Activities of Secretary-General in Thailand, 16-17 November

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon? Taek, arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, from Bangladesh shortly before noon on Wednesday, 16 November.

His first appointment in the Thai capital was a meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

He told reporters at a stakeout afterwards that during their discussions, he congratulated her for being the first female Prime Minister of Thailand. He said they also talked about the flooding in the country; 

Thailand-United Nations cooperation, and Thailand’s work as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council, among other issues.

After addressing United Nations staff in Bangkok, he attended a round table on universal health coverage before visiting an exhibit on universal health care in Thailand.

The Secretary-General then flew by helicopter over the flood-affected areas of Bangkok before visiting an evacuation center in the capital sheltering hundreds of evacuees.

Speaking to the press at the center, he said he was deeply saddened and humbled by what he saw, expressing his condolences to those who have lost family members and property.

He ended his day with a dinner hosted by Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), also attended by several ambassadors based in Thailand.

The Secretary-General departed for Indonesia on the morning of Thursday, 17 November.

Leave the woman alone! Warning to Democrats not to attack Yingluck

Warning to Democrats not to attack Yingluck
CENSURE TO FOCUS ON PM AND FROC CHIEF

The government will try to shield Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Sunday's censure debate, arguing she should not be included in the opposition's attack on the handling of the flood crisis.

After weeks of flooding, controversy over how the disaster was managed and allegations of irregularities in the distribution of relief supplies, the opposition is under pressure to address public concerns.

The censure debate takes place just two days before the adjournment of the current House session on Tuesday.

In its motion, the opposition Democrat Party has singled out Pol Gen Pracha in his capacity as the director of the Flood Relief Operation Command (Froc).

The decision not to include Ms Yingluck in the censure debate is partly technical.

A constitutional requirement stipulates that the opposition submit a prime ministerial candidate when it seeks to censure the sitting premier.

This was deemed inappropriate for the Democrats because of the party's resounding defeat in the general election four months ago.

However, the opposition is expected to attempt to make Ms Yingluck the focus of the debate because she signed the order appointing Pol Gen Pracha as Froc director.

Her leadership, in giving that responsibility to Pol Gen Pracha, is expected to be scrutinized.

A Democrat source said 10 MPs, including the Democrats leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Apirak Kosayodhin and Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey, have been selected for the debate, which aims to establish any wrongdoing in the government's flood management.

"The damage caused by flooding is about 20% [natural], and the rest was caused by the government's mismanagement," said the source.

Mr Sathit said yesterday that the Democrats have three charges against Pol Gen Pracha _ corruption, failed management and violation of laws.

He said the censure would also touch on the decree seeking a royal pardon for convicts, which is under the responsibility of Pol Gen Pracha.

It is believed that the decree was planned to favour Thaksin.

The Democrat MP admitted that Pol Gen Pracha is likely to survive the censure debate due to overwhelming support for him in the House.

But Mr Sathit said: "We hope the censure will make the people see some light and lead to changes in the administration."

Pheu Thai MP Paichit Sriworakhan said the party is gathering information for other cabinet ministers who may need to address the House.

He warned the Democrat Party not to try to grill Ms Yingluck and Thaksin.

"[Ms Yingluck] is not the target of the debate, but we are OK with a little criticism," said Mr Paichit.

"As for the ex-prime minister [Thaksin], he should be left alone because he is an outsider."

Pol Gen Pracha yesterday played down the debate, saying it was nothing but a set of questions he would answer.

"They make inquiries and I answer. It is nothing but a set of facts," he said.

He said that he did not care how the coalition parties vote.

"If the people want me to do the job, I stay on. If they don't, I stop. I became an MP through elections, not a lucky draw," Pol Gen Pracha said.

He said he was summoned to clarify the flood control methods before the House committees and was left with little time to do his work at the Froc.

Pol Gen Pracha said that the Froc's operations involve several ministers, including Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, who is in charge of flood relief supplies,

Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat, who is in charge of the big bag flood barrier, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut, who oversees reservoirs.

