation of the last two organic laws on Wednesday.

Nikorn said the party’s current executive board would convene a meeting on September 28 to prepare for the caucus on October 5.

He said the party would also make other preparations as required by the political party law, such as setting up party branches, appointing provincial party representatives as well as accepting new members and raising the party’s fund.

He died peacefully, reported Kia Samudavanija on his Facebook wall on Saturday morning, without giving further details.

Chai-Anan played a crucial role in various political changes in Thailand.

He was among the key drafters of the 1997 Constitution of Thailand. During the 2005-2006 political crisis, he was a vocal critic of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was associated with Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the now-defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy.

After gaining the support of the military and 40 provincial millionaires, Chai-Anan helped found the Matchima political party.

Chai-Anan also held several important posts, including director of Vajiravudh College, president of the Royal Institute and professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University.

The order relaxing the junta ruling, under the sweeping power of Article 44, was issued on Friday after the promulgation of the last two organic laws on Wednesday. Political parties are now allowed to convene to amend internal charters and vote on new executives – but electronic communication and electoral campaigns remain substantially restricted. The order also provides a solution for primary voting which had been made impossible by time constraints as the junta had refused to lift the ban on political activities. For the first time since the military took power and imposed the strict ban on political movements more than four years ago, political parties are now able to convene and make preparations for the election that is scheduled for February 24. Parties to amend their charter Presented with the new Constitution and organic laws, parties will have to amend their charter to align with the new rules. Party executives such as the leader, secretary-general, treasurer and registrar would also be chosen anew. Friday’s order permits parties to organise those necessities and directs that they should be done before the organic law becomes effective in December. The relaxation also allows parties to set up branches outside Bangkok and open new membership applications in addition to participating in the drawing of electoral boundaries process and other activities specified by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Primary voting, demanded by the Constitution to ensure better participation, is being adjusted under the junta order. Concern has been expressed that it would be difficult to meet the constitutional requirement while the junta maintained the ban and political activities were illegal. The extensive voting within parties to determine MP candidates would be exempted in the first national election. As it is impossible to allow such participation with limited time, the junta will now allow a committee of 11 members to screen potential candidates, self-applied or nominated, for the party executive to endorse and represent the party. Seven of the committee members are ordinary members. Four others will be the executives themselves. The order also allows communication via electronic means, but states clearly that any form of political campaign will not be tolerated, and if it affects social peace and order the NCPO has the power to disallow it at any time. The order also noted that when appropriate, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha could propose that the NCPO make changes to the order. According to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the initial relaxation was for 90 days until the MP election law takes effect. A full removal of the political ban could not be expected until then, he said.

It had been reported elsewhere that the so-called “Three Friends” group had approached former Chart Pattana MPs to join Palang Pracharat.

The Three Friends were said to be serving as power brokers for Palang Pracharat, which is widely believed to be aimed at ensuring Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha can return to his post after the next election.

Spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said Chart Pattana had no plans to disband so its members could join Palang Pracharat.

He said Chart Pattana was ready to begin preparing for the election as soon as the military junta lifts restrictions on political activities.

Once that happens, Chalitrat said, the party would elect a leader and executive board, announce policies, form branches and begin recruiting new members.

The party’s policies would focus on economic development, support for the grassroots and political reconciliation, he said.

The band was in Bangkok to promote their year-end concert.

Many fans waited to greet their idols and the whole meet-up was broadcast live on the government’s Facebook page. In the broadcast, General Prayut was seen waving his light stick in time as six members of the AKB48 members – Nanami Asai, Chiba Erii, Iwatate Saho, Mogi Shinobu, Nakanishi Chiyori and Sasaki Yukari – performed their famous single “Koi Suru Fortune Cookies”. Later the PM shook the girls’ hands and took a selfie with them.

Short for Akihabara48, AKB48 has a Bangkok-based sister idol group called BNK48. Debuting in 2016, BNK48 became wildly popular among Thai teens, releasing a Thai version of “Koi Suru Fortune Cookies” last year. This single has had more than 148 million views on YouTube – twice the Thai population.

Prayut said he was excited that the J-pop band is coming to perform in Thailand, but added that he couldn’t attend the concert. “I can’t squeeze through the young fans,” he said, though he promised to follow the band closely on media.

In his conversation with the young band, he also referred to the long-standing bilateral ties, his favourite Japanese dishes and also expressed his sympathy for the natural disasters that hit Japan recently.

The meet-up yesterday took place not long after Prayut invited Cherprang Areekul, lead singer of BNK48, to receive a prize after she agreed to host an episode of the pro-government “Thailand Moves Forward” TV show.

However, academics see a political agenda behind this.

Asst Prof Dr Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasem, a lecturer with Thammasat’s Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, said this was part of the PM’s move to expand his fan base to include young, urban teenagers ahead of next year’s elections.

“The prime minister is using these idols to gain votes from their fans,” she said.

