Rescue workers, police and fire-fighters continued their search for two workers believed to be trapped under the debris.

It was initially reported that four workers were trapped in the building, the BMA Public Works Department’s Building Control Division head Noppadol Chaipanya said.

Backhoe driver Phichit Pasada told police that he and another nine workers were preparing to demolish the building. As he was refilling the backhoe and other workers were checking the building, he heard something like a sling snap before the building collapsed and workers ran for safety.

The contractor got permission to demolish the building on November 22. However, Phra Khanong district office ordered a temporary suspension of the demolition on December 2 after officials found hazardous problems at the site.

The authorities have launched a probe into the cause of the collapse, he added.

Students were evacuated yesterday from the nearby Wells International School as a precaution.

Phra Khanong District Office posted a sign ‘Danger: Building collapse’ at the site while the search for two workers was ongoing and Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkaphan Phiew-ngarm and team led an inspection at the site.

Jakkaphan said he had spoken with officials from the Engineering Institute and related agencies about parts of the building being cut out to get the workers, feared dead, out of the debris by last night.

Today, engineers and officials will discuss the best method to demolish the building, while the district office will consider declaring the area a disaster zone as a safety precaution for nearby residents’ life and property.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn, who inspected the scene yesterday, said a committee had been set up to probe those involved in the demolition and some arrest warrants would be issued accordingly.

He said the incident was within the frame of three offences – recklessness causing the death of others, violating the Building Act 1979 and resisting an official order, because the demolition had been suspended by the district office.

Police arrested Tanapon Pareesen, 43, on Thursday night as soon as a Chiang Mai Court approved a warrant for his arrest.

His wife Janjira Kerdlaew, who was a 50-year-old nurse, had not reported to work at her hospital in Chiang Mai province since December 9. Her body was found three days later, burnt beyond recognition.

Tanapon remained calm and smiled from time to time after his arrest. He has denied any wrongdoing.

“It seems like he made preparations to defend himself beforehand,” Pol Maj- General Pittaya Sirirak, the acting deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5, said yesterday.

Tanapon has been charged with pre-meditated murder and concealing the body. He has hired a lawyer.

Police plan to grill him in a bid |to get him to |confess.

He was implicated in the crime by Niran Kaewtecha, a former convict who recently completed a jail term for murdering a rape victim.

Speaking to police, Niran alleged that Tanapon had planned to kill Janjira for months and had prepared wood and tyres to burn her body.

Niran alleged that Tanapon strangled Janjira and put her body in a sack. Tanapon helped to burn her body, Niran alleged.

He alleged that Tanapon hired him to kill Janjira out of anger because she had verbally abused him for having extramarital affairs and had often demanded that he return money he owed her. They had split twice because of his womanising but got back together in February, he said.

Tanapon’s younger sister is married to Niran’s younger brother.

Niran alleged that Tanapon offered him Bt100,000 to dispose of Janjira’s body but eventually told him to take possession of her car instead. Police found the car in Niran’s possession.

The guide will be available in Thai and English.

The government will hand out 10,000 copies of the Thai version and 5,000 copies of the English version as media outlets across various platforms are set to cover the events.

The late King passed away on October 13 this year at the age of 89. His royal cremation is expected to take place within a year.

The event will be grand and befitting his royal status.

The publication will be part of the government’s public relations work for an occasion of great significance to the country.

An informed source said the public relations plan for the event had already been approved. “It will be implemented in three phases: ahead of, during and after the royal cremation ceremony,” the source said.

The PR panel for the royal cremation ceremonies met yesterday with PM’s Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul, who served as the chair.

The media guide is expected to cover the biography of the late king, his royal works, his talents and his passing. Also included will be knowledge of traditions related to royal cremation ceremonies.

The PR panel plans to conduct media activities to provide |relevant information to media outlets and the public in various other forms as well.

“There will be CDs and DVDs about his royal musical compositions, for example,” the source added.

TV and radio broadcasting, plus media centres would also be set up to carry out PR work during the royal cremation ceremonies.

The panel also plans to organise training for reporters in regard to the royal cremation ceremony, the source said.

He said people who speculated that he would resign wanted to damage the government because he oversaw the country’s security and police affairs.

