Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Prayut had told officials in the previous Cabinet meeting about the “road map to democracy” and the time remaining for the current regime.

Prayut wanted to follow the progress of all the legislation, he said.

In the fourth year under the coup-installed regime, Thailand had seen about 250 laws passed and promulgated by the junta-appointed legislators, according to Wissanu.

In the three-hour meeting yesterday, Prayut said he wanted to find out how many bills each body was working on as well as how much they could accomplish in the remaining time, Wissanu said.

Prayut had stressed that legislation must be finished before the last month of the year, considering that it must also be presented for royal endorsement, Wissanu added.

The deputy prime minister added that ministers had been instructed by Prayut in the meeting yesterday to help ensure involved officials were working efficiently.

The Council of State reported that coordination regarding the legislation had been difficult and was taking too long, Wissanu said.

The junta’s legislative agenda includes the controversial alien labour law, which had been objected to by employers for its severe fines of as high as Bt800,000, according to Wissanu.

Prayut said in the meeting that legislators must listen to opinions of people affected as they revised the bill, Wissanu said.

The migrant worker law was promulgated earlier this year but the junta ordered it not be implemented for 180 days until January next year because of the controversy. Wissanu also addressed the road map and scheduled election, adding that despite the promulgation of the political parties law, the junta would enforce its ban on political activities at least until the Royal Cremation was completed.

Wissanu said political parties would not be allowed to campaign anyway as they had to wait until a royal decree on the election was issued.

The leader of Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva, said yesterday people should stop commenting on politics during the mourning period.

Although the political ban remained in place, parties could work, for example, by reviewing member records and documents, Abhisit said. Those activities did not require political gatherings and would not violate the ban, he added.

Thaksin’s lawyer, meanwhile, filed a petition with the Office of the Attorney-General asking for a review of lese majeste charge against the fugitive former premier.

NACC President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday that he had instructed the legal office to revive three cases under the jurisdiction of the agency following the promulgation of the new criminal procedures against political office holders, which allows prosecutors and the courts to pursue cases in absentia.

The three cases had been suspended temporarily under the old law.

Two of the three cases involve Thaksin, who fled Thailand in August 2008.

The first case relates to alleged graft related to a loan advanced by the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, in which Thaksin was accused of abuse of power by ordering the bank in 2006 to increase a Bt3-billion loan to Bt4 billion so that Myanmar’s then-ruling junta could buy services from a Shinawatra-run company, Shin Satellite.

An arrest warrant was issued on September 16, 2008 in that case.

The second case pertains to the two- and three-digit lottery scheme, in which Thaksin, his Cabinet and the then-Government Lottery Office director were accused of committing graft and neglecting their duties by approving a 2003 lottery scheme that was later found to violate the Government Lottery Office bill.

A related arrest warrant was issued on September 26, 2008.

The third case involves the private sector over the procurement of fire trucks at a cost of Bt6.68-billion by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Watcharapol said.

He said the NACC would probably file a request with the Supreme Court to pursue the cases.

He denied the new law was designed to target Thaksin and his sister, fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was recently convicted in absentia of insufficient oversight of her former government’s rice-pledging scheme.

Meanwhile, Thaksin’s lawyer, Chokchai Angkaew, filed a petition with the Attorney-General asking for a review of charges against his client.

The new attorney-general, Khemchai Chutiwong, said last week the office had agreed with a police request to charge Thaksin with violations of the Penal Code’s Article 112 on lese majeste and the Computer Crime bill.

Thaksin asked for either a more thorough review of the case or a full investigation before pressing charges.

The charge relates to an interview Thaksin gave to South Korean media in 2015, in which he allegedly made contentious statements about who was behind the coup that ousted the Pheu Thai-led government in May 2014. The Office of Attorney-General’s deputy spokesman Prayuth Petkhun said Thaksin, as a defendant, had the right to file petitions during the investigation or prosecution process.

On Monday, Thaksin also threatened via his Twitter account @thaksinlive to take legal action against people who had implicated him in actions deemed to have insulted the monarchy.

The reading had already been postponed from August 25, when four defendants were absent, but the court did not issue arrest warrants against them.

The next reading was postponed until December 22.

