The accused include seven leaders of the demonstration, who had accused the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) of attempting to stay in power by postponing the next election.

Colonel Burin Thongprapai, an NCPO official, filed a complaint at Bangkok’s Nang Loeng Police Station against six leaders on Tuesday, and another against the seventh leader and 43 other protesters on Wednesday, a source said on Thursday.

The seven accused leaders were identified as Rangsiman Rome, Sirawit Serithiwat, Kant Pongprapan, Anon Nampa, Nutta Mahattana, Sakrit Piansuwan and Chonthicha Jangrew.

They were accused of leading a demonstration that violated a junta ban on political gatherings and instigating disturbances.

The 43 other protesters were accused of violating the junta ban against political gatherings of five people or more.

Most of them were accused of having links to the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), according to the source, who added that they had been monitored by authorities.

Srivara said the police have asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry for details about where Yingluck and her brother, Thaksin, have travelled from, by which flights, with which passports, and to where they were heading.

Police have not yet received a response from the ministry and expect it would take some time before they learn detail about their trip, said Srivara. They have not yet been able to locate her whereabouts, or have information that she is, or is not, now in Hong Kong as reported, he said.

To coordinate with foreign countries is the duty of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and not that of the police, noted Srivara. The police have coordinated with Interpol in an effort to locate and arrest Yingluck, he said.

Knowing Yingluck’s location is critical to any extradition process, as only when an exact location is confirmed could police inform the prosecutor and Foreign Affairs to proceed with an extradition request.

Interpol’s effort to locate her is thus critical to the process, said Srivara.

Yingluck is reported to be planning to soon hold a press conference in Hong Kong – her first since fleeing Thailand last August, according to whip Somchai Sawangkarn, a diplomatic source at the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Yingluck and her brother, Thaksin, travelled to Tokyo after being seen together last week in Beijing – a photo of them in the Chinese capital was circulated on social media last Saturday.

Thaksin and Yingluck, both of whom are fugitives wanted by Thai authorities after being convicted of crimes, had been in Tokyo since Saturday and had left for Hong Kong on Tuesday, Japan News reported, quoting sources close to the pair.

Last August, Yingluck fled Thailand just days before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders was scheduled to deliver its verdict in a case connected to her government’s rice-pledging scheme.

A month later she was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for negligence in managing the scheme, which incurred major losses for the state.

Her elder brother, Thaksin, was deposed as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and subsequently fled abroad to avoid being jailed after being convicted for abuse of power by the same court.

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, meanwhile said authorities pursuing seizure of Yingluck’s assets did not need to report to him as already they had the Article 44 order directing them to take action against her assets.

The Corruption Situation Index (CSI) points to a worsening of corruption, despite the junta’s longstanding claim that the 2014 coup was aimed at eliminating widespread corruption.

In a survey conducted last December, 37 per cent of respondents said corruption had increased from the year before, 33 per cent said it had remained the same, and only 30 per cent said it decreased. The survey questioned 2,400 Thai residents, business people and government officials nationwide.

Asking about the outlook for corruption this year, 48 per cent said it would increase, 27 per cent believed it would stay at the same level, while 23 per cent thought it would lessen. About 2 per cent said they had no idea.

The top five causes of corruption as identified by respondents were: State officials have too much discretionary power as authorised by laws, there is a lack of transparency in the political system and there are obstacles to scrutinising it, law enforcement is weak, there is a lack of good governance and mechanisms to ensure checks and balances are ineffective, and there are complicated regulations within government agencies.

Major type of corruption identified by respondents included bribery, nepotism and favouritism, policy corruption, collusion of government projects and kickbacks.

The release of the survey coincided with a scandal over luxury wristwatches involving a very senior junta Cabinet minister.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday launched an event that was supposed to promote human rights with hundreds of people in attendance, including 55 diplomats, other representatives of foreign governments and international organisations.

Many foreigners at the event told that while they cautiously supported the government’s moves on promoting human rights, they were also maintaining a close interest in its commitment to and compliance with human-rights principles in line with international obligations.

“Thailand’s junta leader should not think that polite attendance by diplomats at an event promoting a human rights agenda will trick them into believing that repression is no longer a daily reality in Thailand,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director. “Rather than restoring respect for human rights and returning the country to democratic rule, the junta has persecuted critics and dissidents, banned peaceful public assembly, censored the media and suppressed free speech.”

Prayut said human rights had to be carried out based on “laws and respect of others”.

“What’s important is that human rights must not be an excuse to infringe on other people’s rights,” he said. “The government will harshly punish those violating human rights, but please differentiate between violations of rights and the breaking of laws. There is a fine line between them.”

Rights violations are a daily reality under the military ruling since 2014 coup, with activists being subjected to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) just for exercising basic freedoms.

