Pol Colonel Chakrit Sawasdee, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said yesterday that the police were considering whether Watana could be deemed to have broken the law, possibly its Article 14 which prohibits posting “distorted” information on the Internet.

On Friday, police filed a complaint against Watana for breaking the penal code’s Article 116 for instigation, as the former minister had published on his Facebook page several posts blaming what he called the junta government’s legal bias against its political opponents.

His posts from July 19 to 26 criticised the new draft bill on criminal procedures against political office holders, which is widely believed to be aimed at self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He also posted about the coming verdict in Yingluck’s case regarding her alleged negligence in managing her government’s rice-pledging scheme.

In those posts, he encouraged the public to gather and give courage to Yingluck at the court on Tuesday, when she will give her final closing statement, and on August 25, when her verdict will be read.

The accusation against Watana was made to the CSD by Special Branch police officers as the government has cited public order as a reason for people not to gather in mass at the court on those days.

Chakrit said yesterday that the CSD has not yet issued a warrant against Watana, as they still had to gather further evidence.

Despite the fact that he is likely to face charges, Watana insisted on encouraging people to provide moral support to Yingluck.

“It’s our freedom to give courage to Yingluck,” Watana said in a Facebook post yesterday. “Asking people to support her doesn’t break the law, because we won’t gather to change laws, overthrow the government, or create conflicts.”

Watana said that any gathering should be regarded as a custom – an act that is allowed and exempted under the law on public assembly.

His criticism of public figures – the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in this case – should also not be deemed as instigation, he said.

Watana, who had several records of being summoned by the NCPO, added that the junta and the police already have his contacts in hand and should be able to approach him directly should they want to summon him.

Apart from Watana, police are seeking three more people for allegedly instigating unrest in the Yingluck case. The court has been considering the issuance of arrest warrants for the three, deputy national police chief General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, an NCPO source yesterday said that its evaluations so far had not suggested the likelihood of conflict outside court. However, people have been advised to stay put rather than go to court to support Yingluck on Tuesday.

The source cited Prime Minister and NCPO head General Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying on Tuesday that arranging trucks and cars full of people to go to the court could “risk violating laws”.

Any supporters are expected to travel from metropolitan areas, given that the North and Northeastern parts of Thailand, which are Pheu Thai strongholds, have been inundated with floods over the past week.

“The court has its security system and the police will oversee outside the court’s compound,” the source said. “We won’t stop them, but we ask them to come and go and not put pressure on police and court officials.”

Measures for August 25 will be considered later, the source added.

Of 1,019 people surveyed nationwide by Suan Dusit Poll, almost 74 per cent said they thought that the post-coup government’s ongoing efforts have yet to bear fruit and that political figures remain in conflict.

Only 26 per cent of survey respondents thought that the government-established reconciliation committee was following the junta’s so-called roadmap.

The poll, titled “People’s attitude on reconciliation building”, was conducted from July 24 to 28 with a nationwide sample of the population asked their opinions on the government’s progress in reconciling political factions.

Since January, the military has positioned itself as a non-partisan middleman, asking political blocs for opinions on drafting an “agreement of truth”. The agreement is expected to be published soon amid rising political temperatures involving some Pheu Thai Party figures. While political blocs are expected to nod to the agreement, it is not known yet to what extent they will be bound by it. The poll said 71 per cent of surveyed people expected the reconciliation effort to unify the country, while 60 per cent admitted it was hard work but should be continued.

Fifty-eight per cent of the respondents said they thought that the junta government should allow every side to participate in the procedure. Asked what agreements should be prioritised, almost 72 per cent emphasised moral principles, followed by around 70 per cent who stressed the rule of law.

Almost 69 per cent of those surveyed, meanwhile, wanted all sides to build an atmosphere of unity. Asked how reconciliation could be accomplished, more than 78 per cent thought that all sides should be more open-minded toward each other.

About 67 per cent said that legal measures should be applied fairly to all sides, and about 64 per cent said that everyone had to put an emphasis on public benefits.

But the worldly educator and reformer Wiwat Salayakamthorn just wishes that people would look at the whole process of reform, not just the NRSA, when judging what has been achieved since the coup.

“What people have said, somehow, they have just never done it [achieved reform],” said Wiwat, a member of both the NRC and the NRSA who has closely followed how reform work has taken shape and been pursued in a historical context.

The country has been through such a process before – during the reign of King Rama V and during the civil-based political optimism of 1997. In 1997, many reformers saw the new constitution as addressing civil-based politics as well as creating a new political relationship among concerned parties for the first time since the politically turbulent era of the late 1970s.

This, they viewed, gave hope that the country would be reformed for the better with a higher proportion of power in the people’s hands. However, it failed, partly because new political relationship did not change as they wished, as the bureaucracy still remained too strong and new legal mechanisms were not put in place as hoped.