The rally was part of the defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy’s movement against the elected government of then-premier Samak Sundaravej, whom they regarded as strongly connected with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The four-day occupation in August 2008 also involved weapons, which caused damage to property in the government-run building.

In 2014, the Appeals Court found the defendants guilty of criminal association, armed intrusion and threatening forceful attacks. The rally leader, Thanet Khamchoom, was also found guilty of carrying guns in public and possessing radio equipment without a licence.

The new court’s spokesperson, Suriyan Hongvilai, said the court would like to learn what the public would like to see as part of the reform effort on justice and so has opened its website for people to share their views with the court.

Suriyan said the new charter stipulates that justice processes must have definite time limits to ensure that justice is not delayed. Mechanisms must also be in place to help the underprivileged get access to justice and support better law enforcement to reduce social inequity.

Also, criminal investigation procedures must have checks and balances between investigators and prosecutors, while also keeping cases moving forward.

As well, justice related agencies must nurture a culture committed to delivering sound and meaningful justice, he said.

People are invited to share their views at reform.coj.go.th.

NACC President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said on Thursday that he had instructed its legal office to revive three cases under the jurisdiction of the agency following promulgation of the new criminal procedures against political office holders law, which allows prosecutors and the courts to pursue cases in absentia.

The three cases had been disposed of temporarily under the old law.

Two of the three cases involve Thaksin who fled Thailand in August 2008.

The first case relates to alleged graft surrounding a loan advanced by EXIM Bank. Thaksin was accused of abuse of power by ordering the Export-Import Bank of Thailand in 2006 to increase a Bt3-billion loan to Bt4 billion so that Myanmar’s then-ruling junta could buy services from a Shinawatra-run company, Shin Satellite.

An arrest warrant was issued on September 16, 2008 for that case.

The second case is the two- and three-digit lottery scheme. Thaksin, his Cabinet and the then-Government Lottery Office director were accused of committing graft and neglecting their duty by approving a 2003 lottery scheme that was later found to be against the Government Lottery Office bill.

An arrest warrant was issued on September 26, 2008 for that case.

A third case involves the private sector in the Bt6.68 billion fire truck scandal of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Watcharapol said.

Watcharapol said the NACC is likely to soon file a request with the Supreme Court to pursue the cases.

He denied the new law was designed to target Thaksin and his sister fugitive former prime minister Yingluck who was recently convicted in absentia of insufficient oversight of her former government’s rice-pledging scheme.

The move came after the new attorney-general, Khemchai Chutiwong, said last week that the office had agreed with a police request to charge Thaksin with violations of the Penal Code’s Article 112 and the Computer Crime bill.

On Monday, via his twitter account @thaksinlive, Thaksin also threatened to take legal action against people who have implicated him in actions deemed to have insulted the monarchy.

Via his lawyer, Chokchai Angkaew, and Pheu Thai Party’s ex-MP, Pol General Viroon Phuensaen, Thaksin asked for either a deeper review of the case or a full investigation before pressing charges.

The charge relates to an interview Thaksin gave to South Korean media in 2015, in which he allegedly made contentious statements about who was behind the coup that ousted the Pheu Thai-led government in May 2014.

OAG deputy spokesman Prayuth Petkhun said that Thaksin, as a defendant, has the right to file petitions during an investigation or a prosecution process as allowed under OAG regulations.

WHILE THE planned election in November next year announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been welcomed, politicians say controls on political activities should be relaxed and investors still view the situation as uncertain.

The heads of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) and National Legislative Assembly (NLA) have jointly echoed the junta leader’s promise and assured that organic laws would be finished in time to allow the election.

Nipit Intrasombat, deputy leader of Democrat Party, said “as a politician, I am now more confident because the PM’s remarks were clear”.

Despite speculation that complications in the legislation could delay the so-called “road map to democracy”, Nipit said yesterday that at least the announcement could constitute a form of insurance that the organic bills would not be rejected by the NLA.

Chalitrat Chantarubeksa, spokesman of Chart Pattana Party, yesterday said Prayut’s announcement signalled sincerity and an attempt to create a better atmosphere in the country, especially in the investment sector.

Chart Thai Pattana Party was ready to cooperate to push the country through the road map towards the election as well as rebuild national unity, he said.