PM: Dismantling all oversize sandbag barriers possible

BANGKOK, Nov 24 – The whole series of so-called big bag barriers, makeshift embankments installed to slow the flow of northern runoff into the capital, may be dismantled, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Thursday following continuing disputes on the big bag barriers which have erupted in many areas.

The temporary barriers have become the focus of disputes between flood-hit residents and the authorities as the residents demand elimination of the barriers to drain floodwater from their neighbourhoods.

“It is possible to dismantle all big bag barriers if there are other ways to drain out floodwater. To do so, additional pumps must be installed,” the prime minister said.

She instructed the water drainage committee, the Bangkok governor and governors of provinces surrounding the capital to discuss and adjust water drainage options after the situation has changed.

Bangkok is currently capable of draining more water out, she said.

The premier said she gave guidelines to agencies involved to consider the impact on residents.

Prime Minister Yingluck said the conclusion will come when the Department of Drainage and Sewerage, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Royal Irrigation Department, the Water Management Committee and governors meet together and act decisively regarding the priorities.

Governors represent the public in each province, she said. They will sit to decide water drainage priorities looking at the big picture and planned response is needed for areas that will be most affected by water drainage from upstream areas.

Regarding residents who are protesting angrily against the big bag barriers, who sometimes used violence, the prime minister said to handle the cases, negotiation must be done peacefully in accordance with the law.

But if there are violations of the law, officials must take legal action against them, the prime minister said.

She gave an example of some residents in Pathum Thani, who blocked the Don Mueang tollway Wednesday in their protest and damaged some cars, saying the police were notified and legal action was taken against them.

In other development, about 100 residents from Bangkok’s Thawi Watthana and Bang Khae districts opened a section of Kanchanapisek Road on Thursday evening, satisfied with Bangkok City Hall’s promise to lower three sluice gates if floodwater rises by ten centimetres.

The residents had blocked the road as they were dissatisfied with the raising of three sluice gates at Khlong Mahasawat to drain more water from flooded Nonthaburi.

Raising the gates increased the depth of floodwater in their neighbourhoods.

However, they dispersed later after the BMA pledged to lower the sluice gates again if the floodwaters rise by ten centimetres in the next three days.

Thailand’s new prime minister fails to win pardon for fugitive brother

BANGKOK — The country’s new prime minister apparently failed in her first attempt to win a pardon for her fugitive brother, after his political opponents threatened legal action and demonstrations if his name appeared on a list of criminals eligible for a royal amnesty.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly sought a pardon for her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and convicted on corruption charges in 2008. 

Thaksin fled the country to avoid a two-year prison sentence.

Mrs. Yingluck's government included Thaksin’s name on a secret list of 26,000 criminals eligible for pardons from King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to news reports. 

The king is expected to consider clemency for the convicts to mark his 84th birthday on Dec. 5.

The royal pardon is an annual tradition, but the Justice Ministry usually does not include fugitives on a list of criminals it presents to the king because those eligible for amnesty must have served some of their prison terms.

After reports appeared of Thaksin’s possible pardon, the Justice Ministry denied that it included him on the list.

“Thaksin will not receive any benefit from the [royal] decree, and his name will not be included on the list of convicts eligible for a royal pardon,” Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said on Sunday. “Convicts on the run will not be eligible.”

However, Mr. Pracha appeared to confirm the existence of an earlier pardon list when he mentioned that a “new draft” would not benefit Thaksin.

“Those who are eligible for a royal pardon must have served [a portion of] their jail terms first,” he told the Nation newspaper.

Thaksin, 62, disputes his conviction and sentence.

His supporters have suggested that he could meet the requirement of serving some time in confinement by surrendering to friendly police officers who would detain him for a few minutes and then release him.

Behind closed doors on Nov. 15, the Cabinet approved the list of 26,000 names that reportedly included Thaksin. His political opponents objected to his inclusion on the list and threatened legal challenges and organized street demonstrations.