More critical was the fact that the new system was corrupt with new political capitalists – as noted by Suriyasai, a former co-leader of the now-defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy, and the former People’s Reform Democratic Committee (PDRC), which called for “reform before an election”.

New political conflict emerged and continued until the military eventually staged a coup on May 22, 2014, when the fresh round of reform became highly charged because the military addressed the issue as part of its reasons for staging the coup.

After the military took control of the country for two months, reform was officially addressed in the interim charter’s Article 19 as part of the junta’s three prime duties. The other two were administering the country and promoting reconciliation and unity among the people.

Reform was also addressed in Article 27, which established the NRC to hatch 11 reform agendas and eventually nurture them into the country’s reform blueprint.

The NRC was dissolved following the voting-down of the first charter draft, and the council then submitted its reform blueprints to its successor, the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), which was appointed in October 2015 to steer the NRC’s work into action.

Wiwat said reform is about pushing the country’s “whole structure”, and that means it needs to be carried on delicately with calmness and maturity. It cannot be finished in a short period of time.

Against all odds, he said, the country is at a juncture where it cannot avoid change. What remains more essential than the means, is the goal. And, in Wiwat’s view, the reformers have at least set the right goals for the country: prosperity, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.

“All these have been addressed, firm and clear, in the new charter, and we attempted to push them through until we succeeded,” said Wiwat, who requested the addition of the word “self-sufficiency” in the charter.

NRSA vice chairman Alongkorn Poonlaboot, explained to The Nation that the NRSA’s job was to carry on the work from the NRC by pushing forward its blueprint into an action plan.

So it came up with numerous implementation plans, including new regulations to implement its agendas. The 37 agendas have been expanded to 190 proposals, as of July 27, outnumbering the original blueprints.

Alongkorn said almost 70 per cent of the NRSA’s proposals mainly focus on “fixing” what is broken, with 20 per cent focused on building up existing strengths, and 10 per cent centred on creating something new.

He defended the whole reform process, in that it had come up with clear structures and procedures plus supportive administrative mechanisms, including the tripartite whips of the government, and the National Legislative Assembly, to push forward the NRSA’s proposals.

So far, at least 176 proposals have been acknowledged by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

But what makes Alongkorn assured about the success of the reform process is the fact that it has been addressed in the supreme charter draft as one main chapter. This will help guarantee its continuity and sustainability, and it will be linked to other necessary elements such as the 20-year national strategic plan.

“It’s the work that has never been done before. It has come up with a clear goal, supportive mechanisms, plus assertive procedures that will be continued and sustained,” said Alongkorn, acknowledging criticism that has arisen against the body.

Suriyasai, who shared the recent panel to review the body’s work, agreed that to assess the success of the reform work, it cannot be separated, as all the bodies and procedures are related to one another.

However, Suriyasai gave weight to people’s participation as he has always insisted, and warned about increasing distrust among the state, politicians and citizens, which has prompted the ongoing reform work to lean towards bureaucratic strengthening.

“It would be a pity if the people’s push for reform is left as a waste. Reform is, in fact, the other side of the coin – with reconciliation – that we need,” said Suriyasai, urging political parties ahead of the coming election to compete for reform space and share with the people.

Wiwat agreed, saying; “Reform is for everyone, and people should have a chance to participate to help ensure accountability and sustainability.”

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is set to issue a verdict in the case on August 25.

The right to appeal will remain irrespective of whether or not the draft bill on criminal procedures against political office holders is enacted by then, Jet said.

But if the bill is approved in time, Yingluck will have 30 days to appeal after the verdict in her case.

In that case, the Supreme Court will set up a nine-member committee to consider her appeal, Jet added.

The bill, recently approved by the NLA, is expected to be signed by NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai before it is forwarded to the Cabinet and submitted for royal endorsement.

The NCPO source said that authorities have been vigilant in monitoring across the country for possible mass movements of people ahead of an August 25 court verdict regarding Yingluck’s alleged negligence in regard to her government’s rice-pledging scheme.

The NCPO’s evaluations so far have not suggested a likelihood of conflicts connected to the verdict, the source said.

But the source also cited PM and the NCPO head General Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying on Tuesday that arranging to bring trucks and cars loaded with people to the court could “risk violating the laws”.

Supporters are most likely to travel from metropolitan areas, given that northern and northeastern parts of Thailand, where Pheu Thai strongholds are located, have been troubled by floods.

“The court has its security system and the police will oversee outside the court’s compound,” the source said. “We won’t stop them, but we ask them to come and go, and not put pressure against police and court officials.”

Measures for August 25, when a final verdict will be handed down, will be considered later on, the source added.

Of 1,019 people surveyed nationwide, almost 74 per cent thought that the junta’s efforts have yet to bear fruit and that political figures remain in conflict.

Only 26 per cent of survey respondents thought that the government-established reconciliation committee was following the junta’s so-called roadmap.

