Shoppers flee fire at Central Bang Na

A fire broke out on the seventh floor of the Central Bang Na shopping mall late yesterday afternoon, prompting shoppers and shop assistants to flee the building in panic.
The floor housed the mall's food court, a movie theatre, a bowling alley and a water-fun park. No injuries or deaths were reported.
After firefighters had the fire under control in 20 minutes, the initial inspection found that it might have started around 3pm in the food-court area, which was under renovation, possibly after sparks from metal welding burned a wall and the ceiling. The fire-damaged area covered 50-60 square metres. Forensic investigators were inspecting the scene for the exact cause of the fire.
The incident caused panic to shoppers who fled the building and gathered on the footpath, while many tried to drive their cars out of the mall, causing a severe traffic jam in the area.
A seventh floor Major Bowl assistant manager, Natthakan Aasainam, said there was no fire alarm at the time but he smelled the burning smoke and looked toward the food court, some 30 metres away, and saw the flames, so he alerted customers and fellow workers to run out of the building. "I wasn't so shocked because I believed firefighters would put it out in time. Many others were fearful and stampeded to get out. I hurriedly put money in the safe box before running out," he said.
Forty-year-old Boonthiam Kaewmueuangkao, who was shopping with her young daughter,
said they were on the fifth floor escalator when they smelled and saw the smoke and people fleeing. Getting scared, she carried her daughter and ran along with others until they were clear of the building.

Killer of NZ croquet chief nabbed

Syrian ex-commando admits stabbing New Zealander in Jomtien after row

A former Syrian Army commando has been arrested in connection with the murder of Charles Edmund Jones, late president of the World Croquet Federation, in Jones's rented condominium in Chon Buri's Jomtien area on Monday night.
The New Zealander's body was discovered in the condominium with multiple stab wounds on Tuesday.
Provincial Police Region 2 chief Lt-General Thangai Prasajaksatru and Pattaya Police superintendent Col Nanthawut Suwanla-ong yesterday presented the suspect, 21-year-old Mohamad Shanar Ryad, at a press conference along with the victim's notebook, cell phones and wristwatch, which were reportedly stolen, as well as a pocket knife they alleged was the murder weapon.
Ryad reportedly told police he met Jones on August 19 in South Pattaya. He said Jones invited him to smoke marijuana with him in his room and paid him Bt400 to perform oral sex on him. Ryad claimed that on Monday night, Jones invited him to his room again, but the pair got into an argument, during which Jones pulled a knife on him and attempted to sexually assault him. According to police, Ryad admitted to using his pocket knife to stab the victim about 20 times before fleeing with Jones's valuables and hiding at the room of Ryad's Thai girlfriend in Soi Chalermphrakiat 19.
Thangai said police had determined that Ryad came to Thailand as a refugee with the assistance of the United Nations after serving as an army commando in Syria.
He had travelled between Thailand and Malaysia frequently over the past four years and was recently fired from his job as a cook at a Pattaya restaurant before moving in with his girlfriend, Thangai said. Police took the suspect to re-enact the crime at the Jomtien condo yesterday.
In related news, police have arrested an alleged hitman, ranked 16th on their most-wanted list of professional killers, in connection with several murders in Nakhon Sawan. The suspect had evaded police efforts to arrest him and taken a job as a security guard at Suvarnbhumi Airport before quitting work, going into hiding and seeking treatment for gout, they said.
Bundit (also known as Sathit) Tomoung, 53, was arrested while lying low in his hometown in Nakhon Sawan's Chumsaeng district, Pol Colonel Supat Pheungphuang told a press conference at Metropolitan Police Headquarters yesterday.

Democrats call for end to intimidation of govt critics by the red shirts

The Democrat Party yesterday claimed to have endured a "week of harassment" last week as senior opposition figures including Chuan Leekpai and Abhisit Vejjajiva, as well as other critics of the government, were subject to intimidation by red-shirt supporters of the government.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the intimidation of former premiers Chuan and Abhisit, as well as an assault on two students involved in a protest, must not be allowed to happen again.
Democrat Party Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said the party had assigned him to check with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on the progress of investigations into the alleged red-shirt attack on two students protesting outside Parliament on Thursday during the policy debate.
Sathit said he was confident Chalerm would be able to rein in the red shirts. However, he said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Pheu Thai were responsible for the activities of red shirts, because she appointed them to carry out tasks related to political activities.
He urged the public to keep a watch for any double standard regarding the government's treatment of red shirts.
Democrat Party MP Kowit Tarana warned red shirts to behave appropriately, saying their leaders' rise to power does not give them impunity.
"The premier and her ministers preach reconciliation in press interviews, but take no action against those who assault people outside Parliament,'' Kowit said.
He said House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont cannot avoid responsibility, as the incident happened in front of Parliament. The speaker must take action to see that law and order is maintained, Kowit said.
Chavanond said the Democrats will next week name a shadow Cabinet to check the government.
"To ensure that we can effectively check the government, we will select members who have potential and competency and can fully devote their time to carrying out their duties to best of their ability,'' the spokesman said.
He criticised as inappropriate Pheu Thai's decision to appoint party deputy spokesman Wim Rungwattnachinda as secretary to the PM's office minister in charge of overseeing the media, due to allegations that Wim was involved in bribing reporters.
The Democrat spokesman also said the Pheu Thai-led government's policy to suspend contributions to the Oil Fund was a distortion of the ruling party's election campaign promises, and will not curb the rising cost of living as claimed.
Chavanond said the suspension of the contribution would put the Oil Fund Bt5 billion to Bt6 billion in debt, a burden that would ultimately have to be shouldered by the public. Democrat Party Bangkok MP Attawit Suwanpakdi said the prime minister promised during an election campaign event at Rajamangala Sport Stadium that the Oil Fund would be permanently scrapped in order to drastically reduce the cost of living. However, the government now says the contribution to the Oil Fund will be suspended for six months. Thus, Attawit said, prices of goods will not come down because the measure is temporary.
He said the drastic drop in the benzene price to Bt34.77 will affect sugar cane farmers, since the margin between benzene and benzene gasohol is only 23 satang. Many motorists will stop using gasohol, and prices of tapioca and sugar will plunge, he said.
The suspension of the contribution to the Oil Fund, he added, will affect the subsidy for LPG, which Attawit said was used by every household for cooking. Even though the diesel price has dropped by Bt3, the price of LPG will rise from Bt280 to Bt570 per 15 kg cylinder, he said.