The NGO went on to blame the junta National Council for Peace and Order for enforcing censorship with media outlets facing intimidation, punishment and even closure if they publish commentary critical of the junta and the monarchy.

Most recently, on February 6 Peace TV was forced off the air for 15 days for criticising military rule.

Authorities have prosecuted hundreds of critics and dissidents on criminal charges such as sedition and computer-related crimes for the peaceful expression of opinions. Public gatherings of more than five people and anti-coup activities are prohibited, HRW stated.

Police also recently charged 39 pro-democracy activists with illegal assembly for attending a peaceful rally on January 27, which urged the government to meet its pledge to hold elections in 2018. Nine also face sedition charges for giving speeches at the rally.

After her travels to China and Japan, Hong Kong is Yingluck’s next destination and it is where she is likely to muster support, National Legislative Assembly (NLA) whip Somchai Sawangkarn said yesterday, quoting a diplomatic source.

“She plans to visit Hong Kong to muster support for her cause. She will call a press conference in late February or early March,” Somchai said. His source said Yingluck would be received by her supporters in Hong Kong.

According to Somchai’s source in Japan, Yingluck had tried to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during her stay in that country. She had also sought to meet old business and political connections in Japan.

Yingluck and her brother Thaksin travelled to Tokyo after being seen together in Beijing – a photo of them in the Chinese capital was circulated on social media last Saturday.

Somchai quoted his source as saying Yingluck’s arrival in Japan had made authorities there “uncomfortable”, but she might have received a tourist visa and used either a Cambodian or Montenegrin passport.

Thaksin and Yingluck, who are both wanted by Thai authorities after being convicted, had been in Tokyo since Saturday and had left for Hong Kong on Tuesday, Japan News reported, quoting sources close to the pair.

Last August, Yingluck fled Thailand just days before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders was scheduled to deliver its verdict in a case connected to her government’s rice-pledging scheme. A month later she was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for negligence in managing the scheme, which incurred major losses for the state.

Her elder brother Thaksin was deposed as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and subsequently fled abroad to avoid being jailed for abuse of power, also by the same court.

Yingluck, who is believed to have visited Japan for the first time since fleeing Thailand, was accompanied by Thaksin and former PM Somchai Wongsawat, their brother-in-law.

They stayed in Japan for “private purposes” and Yingluck was granted permission to enter the country by the Japanese government, sources said.

“I don’t know exactly where [Yingluck] is, but as I talked to my source, we both felt uncomfortable,” he said. “The Thai authorities should expedite their pursuit and the junta should be serious about this.”

Somchai said Yingluck appeared to be trying to build international pressure on Thailand and prompt domestic critics of the military government to cause disturbances now that its popularity is on the decline.

Somchai said he was told recently that no progress had been made in efforts to bring her home.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday launched an event that was supposed to promote human rights with hundreds of people in attendance, including 55 diplomats, other representatives of foreign governments and international organisations.

Many foreigners at the event told that while they cautiously supported the government’s moves on promoting human rights, they were also maintaining a close interest in its commitment to and compliance with human-rights principles in line with international obligations.

“Thailand’s junta leader should not think that polite attendance by diplomats at an event promoting a human rights agenda will trick them into believing that repression is no longer a daily reality in Thailand,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director. “Rather than restoring respect for human rights and returning the country to democratic rule, the junta has persecuted critics and dissidents, banned peaceful public assembly, censored the media and suppressed free speech.”

Prayut said human rights had to be carried out based on “laws and respect of others”.

“What’s important is that human rights must not be an excuse to infringe on other people’s rights,” he said. “The government will harshly punish those violating human rights, but please differentiate between violations of rights and the breaking of laws. There is a fine line between them.”

Rights violations are a daily reality under the military ruling since 2014 coup, with activists being subjected to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) just for exercising basic freedoms.

The NGO went on to blame the junta National Council for Peace and Order for enforcing censorship with media outlets facing intimidation, punishment and even closure if they publish commentary critical of the junta and the monarchy.

Most recently, on February 6 Peace TV was forced off the air for 15 days for criticising military rule.

Authorities have prosecuted hundreds of critics and dissidents on criminal charges such as sedition and computer-related crimes for the peaceful expression of opinions. Public gatherings of more than five people and anti-coup activities are prohibited, HRW stated.

Police also recently charged 39 pro-democracy activists with illegal assembly for attending a peaceful rally on January 27, which urged the government to meet its pledge to hold elections in 2018. Nine also face sedition charges for giving speeches at the rally

On Tuesday, Teerakiat apologised to Deputy Premier and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan for speaking about the wristwatch scandal dogging Prawit, whose unusual wealth has been questioned after being spotted with more than 25 luxury timepieces. The education minister made the remarks while on a work trip in London last Friday.

Anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid yesterday condemned “all those phonies in the Cabinet”. He also criticised the education minister for not being true to his word against corruption, noting that Teerakiat had been quick to apologise to Prawit.