About 1,000 protesters gathered in central Bangkok on Nov. 18 to demand that Thaksin’s name be deleted from the pardon list.

After the outcry, Thaksin publicly dissociated himself with efforts to gain a pardon.

“I trust in the principle that the government will not do anything that will benefit me or any individual specifically,” Thaksin said Sunday in a letter distributed by his supporters.

“I am ready to sacrifice my own happiness, even though I have not received justice for over five years. For the people, I will be patient.”

Some sluice gates to be opened wider

Flood Relief Operation Centre yesterday responded to a request that the sluice gates of a number of canals be opened wider in order to ease the flood woes of Nonthaburi residents.

The Maha Sawat Canal gate, for example, will now be opened to a width of 1 metre, against the previous 50 centimeters.

The Maha Sawat Canal gate, for example, will now be opened to a width of 1 metre, against the previous 50 centimetres.

The governor said the opening of the sluice gates of Bang Or and Bang Phlat canals would also be allowed, so as to take more water from Nonthaburi into Bangkok.

With the severe flooding having dragged on for months, many victims have been trying to negotiate for an opportunity to drain flood water out of their areas sooner rather than later.

Thousands of Nonthaburi residents recently gathered to press for their leaders to negotiate with Sukhumbhand.

The Bangkok governor yesterday responded positively to their request, but was unable to meet all their demands.

He explained that opening the Thawi Watthana Canal sluice gate to a width of 1 metre was not possible, and that it would be left at 50cm instead.

"We have to take into account western Bangkok's water-drainage capacity," he added.

In a related development, more than 30 representatives of people in Bangkok's Don Mueang and Lak Si districts, as well as Pathum Thani residents, yesterday met with Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) officials for about an hour to press their demands. Their communities have been heavily flooded for more than one month.

One of the flood victims' representatives, Pongthep Sirisap, later confirmed the FROC had agreed to build a new flood wall under the Rangsit Bridge.

The new wall will stretch for 1.5 kilometres along the Rangsit Canal from Saipanya Rangsit School to the Chualongkorn sluice gate.

"The FROC has also promised to urgently drain flood water out of our areas within seven days," Pongthep said.

He added that the agency would provide 10 pumps for his group's immediate use in pushing the run-off water into Premprachakorn Canal.

Anond Snidvong, who represented the FROC at the meeting, said: "We are doing everything for the maximum public benefit and are proceeding in line with proper principles. 

We will do what we can for people, but we have to do it at the right time, too."

He said he believed the flood crisis was already in its final phase. The flood-management mission was already 90-per-cent complete, he added.

Anond also believed that flood water in western Bangkok will |subside within a few weeks.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon, meanwhile, expects inundation in the capital, including the heavily flooded Sai Mai and Don Muang districts, will end within seven days.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said he would talk today to Sukhumbhand to discuss |remedial measures to assist flood-hit people.

Yongyuth met the Nonthaburi provincial governor yesterday. Asked about Nonthaburi residents' demands that their hometowns |be declared special flood-hit |zones, so as to claim extra compensation and help, 

he merely said: "I cannot disclose details now. There will be a screening committee to consider the extra remedial measures."

The flood victims from Bangkok's Don Muang and Lak Si districts, as well as those from Pathum Thani, want the government to compensate them for 50 per cent of their actual damages, but not exceeding Bt500,000 per household.

No special favours for flood victims

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has refused to provide special compensation to the people on the outskirts of Bangkok whose communities have been kept flooded to protect the inner city and it's financial centres.

She has rejected a proposal from the government's Flood Relief Operation Command (Froc) that the government make a daily payment of 500-1,000 baht to each of flood victims trapped behind the dykes in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces, and in some suburban areas of Bangkok.

All areas are in the same trouble. I sympathise with them and I am trying to offer adequate assistance.

As for rehabilitation in deeply flooded areas, ministers have been assigned to help flood victims in the field and I am sure that the assistance will be adequate," Ms Yingluck said.

Asked if the government would raise compensation for each flooded family from 5,000 baht, the prime minister said her government already had many other assistance measures in place, and would launch more after the floods recede.