Stakes rise in casino row

CHUVIT UNVEILS NEW VIDEO OF SECRET DEN, THREATENS TO DEAL CARDS ON SECOND OUTLET

Rak Thailand Party list MP Chuvit Kamolvisit has revealed a new video clip apparently showing gambling equipment being removed from a hidden casino he revealed in last week's policy debate in parliament.

ANOTHER EXPOSE: Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday revealed a new video clip which he said shows gambling equipment being moved out of an illegal casino.

If the video clip is real, it will be a blow to the Sutthisan police station, which insisted it was unable to find any illegal gambling dens in its jurisdiction, as claimed by Mr Chuvit.
In the new clip, trucks are seen transporting gambling equipment out of the casino to be stored at a nearby warehouse. The video was supposedly recorded about 3am on Thursday.
Mr Chuvit played a clip of the suspected casino before parliament on Tuesday, the first day of the two-day debate on the new government's policies.
He said yesterday this was the last time he would disclose information about this particular casino, as he found it unacceptable that the police were too slow to take action.
The police had waited for three days before going to the alleged casino, which gave the casino operator plenty of time to remove evidence, said Mr Chuvit.
That ruined the credibility of the police, said Mr Chuvit.
He knew of another illegal casino in the Chokechai Si area and he also had video footage of its operations. Police have denied such a casino exists, which has upset Mr Chuvit, who yesterday threatened to release the video to prove his claims.
He denied speculation that he exposed the alleged casinos as a favour to someone who desperately wanted to remove national police chief Wichean Potephosree from his post.
He insisted that what he was doing was for the sake of society and not a political game.
Pol Gen Sathaphon Laothong, who is leading the police panel investigating the casino claims, said 10 witnesses had been questioned and they had provided useful information.
Among the witnesses were taxi motorcycle drivers and car park attendants of the first alleged casino.
The panel would invite Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner Chaktip Chaichinda for questioning on Thursday in his capacity as the boss of both Sutthisan and Chokechai Si police stations.
Pol Maj Gen Suthi Nerakanthi, MPB's Division 4 chief, said he had received a report concluding that there was no such casino on Chokechai Si Road, as claimed by Mr Chuvit.
Meanwhile, an Abac poll published by Assumption University shows the public was most impressed by Mr Chuvit in the policy debate.
The survey of almost 1,500 Bangkok residents aged 18 and older showed 90.7% backed Mr Chuvit, whom they said was helping society. Most also named Mr Chuvit as a rising star because of his performance and said they wanted him to keep divulging the truth.

Southerners press govt for special zone

YONGYUTH SAYS IDEA NEVER FLOATED

Muslims in the deep South are urging the Pheu Thai-led government to fulfil its campaign promise to turn the three southernmost provinces into a special administrative zone.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit told parliament during the government's policy address on Wednesday that his party had never actually floated the idea of establishing the so-called Nakhon Pattani or Pattani Metropolitan model. He said the idea had been initiated by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former chairman of the Pheu Thai Party, and Yingluck Shinawatra repeated it during her election campaign in the deep South.
Mr Yongyuth said the government's policy on decentralisation had been drafted broadly and it was necessary for all stakeholders to discuss the topic and determine what type of special administration should be applied in the deep South.
Anantachai Thaiprathan, former member of the now-dissolved National Reconciliation Commission, said Ms Yingluck must make it clear that turning the restive South into a special administrative zone is a priority for her government.
"Nearly 5,000 people have been killed [in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala] in since violence flared up in 2004," he said. "Isn't the number of people killed enough evidence to adjust administration in the deep South?"

• Related: Yala man shot; cops hunt bombers

Mr Anantachai is also a member of a people's network which has drafted a decentralisation bill for a new local administration model in the deep South.
He said the bill arose from discussions between a small circle of people and members of the network about the situation in the deep South and how they can contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict.
Mr Anantachai cited Section 163 of the constitution which states that the public has a right to propose their own bills to parliament if they have the backing of at least 10,000 supporters.
He said he also wanted the Yingluck government to study this draft law and support it, as he believed it would be an effective tool to help quell violence in the deep South and help empower locals.
Somboon Ahmad Bualuang, peace advocate and chairman of the Puyut Tambon Administration Organisation in Pattani, said Ms Yingluck must study models of special local administrative areas in the country, mainly the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya in Chon Buri, to see which was the most relevant to the deep South.
"State officials, especially those in security agencies, must change their perceptions that turning the deep South into a special administrative zone will lead to the separation of a new state," said Mr Somboon. "In fact, this will help solve the violence problem."
Nimu Makajae, former chairman of the Yala Provincial Islamic Committee, said besides the special administration body, he wanted the government to be open to negotiations with insurgent groups to help bring peace to the region.
Mr Nimu disagreed with the government's idea to restructure the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre initiated by the Democrat-led administration, saying it should remain in operation until it is proven that it is no longer needed.

Chalerm vows lese majeste net crackdown

Yingluck orders check if UDD intimidated press

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has promised to crack down on websites with lese majeste content and to look into alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung offers Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra some advice while she chairs a meeting to explain the government’s policies to senior state officials at Government House yesterday. CHANAT KATANYU

Mr Chalerm, who oversees the Royal Thai Police Office, said taking action against websites containing content that insults the monarchy would be one of his top priorities.
He made the statement yesterday after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called a cabinet meeting to apportion tasks among members of her cabinet.