“As I thought, this Cabinet is full of phonies,” said Veera, who is secretary-general of the People’s Network against Corruption.

He also said that although Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had announced his policy against corruption, he appeared insincere because he had failed to take action against people close to him who were suspected of irregularities.

Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intarasombat yesterday said Teerakiat’s decision to apologise and stay on in the Cabinet made him look no different from the person he had criticised.

“Judging from what he said at his press conference, he seemed to be concerned with keeping his Cabinet post,” Nipit said.

The politician also said that Cabinet members in the so-called reform period were supposed to have higher ethical standards than those in an elected civilian government. He added, however, that ministers in a Democrat-led government had stepped down after scandals involving their ministries even though they were not directly implicated.

Ong-art Klampaiboon, another Democrat Party deputy leader, yesterday said he expected criticism from the public in response to the education minister’s decision following the controversy.

He said Teerakiat had expressed his views sincerely without thinking of the possible consequences for the government. However, upon realising the impact, Teerakiat revised his decision based on the government’s interests, Ong-art added.

Meanwhile, a Pheu Thai politician yesterday threatened to seek a Constitutional Court ruling as to whether the education minister was unqualified to assume a Cabinet post for allegedly owning shares in a company with state concessions.

Ruangkrai Leekijwattana, a legal expert of the previously ruling party, said he would ask the Election Commission in writing to request a verdict from the Constitutional Court as to whether Teerakiat lacked the qualifications to assume a ministerial position.

The politician said he would continue with the plan whether the education minister resigned or not. Ruangkrai went to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday and asked the agency to investigate whether Teerakiat was qualified to remain in office.

He claimed that Teerakiat owned 5,000 shares in Siam Cement Group Plc (SCG), 800 of which were bought shortly before he became the education minister last year. Ruangkrai noted that SCG is awarded state concessions.

The Constitution prohibits government ministers from becoming shareholders in any company that is awarded state concessions.

Teerakiat said the Council of State, which is the government’s legal advisory agency, had been consulted about the matter and it resolved that there was nothing wrong with Cabinet members holding shares.

A group of pro-election demonstrators have held rallies, including one last Saturday, against a decision by junta-appointed legislators last month to postpone promulgation of the MP election bill for 90 days. This decision makes an election unlikely to happen before February next year.

The protesters have said that they will hold rallies until the election is held.

“Whenever the group holds an activity, we have to provide the public with information from both demonstrators and the government without creating any war of words,” Sansern said.

Sansern said it was not the government that decided to postpone the election, but the National Legislative Assembly.

He said the National Council for Peace and Order had no intention to prolong its stay in power.

“We did not say we won’t let an election be held,” Sansern said. “But with the road map, is there anything wrong with postponing it [the election] a bit?”

The remark came after the police raided a condominium in Nonthaburi on Monday night and reportedly found several bombs linked to a red-shirt hardliner loyal to Wuttipong “Ko Tee” Kotthammakhun.

Rirkchapol Poolsilp, 53, a Yala resident, was arrested after an M26 grenade, four home-made small bombs, two pipe bombs and 20 large firecrackers were found in a room at Muang Thong Thani sondominium.

Deputy Police Commissioner General Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said Rirkchapol had admitted that he was a red-shirt military leader under Wuttipong’s command.

The security source said more weapons had been hidden in the area, but there was no sign that they would be taken out for use

Both siblings had been in Tokyo since Saturday.

It was widely reported that Yingluck, who absconded last year a few days before a Supreme Court was supposed to deliver its verdict in a negligence case connected to her government’s rice-pledging scheme, will hold a press conference in Hong Kong.

Yingluck last year was sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Court to five years in prison for negligence regarding the scheme, which incurred major losses for the state coffers.

Her elder brother was deposed as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and subsequently fled abroad to avoid a corruption conviction.

Yingluck, who is believed to have visited Japan for the first time after fleeing Thailand, was accompanied by Thaksin as well as Somchai Wongsawat, their brother-in-law and another former prime minister. They stayed in Japan for “private purposes”, sources said.

Yingluck was granted permission to enter the country by the Japanese government, the sources said.

Meanwhile, National Legislative Assembly whip Somchai Sawangkarn has quoted a diplomatic source in Japan as saying Yingluck had been trying to meet Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The source also reportedly told Somchai that Yingluck had also been seeking to meet old business and political connections in Japan. “She also plans to visit Hong Kong to muster support for her movement. She will call a press conference in late February or early March,” Somchai said. His source said she will be received by her supporters in Hong Kong.

Yingluck and her brother travelled to Tokyo after being seen together in Beijing – a photo of them in the Chinese capital was circulated on social media this week.

Somchai quoted his source as saying Yingluck’s arrival in Japan had made authorities there “uncomfortable”, but she might have received a tourist visa and used either a Cambodian or Montenegrin passport.