The poll, titled “People’s attitude on reconciliation building”, was conducted from July 24-28 with a nationwide sample of the population asked their opinions on the government’s progress in reconciling political factions.

Since January, the military has positioned itself as a non-partisan middleman, asking political blocs for opinions on drafting an “agreement of truth”.

The agreement is expected to be published soon amid rising political temperatures involving some Pheu Thai figures.

While political blocs are expected to nod to the agreement, it is not known yet to what extent they will be bound by it.

The poll said that 71 per cent of surveyed people expected the reconciliation effort to unify the country, while 60 per cent admitted that it was hard work but it should be continued.

Fifty-eight per cent thought that the junta government should allow every side to participate in the procedure.

Asked what agreements should be prioritised, almost 72 per cent emphasised moral principles, followed by around 70 per cent who stressed the rule of law.

Almost 69 per cent, meanwhile, wanted all sides to build an atmosphere of unity.

Asked how reconciliation could be accomplished, more than 78 per cent thought that all sides should be more open-minded toward each other.

Almost 67 per cent said that legal measures should be applied fairly to all sides, and about 64 per cent said that everyone had to put emphasis on public benefits.

Special Branch police officers filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) against Watana on Thursday in connection with his Facebook message posted on Monday, CSD superintendent Pol Colonel Thongchai Yooket said yesterday.

According to the complaint, Watana’s message was intended to mislead public members about the justice system and the government, involving the actions over the Yingluck administration’s rice-pledging scheme, Thongchai said.

Watana was accused by Special Branch police of public instigation under Article 116 of the Penal Code.

On Thursday, police sought arrest warrants for three people suspected of instigation ahead of the August 25 court verdict by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

Deputy national police chief General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul had said that the request was made on Wednesday but he declined to elaborate or identify the suspects. “We are waiting for a decision by the court as to whether to issue the requested arrest warrants,” Srivara had said, adding that the three were among a group of people who were being monitored by police.

A source said police have found some posts by the persons deemed to instigate unrest as they invited Yingluck’s supporters to come out to show support on the day. The police were gathering evidence and have filed a charge against them, according to the source.

Watana said on his Facebook that he would comment on the latest charge against him today.

Nattawut Saikua, another Pheu Thai politician, said yesterday that the red-shirts have no plot to instigate unrest ahead of the verdict, as had been alleged.

He is also a key red-shirt leader from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Large crowds of Yingluck supporters are expected to gather on the day the court delivers its verdict, and authorities have warned against possible unrest.

However, Nattawut yesterday downplayed such fear, saying that most key figures of the UDD have been followed and are under watch by authorities.

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said on Friday that the commission had recently given its three commissioners – Supa Piyajitti, Pol General Sataphon Laothong and Surasak Keereevichien – joint responsibility for investigation of the scandal.

He revealed that former executives and members of the board of directors of the two state enterprises were responsible for procurements and they had been accused of receiving tea money from Rolls-Royce. He said so far no evidence linking former politicians had been found.

Should new evidence suggest the involvement of former politicians in this corruption case, the NACC would go after them, he assured.

The NACC began investigating the corruption case after the US Justice Department released its report in January that Rolls-Royce Plc, the UK-based manufacturer and distributor of powers systems for the aerospace, defence, and marine and energy sectors, had agreed to pay the US nearly $170 million in a criminal penalty case for corrupt foreign practices. The move came after Rolls-Royce revealed it had paid bribes to officials in Thailand, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Angola and Iraq between 2000 and 2013.

The US Justice Department said Rolls-Royce had paid $11 million (Bt385 million) to Thai officials for the seven contracts awarded by the two state enterprises.

General Somjet Boonthanom, chair of the committee under the National Legislative Assembly said the tripartite law review committee met following the objection to the point by the Constitution Drafting Commission, which had drafted the law before it was passed by the NLA.

They agreed that the point would trigger a new problem concerning fraud in areas where the primary voting was held.

Somjet said his committee when introducing the system at the NLA’s law vetting meeting did not have give much thought to fraud but on how best to reform politics.

So the law review commitee would go through the point together again and would try to come up with the best conclusion no later than this Tuesday, he said.

The bill is among the first four organic laws necessary for the coming election. It has for the first time introduced the primary voting system, under which party members would be allowed to vote on MP candidates at party branches nationwide.

On Thursday, the police sought arrest warrants for three people suspected of instigation ahead of the August 25 court verdict. Deputy national police chief General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul had said that the request was made on Wednesday, but he declined to elaborate or identify the suspects.

“We are waiting for a decision by the court as to whether to issue the requested arrest warrants,” Srivara said. He noted the three were among a group of people who were being monitored by police.

The police source said the police have found some posts by the persons that they deem as instigating unrest. The source said the posts invited Yingluck’s supporters to come out to show support on the verdict day.

The police continue to gather evidence against the three, and intend to file a charge against them, according to the source.