• Related: Policies 'for good of country'

Mr Chalerm said he would tell the police force to set up a war room to deal with websites with lese majeste content straight away.
"Such websites will not be tolerated by this government. I will take action as quickly as possible," Mr Chalerm said.
Mr Chalerm also said Prime Minister Yingluck had told him to follow up on a case involving alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.
A group of journalists on the parliament beat on Thursday said in an open letter to Ms Yingluck that they were concerned about an email hate campaign being circulated among red shirts who claimed to be supporters of the Pheu Thai Party.
The emails expressed disappointment over news coverage of Ms Yingluck and singled out a Channel 7 female reporter.
The e-mails included a photo of the woman and her name, with the remarks "Remember her face", and "Take care of her when you see her".
Mr Chalerm said he would look into the matter.
He dismissed accusations that the government was behind the email hate campaign.
Mr Chalerm said he had asked Kwanchai Praipana, a red shirt leader in Udon Thani, to ensure his red shirt supporters behaved themselves.
Mr Kwanchai has promised to keep the red shirts in Udon Thani under control, Mr Chalerm said.
Udon Thani is one of the main strongholds of the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Mr Kwanchai yesterday expressed disapproval of the use of force by red shirts who allegedly assaulted two men who were laying a wreath outside parliament in protest against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon.
They were upset after he supposedly failed to show neutrality in the House this week.
He said this could further hurt the red shirts' image which has already been cast in a negative light.
Mr Kwanchai said any ill-judged moves by red shirts would do more harm than good to the government, although he believed that most red shirts have supported efforts to restore national reconciliation.
Mr Kwanchai also said Tida Tavornseth, UDD chairwoman, was no longer in a position to control the red shirts.
Most red shirt supporters would only listen to Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua _ the red shirt leaders who have now become Pheu Thai MPs.

UN office in Nigerian capital bombed; at least 18 dead

ABUJA - A suicide bomb blast rocked the UN compound in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday, killing at least 18 people, leaving others trapped and blowing out large areas of the building, officials said.

Witnesses reported that the bomb went off after a suspect rammed a car through the front gate. Parts of the first two floors of the building were blown out and rescue workers scrambled to rescue those left inside.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of bombings in recent months.

"So far, we have 18 dead and eight injured," Mike Zuokumor, police commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, which includes Abuja, told journalists.

"It was a Honda Accord car. The suicide bomber died immediately as the bomb cut him into three. I cannot say how many people are still in the building. The rescue operation is still on."

A member of security personnel speaking on condition of anonymity spoke of "many dead."

"A guy drove a Honda car, forced his way through the gate and rammed into the building, and then the bomb exploded," the security source said at the scene.

AFP correspondents saw wounded people being taken from the building, including those with bloodied heads. Some appeared lifeless but it was unclear whether they were dead.

One UN staff member said people were still trapped in the building that sustained heavy damage.

"I don't know what is going on. Many people are still trapped upstairs and we need a crane to bring people down," said the UN staffer who did not want to give her name.

Two cranes were later brought to the scene and rescue workers were trying to free those trapped on the upper floors.

"We spoke to our colleagues in Lagos, who confirmed that the explosion was caused by a bomb. But we have no further information for now," a UN spokeswoman in Geneva told AFP.

A spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs meanwhile told AFP that a colleague on site had sent an SMS message to say that the explosion "appears to have come from the gate entrance to the building."

The UN building is located in Abuja's diplomatic zone, not far from the US Embassy, and houses a number of United Nations agencies.

Security is usually extremely tight, with non-UN vehicles typically not allowed to approach the gate leading to the compound, and the building is set back from the street.

A bomb blast that rocked a car park at national police headquarters in Abuja in June and killed at least two people was claimed by Boko Haram. Police first said it was the result of a suicide blast before later retracting their statement, saying they could not be sure.

Most of the attacks blamed on the sect have occurred in the country's northeast, but a number have been carried out elsewhere, including the previous explosion in Abuja as well as several in Suleija near the capital.

The sect launched an uprising in 2009, put down by a brutal military assault that left hundreds dead. It went dormant for about a year before reemerging in 2010 with a series of assassinations of security personnel and politicians, as well as religious and community leaders.

There have been growing concerns that the sect has formed links with extremist groups outside of Nigeria, including Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

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Bomb kills 5 defence volunteers

Terror group blamed for suspected reprisal attack

Five defence volunteers were killed and another wounded in a bomb blast in Narathiwat's Rueso district while on their way to inspect the scene of a gun attack yesterday morning.

The six were travelling in a pickup truck heading to a rubber plantation in tambon Ruang of the district where Somsak Saeng-ngam, 53, had been shot dead by suspected insurgents while working in his rubber plantation.

The five victims killed by the bomb were Mayari Late, Eksunan Manirat, Ekkittiphon Chuayrot, Trizukifli Taye and Tri Thawin.

Their bodies were torn apart by the impact of the blast.

The injured defence volunteer was Triariphen Sira.

Pol Lt Sithanon Samli, who heads the investigation into the explosion, said the bomb consisted of 20 kilogrammes of explosives stuffed into a fire distinguisher. It had been buried in the middle of the road.

The bomb left a crater in the road about one metre deep and one metre wide.

Another team of police narrowly escaped the explosion because their car was travelling in front of the pickup that was hit.

Assistant district chief Sarawut Sama-ae, who survived the blast, suspects the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent movement was behind the attack.

Earlier in the day, a military ranger force from the Narathiwat 30 Special Task Force raided a mountain area believed to be the secret den of about eight RKK members, said Mr Sarawut.

The suspected insurgent group escaped the pre-dawn raid and might have asked their comrades in the communities to respond by attacking the six defence volunteers, he said.

In Yala, five garbage collectors of tambon Mae Wat municipality were injured when a bomb went off inside their rubbish truck while they unloading it at a dump site.

Two out of the five were left in critical condition after the blast that was reported to police around 7.30am.

Police investigators said the 5kg time bomb had been left in the rubbish.

Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana, who is in charge of southern security affairs, said the government was speeding up measures to boost security and tackle the unrest.