She said the government had to give careful consideration before deciding whether it could lift the financial assistance for individual flood victims.

At present, the government pays 5,000 baht as immediate compensation to each flooded family and up to 30,000 baht for each flood-damaged house.

PM ducks cash relief calls

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is lukewarm to calls for special compensation to be paid to people on the outskirts of Bangkok who remain flooded to protect inner city areas.

Yesterday she wouldn't be drawn on a proposal from the Flood Relief Operation Command that the government pay 500-1,000 baht daily to compensate flood victims living within the flood barriers in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces as well as some suburban areas of Bangkok.

"All areas are facing the same problem. I sympathies with them and I am trying to offer adequate assistance. As for rehabilitation in protracted flood areas, cabinet ministers have been assigned to help flood victims there and I am sure that the assistance through them will be adequate," Ms Yingluck said.

Asked if the government would raise compensation for each flooded family from 5,000 baht, Ms Yingluck declined to comment directly. 

She said the government had many assistance measures in the pipeline to be implemented after the flooding has disappeared.

She added that the government would have to consider the situation carefully before deciding whether it could raise financial aid to individual flood victims.

At present, the government pays 5,000 baht in immediate compensation to each family and up to 30,000 baht for each house badly damaged by floodwater.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said the government had approved 1.25 billion baht for 25 provinces 50 million baht each  to help flood victims including Bangkok and its outskirts .

Relief assistance would come in various forms such as food, garbage collection, and health care services, he said.

Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is considering diverting cash from City Hall's budget to pay additional compensation to residents whose homes are close to the big bag flood barrier.

He said they have suffered from deeper floods because of the barrier which was aimed at preventing floodwater from inundating inner Bangkok.

This compensation will be provided in addition to the standard assistance currently being offered by both the government and the BMA.

Thaksin 'not on pardon list'

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has confirmed Thaksin Shinawatra's name has not been included in the list of convicts eligible to benefit from the government's proposed royal pardon decree this year.

Ms Yingluck  sister of ousted ex-premier Thaksin  said the decree is in line with the cabinet resolution and that the government's position is for everything to follow the law and tradition and to be non-discriminatory.

When asked about a vow by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung to bring Thaksin back to Thailand, Ms Yingluck admitted that was one of the Pheu Thai Party's campaign pledges.

However, she said all cases must proceed according to the law and for the best interests of the country and equality of all people, adding she will not give "special treatment" to anyone.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the draft royal pardon decree for over 20,000 convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5 would follow convention.

The bans on people found guilty of drug offenses and corruption and convicts who absconded will remain intact in the decree, he said.

This applies to Thaksin as the Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in jail in 2008 for abusing his authority as premier to help his then-wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy a state-owned plot of land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok in 2003.

Atchaporn Jaruchinda, secretary-general of the Council of State, said the council had scrutinized the draft decree in line with the traditions and conventions and the bans in the decree are retained.

Mr Chalerm admitted Thaksin may not be able to return this year and added that other cases are still pending against him. 

Therefore, it serves little purpose for the government to push for a royal pardon for Thaksin at this stage. He said he is waiting for the right time to push for the amnesty law.

He said he had to go ahead with a bid to bring Thaksin back home at some point, as he had made a promise to do so during election campaigns.

Meanwhile, a group called Siam Samakkhi, made up of Thaksin critics, will hold a signature collection campaign to impeach the cabinet at Lumpini Park on Friday.

Senator Somjate Boonthanom, who joined the group, called on the government to avoid any action that would absolve Thaksin of his punishment.

Thaksin is in South Korea touring a $19-billion river project which he believes could have averted Thailand's flood disaster, Korean officials said.

Deaths from Thai flooding pass 600

THE DEATH toll from Thailand’s worst flooding in 70 years has passed 600 and the government has revised its economic growth forecasts downwards as it grapples with the effects of the monsoon-borne deluge.