Pheu Thai Party former deputy secretary-general Chavalit Wichayasut said he welcomed the move but urged the junta to renounce its absolute powers under Article 44 of the interim constitution and to ensure the rule of law to boost national credibility.

“Now, some people are still questioning whether there is discrimination in the judicial system, [with authorities] using the law to punish someone retroactively,” Chavalit said, apparently referring to a new law stipulating legal procedures against politicians in criminal cases that can proceed in absentia.

Meanwhile, private investment is expected to rise moderately after investors gained confidence from a clearer direction in politics.

The stock market yesterday closed at 1,714.14, up 0.42 per cent, in the second day that the index stayed above 1,700.

However, Amonthep Chawla, head of research office at the CIMB Thai Bank, was cautious about the equity market. He said that if the US Federal Reserve increases its policy rate in December and President Donald Trump successfully pushes through tax cuts, that could lead to some capital outflows from Thailand.

It might be small correction, as the Thai stock market had increased at a slower pace compared with bourses in China and Vietnam, he said.

He said he expected that the economy might accelerate in the fourth quarter of next year during the election period and economic growth next year would be 3.8 per cent up from an estimated growth rate of 3.7 per cent this year. Private investment was expected to rise but the pace of the rise would not accelerate, Amonthep said.

Private investment depended on politics but also on many factors such as the shortage of skilled labour and household debt, which affected domestic consumption, he added.

Tanit Sorat, vice chairman of the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, said private investment was expected to remain slack because local industries were burdened with excess production capacity.

About 30 per cent of machinery and factories were idle, although exports had increased, he said. New investment may come when exports regain momentum and economic growth is more equitably distributed across society.

The clear election timetable had improved investor confidence but political uncertainty remained, Tanit said.

The political situation would be much clearer in the middle of next year and after the November election as investors look for political stability, he said.

“Many investors may wait and see, or choose to invest in other Asean countries. There are many choices of location for investment,” he said.

At the same time, he appeared to be tired with speculation that the legislation of organic laws would cause an extension of the road map and delay the election.

“I don’t know. Maybe the speculation is right. For example, maybe I’ll just trip, fall down and not wake up again. That may interrupt the legislation,” Meechai said on Wednesday.

However, Meechai said that the new road map that Prayut announced on Tuesday, in which an election would take place in November next year, was well in accordance with the new Constitution.

He and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam had discussed the matter, and the Prime Minister had acknowledged the timeframe laid out by the charter, Meechai said.

The CDC was under no pressure despite the announcement, Meechai said. The panel had a timetable that it must complete its job after 240 days, and it would follow through, he said.

Despite being a member of the National Council for Peace and Order, Meechai said he had no knowledge about whether the political ban would be lifted now that the political party law was in effect. He said it was up to Prayut.

In the meantime, he said the CDC was completing its drafts of the final two organic bills. These are on the selection of the Senate and the election of MPs, and they are essential for holding an election next year.

Both would be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) next month.

It was likely that the NACC would pursue legal proceedings in those cases following promulgation of the new legal procedures against political office holders in criminal cases, which allows courts to pursue cases in absentia.

The source said NACC staff had been instructed to review Thaksin’s cases along with others, and learned that there were at least two cases concerning the former premier in which the NACC had never filed charges. These involve Exim Bank loans and the lottery.

The source said, following the new law, the NACC would probably file a request to the Supreme Court to pursue the cases, which had been disposed of temporarily under the old law due to the defendant’s absence.

Krisana said the international police agency did not say whether or when it would issue the notice as requested by Thai authorities, adding that the information shared with Interpol cannot be revealed.

“What we can do at best is wait, but wait with hopes,” said Krisana.

An Interpol blue notice calls for a joint effort by international authorities to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.

The police spokesman insisted that the police have not been dragging their feet on the case, but have been pursuing every means of finding Yingluck, whose exact whereabouts remain unknown. Once a blue notice is issued against her, Thai police will then be able to ask for a red notice, which is effectively an international arrest warrant, he said.

It has been established that Yingluck fled the country shortly before the court was due to read a verdict against her in a dereliction case over her government’s rice-pledging scheme.

She left via the eastern land border before August 25, and then went to Dubai and the United Kingdom. On September 27, she was sentenced in absentia to five years in jail without suspension.