Japan PM announces his resignation

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday stepped down as president of the ruling party, paving the way for the selection of the disaster-hit nation's sixth new premier in five years.
Kan's resignation comes after a turbulent 14 months in power during which he was criticised for his response to the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear plant accident, which saw his approval ratings plummet.
"I propose to you that I resign as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan today," Kan told party lawmakers Friday.
"Once a new leader is elected, I will resign promptly as prime minister and my cabinet will resign."
A leadership election for a new party president, who would then become prime minister, is expected on Monday. Parliament will then vote the leader in as premier on Tuesday.
A relaxed-looking Kan called on his colleagues to "rebuild" the DPJ and reflected on his time leading Japan during its worst post-war crisis. "I believe I did my best and did what I had to do in severe conditions," he said.
After surviving a no-confidence vote in June, Kan said he would quit on condition that three key bills were passed -- a second budget, a budget financing bill and legislation promoting the use of renewable energy.
The budget for reconstruction in quake-hit areas was approved in July, while the final two bills were passed Friday, clearing the way for him to depart.
At least five candidates are jockeying to succeed Kan, including the favourite, former foreign minister Seiji Maehara. Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda officially threw his hat into the ring shortly after Kan's resignation.
The winner faces the unenviable task of overseeing Japan's biggest post-war reconstruction, resolving the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl 25 years ago, and shielding the economy from a soaring yen.
The new premier must also unite a divided parliament, decide on a new energy policy and win market confidence that Japan can overcome a legislative quagmire to address the world's biggest debt mountain.
Ratings agency Moody's this week downgraded Japan, citing its revolving-door political leadership as an obstacle to reform.
"The latest power change will yet again give the world the impression that Japan's leadership is unstable," said Shinichi Nishikawa, professor of politics at Meiji University in Tokyo.
Maehara, 49, who stepped down as foreign minister in March over a donations row, could become the nation's youngest post-war prime minister. He has advocated pursuing growth instead of raising taxes to ease Japan's fiscal woes.
Noda -- who recently courted controversy with statements supporting war criminals -- has softened his earlier stance on hiking taxes.
Between candidates such as Maehara and the premiership stands party kingmaker Ichiro Ozawa, who controls the DPJ's biggest political faction.
Ozawa, a divisive figure who faces criminal trial over a different donations scandal, leads up to 130 lawmakers out of the 398 who can vote on Kan's replacement.
He made waves Friday by saying he would not support Maehara, throwing the race into uncertainty.
During his tenure, 64-year-old Kan struggled amid low support ratings, a power struggle within the DPJ and a divided parliament in which the Liberal Democratic Party opposition blocked various bills.
The deadlock helped erode high early expectations of him as the first leader in years not born into a political dynasty, as the DPJ failed to meet its election pledges.
He was seen as mishandling the response to the March quake and tsunami that left 20,000 dead or missing and sparked the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident that forced tens of thousands to evacuate.
The atomic crisis triggered accusations of government negligence amid radiation leaks and food safety scares.
Kan later advocated a nuclear-free future for Japan in defiance of the power companies, bureaucrats and politicians who make up Japan's so-called "nuclear village", making more enemies along the way.
The message tapped into popular sentiment, with some polls saying 70 percent of Japanese want to phase out atomic power, but was not enough to revive his own tumbling ratings.

Red shirts raise journos' ire

A group of journalists on the parliament beat yesterday called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to look into alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.

A man is held by red shirts who tried to block him from laying a wreath outside Parliament in a protest against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont. Some MPs say the speaker lacked neutrality during the government policy debate in the House this week.

In an open letter to Ms Yingluck, the reporters said they were concerned about an email hate campaign being conducted among red shirts who claimed to be supporters of Pheu Thai.
The emails expressed disappointment over news coverage of Ms Yingluck and singled out a Channel 7 female reporter.
The e-mails included a photo of the woman and her name, with the remarks "Remember her face", and "Take care of her when you see her".
The call by the reporters coincided with an incident outside parliament yesterday when red shirts allegedly assaulted two men who were laying a wreath outside the House in protest against House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.
Yutthaphum Tanleg and Arthit Poonsiri were confronted by at least 10 red shirts who were camping out in front of parliament.
Dozens of red shirts had amassed outside parliament to mark the occasion of the government's policy statement delivery and surrounded the two men, destroying their wreath and beating them up.
Police tried to step in, but failed to act, because they were outnumbered.
Eventually other red shirts interceded and pulled the two away to safety, he said.
Mr Yutthaphum said he came to protest against Mr Somsak because he had failed to do his job properly during debate on the government's policy statement.
The assault came on the heels of news that red shirts had intimidated a female reporter from China's CCTV news agency on Tuesday.
The reporter was said to be wearing a yellow outfit when she stood amid red shirts to report on their rally.
The red shirts surrounded her and tried to prevent her from doing her job.
They let up only after the reporter's interpreter convinced them to stop.
Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey yesterday brought the assaults to the attention of parliament.
Prime Minister Yingluck said she would assign Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung to investigate.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit condemned attempts to intimidate reporters. "The press has a code of ethics to govern its members," he said. "The public will be the judge if any fail to keep true to that code."

House chaos hurts govt

ANALYSIS: Pheu Thai to blame for quorum mess

A parliamentary session to debate the policy statement delivered by the government was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night before it was cancelled for a lack of a quorum.

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon appears worn out as he takes a break from his duties in parliament yesterday. Mr Somsak has had his hands full trying to deal with a commotion during the debate on the government’s policy statement. CHANAT KATANYU

This does not bode well for House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon, who is likely to find it tough to keep MPs under control.
The cancellation of the session indicates there is no guarantee that the Pheu Thai-led coalition government can always benefit from having the majority of the House seats and a House speaker known for his strict approach to maintaining order. The session concluded yesterday.
As the ruling party with the majority of House seats, the onus is on Pheu Thai to ensure there are enough party MPs present when the House meets.
Whenever a House session has to be called off because of a lack of quorum, the Pheu Thai Party is entirely to blame. Half of the MPs have to be present to constitute a quorum and the party controls more than half of the House.
Pheu Thai cannot underestimate the opposition Democrat Party which is skilled at using parliamentary regulations to its advantage.
The Democrats have a sense of timing and can take advantage of missteps in parliament to throw the government off balance.
They always come up with a reason to do so.
Their protest against House Speaker Somsak during the policy debate on Wednesday is a case in point.
Mr Somsak has earned the nickname "The Hammer Man" for his strict approach to ensuring MPs behave themselves during House sessions.
However, Mr Somsak's ability to maintain neutrality when he chairs House meetings has been called into question and he will be forced to deal with the tough task of handling protesting MPs during future House sessions.
During the policy debate on Wednesday, the Democrats fiercely protested against Mr Somsak's rules barring them from debating the government's policy on protecting the royal institution, and from criticising former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Democrats also protested against a government proposal for a motion to end the policy debate despite the fact there was still time for the opposition to question government leaders.
They said the House Speaker was showing bias against the opposition.
Yet Mr Somsak called off the meeting after he called a quorum count twice and found the meeting lacked enough bodies despite efforts to call government MPs into the House to fill out the numbers.
As a result, the two-day policy debate which was supposed to end on Wednesday, had to be deferred to yesterday.
House Speaker Mr Somsak yesterday insisted he would strictly enforce the House regulations to ensure that politics will be more constructive.
Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Chinnaworn Bunyakiat criticised Mr Somsak for lacking neutrality, failing to enforce House regulations correctly and being overly protective of the government.
Observers said that future House meetings will be anything but plain sailing for the government as long as Pheu Thai's primary aim is to protect Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Thaksin from criticism by the opposition.
And that's despite the fact that it has Pheu Thai MPs acting as the Shinawatra's "bodyguards" and a mass of supporters outside parliament.