Residents in the outskirts of the capital are still up to their waists in water, which authorities have warned will go on for weeks. Meanwhile, a clean-up operation has begun in many parts of the city.

More than two-thirds of the country’s 77 provinces have been affected by floods since late July.

Thailand’s economy may shrink 3.7 per cent this quarter because of the flooding.

Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has faced criticism for her handling of the flooding, but so far complaints have not turned into something more politically explosive from rival political parties.

Yesterday she came under pressure to give special compensation to people living in the outskirts of the city, whose communities have been kept flooded in order to protect the central business district.

Ms Yingluck stood firm and threw out a proposal by the government’s flood relief operation command that the government should give extra payments to residents trapped behind dykes in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces, and in some suburban areas of Bangkok.

“All areas are in the same trouble. I sympathise with them and I am trying to offer adequate assistance,” she was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post.

“As for rehabilitation in deeply flooded areas, ministers have been assigned to help flood victims in the field and I am sure that the assistance will be adequate.”

Meanwhile, the government seems to have backed away from proposals to give amnesty to Ms Yingluck’s brother, the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after public outrage over his possible return.

A planned amnesty was agreed by cabinet last Tuesday, local media said, but ministers and Mr Thaksin refused to confirm it.

Opposition politicians and activists were furious at what they said was an attempt by a Thaksin-allied government to clear the billionaire of his criminal conviction and two-year jail term for abuse of power.

Mr Thaksin never spent time in jail and lives in Dubai. He insists his conviction on corruption charges was politically motivated. 

Ms Yingluck’s administration has been dogged by accusations it is influenced by Mr Thaksin and is full of his allies.

A little less sweet and a whole lot tougher

All leaders are tested. As Thailand's first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra's first trial is the flood of 2011.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attends the Asean Summit in Bali on November 18.

A natural disaster is an immense challenge for any leader. For Thailand, it involves expediting the bureaucracy to get timely relief to the people, moving and managing relief funds, planning and executing a large-scale recovery effort and balancing national and provincial-level politics.

The coordinating of logistics alone, in order to manage the crisis, is overwhelming.

The flood has brought our government's weaknesses to light. It has shown us the coordination loopholes that exist between different government departments that hamper their ability to work together. It has revealed the ugly side of some of our politicians.

It has shown us that we do not have adequate capability to rapidly respond to large-scale disaster. We didn't have a good plan on the books. And even if we did, our execution has been borderline poor at best.

And what did our prime minister do? She took a promising first step, by putting all her other prime ministerial duties on hold and placing flood relief efforts at the top of her priority list.

She solicited advisers for relief plans and ideas. She inspected the damage and reassured people that their government was working hard to relieve the situation.

She has talked with flood victims and actively monitored the crisis. She has put other work on hold and made relief for the Thai people her first priority.

In dealing with the flood, our prime minister has been forced to work with many handicaps.

First, she doesn't have the necessary leadership experience to handle the flood because her resume{aac} is almost exclusively in business.

How often does the CEO of a company plan and execute disaster relief? Most would certainly prepare for the potential impact of a natural disaster on their business, but very few would care beyond that.

Second, our lady prime minister's leadership style might not be well-suited to the situation. A flood is best managed with military-style leadership and centralised decision-making, with decentralised execution.

In a situation with widespread disarray of the infrastructure, precision guidance is vital for reorganization.

The prime minister's matronly style and her aristocratic charm hardly fit the bill. It's nice that she is handing out relief bags one at a time in perfect hair and make-up.

It shows that she cares and it makes great evening news. But wouldn't a prime minister with executive powers be better off figuring out how to hand out thousands of bags instead?

If a natural disaster is like a storm at sea, then the prime minister is like a ship's captain who needs to grab hold of the wheel and steer. A captain doesn't get on deck and start emptying out one bucket of water at a time; that's the job of the deck hands.

Third, our prime minister has little education or experience in emergency management. The last time Thailand endured this level of flooding was how many years ago?