“If I’m ousted it would affect government stability,” he said.

He blamed the media for creating the speculation.

“I volunteered to work so why would I suddenly resign? It’s illogical,” he said. “Moreover, I’ve never quarrelled with the prime minister [Prayut Chan-o-cha] because we have been working together. But the media likes to write their own reports.”

He said that the media had reported previously that he had fallen ill, although he said he has not been sick.

“If the premier thought I’m too old to work he would dismiss me,” the 72-year-old minister said.

They were later released on Bt20,000 bail by the Bangkok Military Court on condition that they do not leave the country, express political opinions or incite public disturbance.

The red-shirt leaders were arrested at the Imperial Lat Phrao department store on June 5 when they gathered with followers of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for the opening of the centre.

Police accused them of violating a post-coup ban imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on any political gathering of five people or more.

Eighteen UDD leaders were present in court yesterday to hear the formal charge against them. They included Nattawut Saikua, Thida Thawornseth, Weng Tojirakarn, Veerakan Musigapong, Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Korkaew Pikulthong.

UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan, one of the 19 defendants, was not present in court yesterday. He has been detained at Bangkok Remand Prison after a court earlier found that he broke conditions for his temporary release.

About 50 followers of the red-shirt movement gathered at the court yesterday to show support for the UDD leaders.

Winyat Chatmoontree, a lawyer for the red-shirt leaders, said yesterday that the defendants attempted to convince the court that the event on June 5 did not violate the ban on political gatherings.

“We acted openly and in good faith toward the country. The event was not of a political nature,” Winyat said.

Ongart Thamnita, the spokesman for followers of the temple, could also be arrested on sight after a court approved a warrant for his arrest on Thursday, a police source said.

As it was feared that a raid on the 800-acre temple compound could encounter a large gathering of disciples, it was reported that Provincial Police Region 1 acting deputy chief Pol Maj-General Sombat Milinthachinda had sent an urgent letter to six provincial police chiefs to prepare their crowd control companies.

This would involve 1,800 officers from Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Ang Thong and Lop Buri plus another 300 officers from Sing Buri and Chai Nat.

Phra Dhammachayo is being sought over money-laundering charges linked to the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement case.

The arrest warrant for Ongart was approved after DSI spokesman Pol Major Woranan Srilam filed a complaint at the Crime Suppression Division against Ongart and other temple adherents under Section 116 (2) for making public statements that incited disaffection in a manner likely to cause a disturbance.

Deputy national police spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanacharoen said that the temple, in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district, faced more than 100 complaints and police would study details and steps to decide whether to apply for another search warrant later.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahamakul spent eight hours at Klong Luang Police Station until 1am yesterday going over cases against the temple, an informed source reported.

The meeting was told that as many as 61 buildings in the over-2,000-rai temple compound were built without permission and there were also seven new encroachment cases.

When combined to the previously filed 43 cases, it totalled 111 cases, the source said.

Meanwhile, 150 officers from the 1st company of crowd control police at Ang Thong Provincial Police Command yesterday rehearsed crowd-control measures to back the DSI operation to search the temple, an informed source reported. The province’s second company of crowd-control officers were due to practice later.

Police continued to man checkpoints on the roads surrounding the temple yesterday and screen people coming in and out of the temple, while disciples visited the temple to make merit and pray.

One of the two drones used by the DSI to survey the temple compound, apparently malfunctioned yesterday and fell on the head of an unnamed official, causing a bleeding head wound. DSI officials picked up the drone and left the temple’s seventh gate without commenting to the media.

PARTICIPANTS in a hearing yesterday on the draft organic law on the Election Commission (EC) want the new law to boost the agency’s efficiency in holding elections that are |transparent, free from fraud and vote-buying.

They also called for the new law to help ensure that the election agency will treat all political parties fairly.

Political parties agreed that it was necessary for the EC to be more powerful, as the draft advocates. But they also complained that the bill appeared to ignore the rights of other people to be scrutinised by the EC, such as politicians or election candidates.

Nikorn Jamnong, who represented the Chart Thai Pattana Party at the event, said the bill would give “brimming power” to the EC with a lot of rights to election officials.