Top cops transferred in casino scandal

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (left)
and Pol Gen Wichean Potphosree,
the national police chief.
(Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Six high-ranking police officers have been transferred to inactive posts pending investigation of Rak Thailand party-list MP Chuvit Kamolvisit's claim in parliament that police operate a major casino in the heart of Bangkok.

Pol Maj-Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat, Metropolitan Police Division 2 commander, Pol Col Paisal Wongwacharamongkol, chief of Suthisarn police, were transferred, along with four other senior officers at Suthisarn police station, police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said on Thursday afternoon.
The other officers are two deputy Suthisarn police chiefs, the chief suppression officer and chief investigation officer.
Pol Lt-Gen Chakthip Chaichinda, the Metropolitan Police chief, had ordered their immediate transfer to Metropolitan Police headquarters for 30 days pending investigation of the allegations, the spokesman said.
National police chief Wichean Potphosree today set up a video conference with regional police headquarters throughout the country and ordered them to take strict legal action against illegal casinos and other games outlets.
He cited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's policy instruction.
Regional police chiefs were also ordered to step up drug suppression.
Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary-general Ampol Wongsiri on Thursday confirmed MP Chuvit's claim that senior police officers own a big illegal casino in the capital.
Mr Ampol said his staff had found the casino on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road.
He said it was the same gambling den that the Rak Thailand Party leader exposed in parliament on Tuesday. It was overseen by local police and allowed in only high-stakes gamblers.
Mr Ampol said the casino had moved from Rama IX Road, Bangkok. There were also medium and small  gambling dens in apartment buildings on Lat Phrao Road.
He also confirmed Mr Chuvit's remark that illegal drugs were available in toilets of almost all entertainment venues.
Mr Ampol said he questioned Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda's insistence that Bangkok is free of casinos. He said taxi drivers could comfortably take gamblers to their favourite casinos in Bangkok.
According to a PACC source, senior police officers at two police agencies own the big casino on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road.
There was also an order to close illegal casinos in Bangkok prior to the July 3 general election, intended to force Thai gamblers to visit Thai politicians' casinos in neighbouring countries. Those politicians used their profits to fund their election campaigns, the source said.

PROCUREMENT

Apirak: Faces Supreme Court

High court to hear fire truck case

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday accepted for consideration a case against five former top officials and an Austrian company for their roles in alleged corruption in the purchase of fire boats and trucks for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in 2004.

Named as defendants in the case filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in July are former interior minister Pokin Polakul, former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont, former commerce minister Watana Muangsook, former head of the BMA's Disaster Prevention and Relief Department Pol Maj Gen Athilak Tanchukiat, the Austrian supplier Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG, and former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin.
The former officials have been charged with malfeasance in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code and the Anti-Price Collusion Act in connection with the procurement of fire trucks and boats and other disaster relief equipment worth 6.7 billion baht for the BMA.
The NACC's probe found that the 315 fire trucks and 30 fire boats were procured at an inflated price.
The NACCs action came after the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) decided last year not to indict Mr Apirak, Mr Pokin and Mr Watana, citing insufficient evidence.
The NACC disagreed. In its lawsuit, the NACC claimed Mr Apirak, now a Democrat list-MP, was aware of irregularities in the purchase scheme.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the first hearing for the defendants, except for the Austrian supplier, for Nov 2. The Austrian supplier is scheduled to give statements in court on Jan 30 next year.

Potjaman wins tax appeal

Court doubts evidence in Shin evasion case

The Appeals Court yesterday overturned a lower court's verdict against Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, former wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, clearing her of all charges relating to a tax evasion scandal.

Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the former wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrives with her three children to hear the Appeal Court’s verdict in her tax evasion case. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Khunying Potjaman was found guilty on July 31, 2008 by the Criminal Court of conspiring to evade taxes worth 546 million baht in her transfer of shares worth 738 million baht to her stepbrother Bannapot Damapong.
The transfer of shares in Shinawatra Computer and Communications, now Shin Corp, took place on Nov 7, 1997. It was investigated by an anti-graft agency, but never came to the public's attention until the coup-appointed Asset Scrutiny Committee decided to pursue charges.
The Criminal Court handed down a three-year jail term to Khunying Potjaman and Mr Bannapot for conspiracy to evade taxes and giving false statements to authorities. Her close aide, Kanchanapa Honghern, was also found guilty and given a two-year prison term.
The defendants argued against the Criminal Court's verdict on seven points. The Appeals Court found two points in their favour.
In its review, the Appeals Court said that there was no substantial evidence to prove that Khunying Potjaman and Ms Kanchanapa had assisted Mr Bannapot in evading taxes.
It acquitted Khunying Potjaman and her aide of the charges, citing the benefit of the doubt.
According to the Appeals Court, the transaction between Khunying Potjaman and her step-brother was deemed straightforward. The prosecution was convinced that there was no actual transaction.
It alleged that Khunying Potjaman paid for the shares for her brother and received the money back later from her nominee, Duangta Vongpakdi, the Shinawatra family maid, while Mr Bannapot did not pay tax on the shares.
"The plaintiff's evidence is weak, lending doubt as to whether the two defendants conspired to commit wrongdoing. The defendants should be given the benefit of the doubt," said the court.
The three-year jail term handed down by the Criminal Court was also dismissed.
But, the Appeals Court upheld a guilty verdict against Mr Bannapot for tax evasion. It reduced the jail term from three years to two years and fined him 100,000 baht.
The leniency was based on Mr Bannapot's lack of a prior criminal record and philanthropic endeavours.
"The three-year sentence is deemed appropriate. But the Appeals Court believes the prison term is a measure to boost efficiency of tax collection," the court wrote. "The first defendant [Mr Bannapot] is only a businessman, not a political office holder and he has no criminal record. He also made social contributions by donating large amounts of money to the Thaicom Foundation to support the education of underprivileged children."
Thaicom Foundation was founded in 1993 by Thaksin as a non-profit organisation. It contributed about 300 million baht between 1994 and 2004 to provide technological support to help the government initiate satellite education programmes for children in remote areas.
The Appeals Court also dismissed the charges against the two of giving false statements to authorities, citing a lack of evidence.
After hearing the verdict, Khunying Potjaman and the two defendants left the court without speaking to the press.
Khunying Potjaman smiled and said "Thank you" as she walked past reporters. She was accompanied by her children _ Panthongtae, Pinthongta and Paethongtan.
Metha Thammawiharn, Mr Bannapot's lawyer, said he would first have to study the ruling thoroughly before deciding whether to proceed with an appeal.
Weerapat Srichaiya, Khunying Potjaman's counsel, said that he was not satisfied with the verdict.
"The acquittal is for two people. In our appeal, we sought acquittal for three," he said.
He noted that Mr Bannapot had not been required to pay tax because the Revenue Department's probe was illegitimate.
He added that the probe had exceeded the statutory limit of five years.