And Yingluck has been in politics for how long? The math adds up to about zero. Our premier has very capable and experienced advisers and experts. But when experts and advisers disagree with one another, will she be able to make the right decision?

Now that the water in some areas has receded, the blame game is in full bloom. Most often, it's the person at the top who becomes society's No. 1 accused. But it's hardly fair to hold the prime minister responsible for every aspect of the flood relief mismanagement.

In adversity, people will do whatever they perceive as necessary to survive and to secure their livelihood. Sometimes this involved theft, coercion, and even acts of violence.

Our prime minister is not responsible for the immoral conduct of every man and woman affected by the flood that evil is our own making.

However, our premier is responsible for the execution of the relief system everything from the distribution of relief bags, movement of goods and supply to flood-hit areas, controlling the price of food and supplies, restoring sanitation and reopening roads and railways. The test is not over, and there is still work for her to do.

We know that our prime minister excels at meetings and engagements, shaking hands with dignitaries and charming everyone with her sincerity. All of us were smitten by her demeanour, her glamour and her charisma.

And if it were not for the flood, she would be at these meetings and engagements _ getting them all smitten by deadly kindness. Instead, fate has given her an opportunity to rise up against adversity and truly make a difference for her people.

Perhaps it's time we saw the gallant side of our lovely prime minister. After all, she is a mother, the disciplinarian of the household.

This disaster is a chance for her to add toughness to her elegant rapport. We have been ripped to shreds by this disaster. We are tired of the same old song of promise and reassurance.

What we desperately need is strength. We need someone upfront who will unite us. Someone who will be the hope of better days ahead.

Government abandons draft pardon Thaksin says furore damaged unity efforts

The government has withdrawn its plan to seek a royal pardon for its de facto leader and fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following strong opposition.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said Sunday the draft royal decree for royal pardons for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday anniversary on Dec 5 this year would have conventional conditions.

They include bans on convicts found guilty of drugs offences and corruption and convicts who absconded.

Pol Gen Pracha said the draft royal decree would not favour any individual in particular and would not run counter to the Criminal Procedure Code.

The government will have the Council of State scrutinise the draft before seeking approval from His Majesty the King.

Pol Gen Pracha, who is responsible for proposing royal pardons for convicts, was speaking Sunday only hours after Thaksin released a letter saying he has no wish to accept preferential treatment in the royal pardon.

Pol Gen Pracha, however, denied any connection between Thaksin's statement and his, insisting his announcement was only in response to widespread criticism on the draft royal decree. Thaksin's handwritten statement was distributed to the press through the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Thaksin said he wrote the letter in Dubai and that he did not want any benefit from the upcoming royal decree for royal pardons next month.

He said the nation was suffering from a flooding crisis and needed unity, so he did not want to see any moves that would hinder national unity.

"I am willing to support all measures that lead to national reconciliation.

"I am ready to sacrifice my own happiness even though I have not received justice for over five years. For the people, I will be patient," he said.

In response to recent criticisms of the draft royal decree, Thaksin said he did not believe the government would take any action that would benefit him alone.

He also wrote that as His Majesty the King was ill, and nobody should do anything that would worry the King and he believed that the prime minister shared his stance.

Thaksin was referring to Yingluck Shinawatra who is his younger sister.

In his letter, Thaksin also said those who supported him should not be disappointed. He called on all parties to "forgive and forget".

According to a source at the Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin ordered the party to cancel its plan to seek royal pardons which did not include the ban on drug and corruption convicts, which would make him eligible for a pardon.

The cabinet approved the draft royal decree allegedly without the bans last Tuesday.

The report drew considerable opposition from many parties, who now claim Thaksin wrote the letter to contain political damage to the government.

They say he wrote the letter to signal the government's withdrawal of the pardon plan and ordered Pol Gen Pracha to tell the press Sunday that the government would not help him with the draft royal decree.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), on hearing Pol Gen Pracha's statement and Thaksin's letter Sunday, announced that it would cancel its demonstration at the Council of State on Monday.

Spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said there was no reason for the demonstration now that the government would not issue a royal decree that would benefit Thaksin.