However, he said the law appeared to ignore people scrutinised by the EC, such as politicians and election candidates. “Those people will have too few rights to protect themselves or counter allegations against them,” Nikorn said.

He called on the drafters to consider “allowing fairness” for parties and politicians.

Yesterday’s event was held at Parliament by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC). Some 70 people attended, including representatives from political parties, the EC, Interior Ministry and general public, as well as the law drafters.

Smaller political parties also attended, including representatives of Thai Liberal, Progressive Democratic Nation and New Democracy.

Their representatives agreed that the EC must be more powerful to help them take action against people who break the law without fear of political retribution. However, they voiced opposition to a clause that would see provincial election officials replaced by election inspectors.

Thai Liberal Party’s Sommai Boonheng urged the CDC to review this clause and rectify any weakness in the system of provincial election committees, rather than replacing it with a new one.

Participants also suggested that the drafters add a requirement for EC members to declare their assets and debts, along with their spouses and underage children. They argued that the regulators also need to make themselves ready to be scrutinised.

They also called for a mechanism in the new law to help the EC complete their tasks more quickly.

In opening the hearing, CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan told the participants the law drafted by his team aimed at “bringing a new era” to the election agency. He said the main goal was to help elected assemblies of all levels get members who are good people and free from corruption so that the country and public will fully benefit.

CDC secretary Pakorn Nilpraphan said yesterday that a new EC under the new law would work in a constructive manner, instead of finding faults in politicians, as was the case in the past.

“I am grateful for His Majesty’s kindness,” Chuwit said. “Long Live the King.”

The former convict also pledged to be a good citizen from now on.

Chuwit was sent to jail in late January for the 2003 demolition of bars and shops at Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Square night entertainment area. Back then, he was widely known as a massage-parlour tycoon.

Despite that scandal, he had managed to transform himself into a successful politician.

“I have defended myself in legal battles and gone through the judicial process. So, when I lost the legal battle, I was willing to go to jail,” he said before saying that people should not shirk their legal responsibility by ignoring court orders or getting ordained.

Chuwit said even though he had lost about 10 kilograms behind bars, he would like to thank the judicial process for allowing him to fight to the end and to pay for his wrongs.

He said he had volunteered at a prison hospital while jailed and had collected about 80 bodies.

“I will make merit in dedication to those deceased people soon,” Chuwit said.

Asked whether he would return to politics, the colourful figure said: “No. As for now, I think I won’t engage in politics again.”

He said it was possible that when he wanted to say something more publicly, he might give an interview to Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda.

Sorrayuth stopped his TV-host role in March in the wake of a court’s guilty verdict against him in a bribery scandal.

When told Sorrayuth was not on TV, Chuwit said: “I may give an interview to others then.”

Commenting on his future, Chuwit said he would look for an honest occupation. “I may apply to media outlets. I can boost their ratings,” he said. “Or perhaps I will write a book on my life in prison.”

Chuwit walked out of jail at about 5pm yesterday. He paid his respects to a spirit house outside the prison before speaking to the media there.

Asked what he would like to do first, Chuwit said: “To jump into a pool and swim.”

He also disclosed that he would board a flight to the United States tomorrow to attend the graduation ceremony of his daughter.

The second and the third readings of the amendments to the Computer Crime Act were scheduled to be debated in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday.

Ahead of the NLA meeting, the Thai Netizen Network had presented over 360,000 signatures gathered through the website Change.org from those opposing the law. Its campaign said that this law was a reincarnation of the earlier proposed Single Gateway.

The government and the drafters of the law, however, denied their accusation.

While the Network, through all its channels, asked the people to follow the live broadcast of the NLA debate, it also shared what was being discussed.

“Peace and order, or morality, who can define it? It is so broad and no law can define it,” Thai Netizen quoted an NLA member as saying.

Communication arts academic Warat Karuchit wrote on Facebook about the three controversial Articles that faced opposition – Article 14 (1), which takes action against anyone who posts false information that can damage the country such as fake websites; Article 16 (2), on the destruction of false information according to court’s order; and Article 20 (4), which authorises a five-member computer data screening committee to filter content that might not be illegal but may breach “public order” or the “moral high ground of people”.

“If you want to attack these five people, should you wait until we see who they are?” he wrote.