12 red shirts jailed for town hall fires

Terms range from 8 months to 34 years

Twelve red-shirt protesters have been sentenced to jail for terms ranging from eight months to 34 years for their involvement in the arson attack on Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall during anti-government rioting last year.

On May 20, 2010, the day after the military crackdown and arson in Bangkok, red shirt demonstrators broke into the Ubon Ratchathani province hall and burnt the building. (Reuters photo)

They were among 21 defendants on trial for involvement in the arson attack on the hall last May.
All of the defendants were originally charged with violating international security law, terrorism and arson.
The verdict, originally scheduled to be read on Sept 5 by the Ubon Ratchathani provincial court, was moved to yesterday.
Nine of the defendants were acquitted for lack of evidence. The most notable defendant _ well-known radio host Pichet Thabutda _ was given a one-year jail term for fomenting unrest by persuading others to join in the riot. Pichet, also known as DJ Toy, was acquitted of other charges because he convinced the court that he was not at the provincial hall when the fire started.
Four rioters _ Patama Moolmee, Thirawat Sajasuwan, Somsak Prasansap, and Sanong Ketsuwan _ were first given life in prison, but their sentences were commuted to 34 years in jail because they had confessed.
Another four people _ Pradit Boonsuk, Likhit Suthiphan, Chaiya Deesaeng, and Pisut But-amkha _ were sentenced to three years in jail but the sentences were commuted to two years after they confessed.
The other three defendants _ Ubon Saentaweesuk, Supoj Duang-ngam, and On-anong Banpachart _ were each given one-year in jail, but the sentences were reduced to eight months after they had confessed.
The remaining suspects were acquitted, among them Thanusil Thanuthong, 52, who was wrongfully detained.
At a Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand hearing in April, Pol Col Aiyasoon Singhanat, then Ubon Ratchathani deputy police commander, conceded police had wrongfully arrested one man on an arrest warrant that had been based on a still photograph.
Dokchan Thanuthong, 47, Thanusil's wife, said in a telephone interview she was glad that her husband would be finally released as his detention had adversely affected her family.
She said she would consult with her husband and his lawyer about taking legal action against the police for the mistake.
Khamploy Namee, 60, said he was relieved he had been acquitted. Khamploy yesterday processed documents to retrieve his bail guarantee. He was the only one among the 21 defendants who was given a bail release this month so he could receive treatment for partial paralysis, a condition he has developed.
About 200 red shirts showed up to give the defendants moral support.

Idea to revive rice mortgage plan blasted

Democrats warn of big losses, Vietnam rivalry

The Democrats fiercely criticised the government's plan to revive the rice mortgage scheme during the second day of the parliamentary debate on government policies yesterday.

The opposition said the scheme was ineffective, favouring rich exporters rather than poor farmers, would expose the state to possible huge losses and possibly violate a regulation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Democrat list MP Kiat Sittheeamorn expressed doubts the rice mortgage scheme would be successful.

He said the Somchai Wongsawat government had implemented the scheme back in 2008 which caused a massive loss of 16 billion baht to the state.

It also led to a quota system that benefited large-scale exporters.

Mr Kiat cited a study by the Thailand Development Research Institute which concluded the previous mortgage scheme helped only one-third of Thai rice farmers and around 500,000-600,000 tonnes of rice from neighbouring countries was used to fraudulently claim privilege prices from the government.

Mr Kiat also warned the government its rice mortgage scheme might violate a WTO regulation which he said limited member states' subsidies to 10% of their products.

He wondered if the government's plan to spend 472 billion baht on the mortgage scheme would breach the limit. If it did violate the regulation, Thailand could face international lawsuits and trade partners might impose trade barriers.

Consequently, Thailand's other export-oriented industries would be affected and workers would be at risk of losing their jobs, Mr Kiat said.

He said the mortgage scheme could further widen the price gap between Thai rice and Vietnamese rice, encouraging local consumers to switch.

Democrat list MP Trairong Suwannakhiri said the previous rice mortgage scheme had benefited just 15% of Thai farmers and officials had casually spent government money on it.

He pointed out the scheme with high rice prices set by the government would not encourage farmers to cut their production costs. In the meantime Vietnam, which is an arch-rival of Thailand in rice exports, is researching cost reduction and its rice is now cheaper than Thai rice.

Vietnam is researching and developing irrigation, fertilisers and rice strains to cut costs. Vietnam sells its rice at US$570 a tonne while Thailand prices its product at $625 a tonne. This would pose marketing problems for Thai rice.

Mr Trairong warned Thailand could no longer be proud of its premium rice because the quality of Vietnamese fragrant rice almost matches that of Thai rice. Vietnamese rice has 70% of the Asian market.