The AKB48 and BNK48 fan base is comprised mostly of “young, urban males and females who use Facebook on a daily basis”, she added, pointing out that the Facebook Live clip had won over 2,300 reactions and 189,000 views.

The idols’ fans are not interested in politics and have not chosen to vote for any particular party, unlike the grassroots masses consider campaigns that benefit them, she pointed out. Many of the young urban generation may cast their votes based on their emotions, she added.

Khemmakorn Chatupumdecha, a university student and an ardent fan of AKB48, told The Nation that he was happy the J-pop culture is getting accepted in Thailand.

“I think it’s a good thing that older people like the PM are ready to accept idol culture,” he said.

On the other hand, a 24-year-old fan, who asked not to be named, said she didn’t want her favourite idol, Cherprang, to be pulled into politics, but doesn’t believe this would affect her or other fans’ decision on who they will vote for.

“This doesn’t make me want to support the PM, but I can’t speak for others,” she said. “Maybe younger fans are more likely to be persuaded.”

GOVERNMENT LEADERS reiterated yesterday that the national elections will be held on February 24, now that the last two electoral organic laws were promulgated on Wednesday.

The junta’s No 2 man, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, stressed yesterday that the date remains unchanged, though how the relaxation of the ban on political activities unfolds depends entirely on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, in charge of legal affairs, also said yesterday that he has not heard of anything other than that national elections will be held on February 24.

The Thai stock index, meanwhile, rose yesterday by 38.57 points or 2.30 per cent to 1,717.96. The market closed at Bt78.999 billion. Analysts attributed the surge to positive sentiment from the election development as well as possibility of a US-China trade deal.

Earlier, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had announced that the national elections could be held any day between February 24 and May 5. This period is restricted by the Constitution, which prescribes the national poll should take place within 150 days once all electoral organic laws go into effect.

The last legislation is the MP election law, which was promulgated on Wednesday and should go into effect 90 days later, or by December 10, according to Wissanu.

The road map to democracy dictated by the NCPO has never been this clear, despite the junta continuously promising over the nearly five years since the 2014 coup to return power to the people.

However, with the NCPO’s history of failing to keep its promises and delaying polls, some political observers remain uncertain about this election. According to the Constitution, the junta gets to retain its indisputable power until a new government takes office.

‘Power to do anything’

Academics and politicians voiced concerns earlier that this stipulation essentially gives the junta the power to do anything, even nullifying the election and its results.

Sirawith Serithiwat, a pro-democracy activist and leader of the “We Want Election” group, said yesterday that anything could happen as long as the junta still has absolute power. Also, he said, there is always a chance that sweeping powers under Article 44 can be invoked to scrap the entire plan.

“The NCPO should only act as a caretaker government, let go of power and major administrative work and focus solely on transitioning the country back to democracy by realising a free and fair voting,” the activist said.

Meanwhile, political scientist Yutthaporn Issarachai believes it is unlikely that the junta will delay the election any further, considering all the unprecedented clarity on the matter.

“I don’t think Article 44 will be used in respect to the national election, apart from fixing the primary voting issue,” he said.

As for concerns about the election being free and fair, Yutthaporn said that was the Election Commission’s responsibility. The commission is obliged to ensure voting goes smoothly, he said, because if the election results are rejected, the country could risk returning to the same old conflicts.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha was seen slowly waving a pink “glow stick” LED light along with other audience members while the AKB 48 members were performing their hit song “Koisuru Fortune Cookie”.

Glow sticks are normally used by the band’s fans at their concerts.

The song’s Thai version, covered by the group’s “sister band” BNK 48, is popular in Thailand.

The six members of the Japanese band who called on Prayut at Government House are Asai Nanami, Chiba Erii, Iwatate Saho, Mogi Shinobu, Nakanishi Chiyori and Sasaki Yukari.

Prayut, who also heads the ruling junta National Council for Peace and Order, shook hands with the Japanese singers and presented them with souvenirs.

The PM said the ties between Thailand and Japan dated back to the Ayutthaya era several centuries ago. He praised Japan and its businesses for helping Thai development.

He also accompanied them for a tour of the compound.

AKB 48, one of the highest-earning musical performers in Japan, will play in Thailand in December.

They were accompanied by Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool when calling on the prime minister on Thursday. The visit was organised by Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the top executive of Toshiba Thailand who previously served as the tourism and sports minister in the Prayut government.

After meeting Prayut, Shinobu told reporters that she was excited about visiting Thailand and being able to meet the prime minister.

Krit Sripoomseth, a showbiz celebrity who accompanied the AKB 48 members, was asked if the Japanese group’s meeting with the junta chief would trigger criticism. Cherprang Areekul, “captain” of the Thai group BNK 48, came under attack by the government’s critics recently for hosting an episode of the administration’s publicity TV programme.

Krit responded that there was no such issue so far and that the people involved had no concern about the matter. “AKB 48 wanted to meet the prime minister,” he said.