“In conclusion, sometimes we have to give and take. We give something in exchange for something. We are always complaining that there is trash, dangerous content, scams as well as provocative content. We complain that we can’t do anything, but when there will be some laws for us to change, we have to adjust. We cannot enjoy the same freedom we have had all along; we oppose and brand it as dictatorship,” he wrote.

Achara Deboonme wrote: “If you need the power to examine, you have to [draft the law which] includes penalty for authorities who abuse the power, and the remedy.”

The Computer Crime Act was discussed widely since late last month. Yesterday afternoon, the Facebook page Anti-Single Gateway: Thailand Internet Firewall #opsinglegateway asked its supporters to visit the Web page of the Royal Military Finance Department and press F5 for Distributed Denial of Service attack.

@kafaak wrote: “I saw some tweets [inviting people to] hack government offices’ websites to protest against the Computer Crime Act. The more you do so, the more there will be valid reasons why the Computer Crime Act is necessary.”

@ARMdhiravath wrote: “Actually those who should be moaning about the Computer Crime Act are the media, the distorting media who write fake news and instigate people, publish graphic pictures. Ethics cannot control.”

@Gozzilawtf: “I like this comment – the reply to those who say we don’t have to be afraid as we do nothing wrong is: Try depositing your house keys with anyone you think is a good person.”

@washimario: Computer Crime Act [is] the law that authorises five people to decide for the citizens of the country on what they should or should not do, what is allowed to be seen and what is not.

@Fringer, one of the campaigners against this bill from Thai Netizen Network, wrote: “The Computer Crime Act is not a Single Gateway physically but it is in keeping with the aim to ‘control the information’ through legal authorisation (Web blocking centre/ decryption).

@T3thee posted a tweet of @I0I93 last year that, “Thailand should follow the US in the way it builds its people’s database. It [the US] can take action against anti-government people so quickly. We should follow.”

@irichmillion wrote: “Singapore is very strict in controlling prohibited content on the Internet. It’s the first country in the region that has strictly controlled information since 1996. [Prohibited content] must be deleted within 24 hours.”

Pattanadesh Asasappakij wrote: “The information in this country is so messy. On the Computer Crime Act, the opposers said, ‘We don’t want Single Gateway’, and the other side said this is not Single Gateway but just to control the people who irresponsibly post remarks offending others. I don’t care. I [ironically] am always polite.”

The appointments were made under command of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The royal command, undersigned by the prime minister, was made on Thursday and announced in the Royal Gazette on Friday, with immediate effect.

Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, formerly a PM’s Office minister, has become the new justice minister. He is filling the seat left vacant after the previous office holder, Paiboon Koomchaya, was appointed a privy councillor for the new King.

Thirakiat Charoensethasilp, who was serving as deputy education minister before the latest Cabinet shake-up, has been appointed as the new education minister. The education minister’s seat had been left vacant after the previous office holder, Dapong Ratanasuwan, was appointed a privy councillor for the new King.

Both Paiboon and Dapong are among the new members of the Privy Council.

Uttama Savanayana, formerly the information and communications technology minister in Prayut’s government, has been appointed to become the new industry minister. He is replacing Atchaka Sibunruang, who has been appointed as the new science and technology minister.

The outgoing science and technology minister, Pichet Durongkaveroj, has in turn been appointed to become the new digital economy and society minister.

Uttama had resigned as the ICT minister when his agency was renamed the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

ML Panadda Diskul, formerly the other PM’s Office minister, has been appointed to become deputy education minister, replacing Thirakiat.

Outgoing transport minister Omsin Chivapruek and former deputy commerce minister Suvit Maesincee have been appointed as new PM’s Office ministers.

Chutima Boonyaprapat, who just retired as the permanent secretary of the Commerce Ministry at the end of September, has been appointed as the new deputy agriculture minister.

Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, a business executive who is formerly an adviser to the industry minister, has been appointed as deputy commerce minister.

Veerasak Futrakul, a former permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry who just resigned as a member of the National Legislative Assembly, has been appointed deputy foreign minister.

Pichit Akrathit, chief executive of Asia Wealth Securities, has been appointed as new deputy transport minister. Earlier this year he was appointed as chairman of the State Railway of Thailand’s executive board.