The Democrat said when he became deputy prime minister in the last government, rice stocks resulting from the previous mortgage scheme amounted to 5.6 million tonnes. The government had to pay 10 billion baht a year for rice warehouse storage, as well as interest, and some lots of rice had been kept for as long as eight years as they could not be sold.

The storage of Thai rice under the mortgage scheme also raised the price of rice in global markets because Thai rice did not get there, he added.

Policy rate raised to 3.50%

Bangchak Petroleum president
Anusorn Saengnimnual

The Bank of Thailand raised its policy repurchase rate to 3.50%, up 0.25 percentage points, on Wednesday, as Bangchak Petroleum announced it will begin paying the new 300 baht daily minimum wage early next year.

BOT assistant governor Paiboon Kittisrikangwan said the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)  raise its policy rate another 0.25 percentage points to 3.50 per cent, citing inflationary pressure.

Increased risk in global key economies was also pressuring the Thai economy, although it retained growth momentum, Mr Paiboon said.

Despite the latest policy rate hike, the real interest rate remains negative at -0.35 per cent from -0.6 per cent previously, the assistant governor said.
He said the MPC  will closely monitor global economic developments and inflationary pressure and stands ready to take necessary action to ensure sustainable growth for the country's economy.

Bangchak president Anusorn Saengnimnual said Thailand's biggest oil company will increase the daily minimum wage of workers at its outlets nationwide to 300 baht early next year.

Mr Anusorn said there will be no problem for Bangchak in raising the daily minimum from 250 baht to 300 baht to comply with the Pheu Thai-led coalition government's policy, but workers must also become more efficient.

"Bangchak will not increase the working hours of workers at its fuel outlets and is ready to shoulder the seven satang per litre increase in labour costs," he said.

Bangchak, the majority state-owned oil refiner, also supported the government's policy to give energy credit cards to drivers of cabs and motorcycle taxi and credit cards for farmers, Mr Anusorn added.

He said all 500 outlets of Bangchak across the country would accept the credit cards, to be issued by all financial institutions.

Libyan rebels hunt for elusive Kadhafi

Libyan rebels hunted for Moamer Kadhafi and battered remnants of his forces on Wednesday, as the defiant leader spoke of a "tactical withdrawal" and urged residents to cleanse Tripoli of "rats".
Two powerful blasts thought to be caused by an air attack rocked the capital early in the morning as a NATO warplane flew overhead, hours after rebel fighters overran Kadhafi's Bab al-Azizya compound in the centre of Tripoli.
The explosions came during a night of shooting as fighting continued following the storming of the compound, the symbolic seat of Kadhafi's power.
The leader of a rebel group told an AFP correspondent that pro-Kadhafi fighters were hidden on the road to Tripoli airport.
The whereabouts of the veteran leader and his family, however, remained a mystery on Wednesday.
Rebel fighters said they had found no trace of Kadhafi when they swarmed his compound on Tuesday, raiding his armoury, raising their flag and ripping the head off a statue of the strongman.
"Bab al-Azizya is fully under our control now. Colonel Kadhafi and his sons were not there; there is nobody," said military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Bani "No one knows where they are."
Wherever he may indeed be, the strongman is still managing to get his messages out.
In a speech carried early Wednesday by the website of a television station headed by his son Seif al-Islam, he said he had abandoned his compound in a "tactical withdrawal" after it had been wrecked by NATO warplanes.
"Bab al-Azizya was nothing but a heap of rubble after it was the target of 64 NATO missiles and we withdrew from it for tactical reasons," he said.
The speech gave no indication of where he had gone.
In a later audio message on Syria-based Arrai Oruba television station, Kadhafi boasted that he had taken to the streets of Tripoli without being recognised.
"I walked incognito, without anyone seeing me, and I saw youths ready to defend their city," the strongman said, without specifying when he did his walkabout.
He also urged "the residents, the tribes, the elderly to go into the streets... and cleanse Tripoli of rats" -- referring to the rebels.
Kadhafi spokesman Mussa Ibrahim claimed to the Arrai Oruba channel that more than 6,500 "volunteers" had arrived in Tripoli to fight for the regime, and called for more.
Insurgents, jumpy but jubilant and armed with assault rifles, combed the streets of the capital Wednesday for remnants of the regime.
"We are the champions. We've been dying for 42 years and now we are going to live," said Sharif Sohail, a 34-year-old dentist who took up arms to patrol the city centre.
Other rebel fighters, some wrapped in Free Libya flags, some wearing flackjackets, manned checkpoints through the night, scrutinising traffic by flashlight in neighbourhoods without electricity.
"We are checking every car that passes," Brahim Mukhtar, 27, told AFP at a main intersection near Souk al-Fatah. "We are guarding the streets."
Opposition leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil pledged in comments published Wednesday that Libya will hold elections in eight months and was adamant that Kadhafi will be tried in the country.
"In eight months we will hold legislative and presidential elections. We want a democratic government and a just constitution," promised Abdel Jalil, chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC)
"Above all we do not wish to continue to be isolated in the world as we have been up to now," he added in comments published in the Italian La Repubblica daily.
Residents of the capital had celebrated late into the night following the capture of the Bab al-Azizya compound.
But in the early hours of Wednesday, the streets grew eerily empty of residents while rebels and loyalists engaged in deadly cat-and-mouse warfare and fears of Kadhafi snipers on rooftops dampened the jubilation.
The attack on Kadhafi's headquarters followed three days of fighting in the capital which Abdel Jalil said had left more than 400 killed and 2,000 wounded.
He did not specify if he was talking of both sides.
In an interview with France 24 television, Abdel Jalil also said that some 600 pro-Kadhafi fighters had been captured but the battle would not be over until the Libyan leader himself was a prisoner.
He said three areas of the capital were still resisting, including Abu Slim, from where half-a-dozen mortar bombs fell on Bab al-Azizya late Tuesday.
Rebels said Kadhafi loyalists in his birthplace of Sirte, the last major regime bastion remaining, had fired a missile at rebel-held Misrata, hours after negotiations began to try to secure a surrender of the city.
On the eastern front, Libyan rebels Tuesday overran the eastern oil hub of Ras Lanuf on the road to Sirte, spokesman Bani said.
In Doha, NTC number two, Mahmud Jibril said Libya's transition "begins immediately" and that Qatar would host a meeting on Wednesday to organise $2.4 billion in aid for the country.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meanwhile said there were still two powers in Libya despite the success of rebels, and called for talks to resolve the situation.
"Despite the successes of the rebels, Kadhafi and his supporters still have a certain influence and military potential. We want them to sit down at the negotiating table and reach agreements on future peace," he said. "In essence, there are two powers in the country.
And in London, a rebel spokesman said that Libya's rebel leadership will honour contracts signed between foreign companies and Kadhafi's regime, near collapse after the six-month revolt.
Asked whether contracts signed in the Kadhafi era would be respected, the NTC's British coordinator Guma Al-Gamaty told BBC radio: "They will be honoured."

Potjaman acquitted in tax evasion case

The Appeals Court on Wednesday acquitted Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, of tax evasion, overturning the lower court's conviction and three-year jail term.

In this case, the lawsuit was filed by the prosecution against her half brother Bannapot Damapong, Khunying Potjaman and her secretary Kanjanapa Honghern as the first, second and third defendants.
The three defendants were charged with evading tax payments amounting to 546 million baht in the transfer of 4.5 million shares in Shinawatra Computer & Communications Plc.
The Criminal Court on July 31, 2008 found them guilty of giving false statements and producing false evidence concerning the shares transaction, and of fraud, under Article 37 (1) of the Revenue Code as well as Articles 83 and 91 of the Criminal Code.
Khunying Potjaman and Mr Bannapot were each given a three-year jail term, and Ms Kanjana was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
They appealed.
The Appeals Court, in its verdict delivered today, said Mr Bannapot is still guilty of tax evasion.
However, since he is only a businessman, not an influential person, had made useful contributions to the public and is a former government official with record of wrongdoing, the court reduced his jail term to two years, suspended for one year.  The court also ordered him to pay a fine of  100,000 baht.
As for Khunying Potjaman and Ms Kanjanapa, the Appeals Court ruled that the two were not obliged to pay the tax.  They were acquitted of the tax invasion charges.
Khunying Potjaman arrived at the court to hear the verdict at 9am along with the two other defendants.  She was also accompanied by her children Panthongtae, Paethongtan and Pinthongta.
Seen at the court to give her moral support were Pheu Thai list MP Weng Tojirakan and his wife Thida Thawornseth, chairwoman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorhship.
No red-shirts showed up at the court, which was jam-packed with reporters from all news media.

Govt vows push to revise charter

Chalerm denies Thaksin amnesty is the real goal

The government has vowed to press ahead with its plan to amend the coup-sponsored Constitution, raising concerns about possible renewed political confrontation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivers her government’s policy statement before parliament yesterday morning. CHANAT KATANYU

The ruling party said it will focus primarily on amending Section 291 of the constitution to remove Section 309 and pave the way for the election of a charter drafting assembly. The move could be expected early next year.
Rewriting the Constitution is one of the government's priorities included in its policy statement being debated in parliament. The two-day debate on the government's policy statement ends today.
Pheu Thai has reiterated its position that the amendments to the 2007 Constitution must be modelled on the 1997 charter, which was abrogated by the military generals who staged the coup on Sept 19, 2006 that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra government.
Critics have charged that Pheu Thai's plan to amend the charter is intended to clear the way for an amnesty for Thaksin, who has been sentenced to two years in jail and is now in exile overseas.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said during the policy debate yesterday that the charter rewrite is not intended to help Thaksin.
He rejected claims by the Democrat Party that constitutional amendment is aimed primarily at granting amnesty to the former prime minister.
"It is a misunderstanding. The party never said if it won the election, it will amend Section 309," Mr Chalerm said.
Mr Chalerm said Pheu Thai opposes the present Constitution which was sponsored by the coup-makers and was drafted in an undemocratic climate. He said amending the charter was one of Pheu Thai's election campaign pledges that must be honoured.
Mr Chalerm said Pheu Thai will only push for a change to Section 291, which governs the process of amending the constitution, to pave the way for the election of a charter drafting assembly.
Mr Chalerm said the assembly will comprise 77 representatives elected from the 77 provinces nationwide as well as a panel of 22 academics and experts. Democrat and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva responded by saying it was good to hear from the party that it would not pursue an amnesty for Thaksin.
However, Mr Abhisit warned that Pheu Thai should avoid stirring up unnecessary controversy.
Pirapan Palusuk, a Pheu Thai MP for Yasothon and a member of Pheu Thai's legal team, said the changes should be carried out by a charter drafting assembly made up of members of the public to ensure that the people would have a say in its content.
He said the party has agreed that the previous 1997 constitution will serve as a model for changes to the present one.
Initially, it had been proposed that members of the charter drafting assembly would comprise one or two representatives elected from every province depending upon the agreed number of assembly members.
Academics and legal experts must also be chosen from educational institutes to sit on the assembly which would be directly responsible for drawing up the new charter, Mr Pirapan said, adding that further details would be discussed before a final conclusion on the matter is reached.
Mr Pirapan said he personally thought that a charter amendment should do away with Section 309 of the present Constitution.
Section 309 justifies and legitimises actions and policies enacted under the post-coup interim constitution. It guarantees the coup-makers full amnesty and total protection from due process of the law.
The provision endorses the investigation of Thaksin and his government by the Assets Scrutiny Committee set up by the coup-makers. Scrapping the provision would overturn the actions taken, including the work of the now-defunct ASC.
However, Mr Pirapan insisted that the bid to change the Constitution has nothing to do with the granting of an amnesty to Thaksin.
The proposed charter rewrite is only aimed at ensuring that the amended Constitution would become more democratic, Mr Pirapan said.
Pheu Thai list MP Sunai Jullapongsathon said it was agreed at a party meeting that the charter rewrite could begin early next year.
He said the present Constitution is in need of amendment because it allows the judicial branch overwhelming dominance over the country's political system.
A Pheu Thai source said the government would wait for the right time to grant amnesty to Thaksin.
An amnesty would happen only after the political climate improves, the government solves the country's economic problems, national reconciliation takes place and the administration gains wider public support, the source said.