Thaksin has been prosecuted in many cases of corruption since his government was toppled in a coup d'etat on Sept 19, 2006.

In 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in jail for abusing his authority as the prime minister to help along his ex-wife's purchase of a state-owned land plot in inner Bangkok in 2003.

He fled the country shortly before the verdict was announced.

Inner city spared from floods, says Yingluck

Inner Bangkok has been saved from the floods, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

"It's certain the inner zone of Bangkok will be safe from floods, as the measures to hold floodwaters have been successful," 

Ms Yingluck said in the Yingluck Government Meets the People programme from Bali, Indonesia, where she attended the Asean Summit.

The government's Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) was able to block floodwater along the Bang Sue canal.

As a result, the floods would not reach inner Bangkok, including the Victory Monument, Pathumwan, Sukhumvit and Silom.

For areas to the west of the Chao Phraya, floodwaters in the northern parts of districts such as Bang Phlat, Bangkok Noi, Taling Chan, Bang Kae, Phutthamonthon, Bang Kruai and Nakhon Chaisi have already subsided, she said.

The Royal Irrigation Department was able to drain about 63 million cubic metres of floodwater a day from the western side of the Chao Phraya, Ms Yingluck said.

Flood levels in the western districts would gradually reduce.

Disputes between flood-hit residents in areas above and below the big-bag barrier and floodwall along the Bangkok-Pathum Thani border in Don Muang and Sai Mai districts had been settled through negotiations.

Authorities had agreed to accept some of the residents' demands while trying to stick to their flood relief plan, a major component of which is protecting Bangkok's economic areas.

Road transport links to the South were unlikely to be cut by floods, as the danger of flooding on Rama II Road, the main route to the region, had largely passed. 

Even if Rama II Road was flooded, it would not be serious, said the prime minister.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had installed 26 more water pumps at various pumping stations to drain floodwater out of the capital through Thawi Watthana, Phasi Charoen, Mahachai-Sanam Chai canals and the Tha Chin River. 

The BMA would install 14 additional water pumps to accelerate the draining, he said.

MR Sukhumbhand added the BMA would widen the sluice gate of the Thawi Watthana canal by another 50cm to speed up drainage.

The BMA would have to build permanent floodwalls along the Mahasawat canal to prevent future flooding from the North, he said. 

The government should also consider building barriers along the Mahasawat canal in Nonthaburi province as well.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that almost two million households in 18 provinces in the Central Plains and the Northeast are still affected by floods. 

Since July 25, 595 people have been killed in the floods, and two are missing.

Yingluck backs anti-nuclear, trade calls Thai support wins thanks, White House invitation from Obama

BALI: Thailand has thrown its support behind two United States-backed initiatives and earned the thanks of US President Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government would move towards endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aims to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.

Ms Yingluck said Thailand would also consider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade deal described by Mr Obama during the recent Apec Summit in Hawaii as a "21st century state of the art" initiative.

She and US President Barack Obama held a meeting Saturday.

Ms Yingluck said the cabinet would discuss the PSI soon before formally announcing Thailand's support.

It was launched by US President George W Bush in 2003 and has been endorsed by 98 countries.

Despite considerable support for the PSI, many major powers are opposed to it, including India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Critics, including Iran and North Korea, say the PSI would allow members to stop ships on the high seas, in violation of international law guaranteeing freedom of the seas.

Article 23 of the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea allows ships "carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances" the right of passage through territorial seas.

Critics also say the PSI amounts to an act of piracy.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the US had approached Thailand on past occasions to support the PSI. "This is a lingering issue of discussion with the US for many governments," he said.

Each time Thailand has said it was willing to support the PSI but military officials said they were concerned that if ships or vessels were stopped and their cargo damaged, they could face lawsuits.

"This was a sticking point which prevented Thailand from moving forward on this issue," he said.

During the Apec Summit, Mr Surapong said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised the issue once again and sought Thai endorsement. The Foreign Ministry discussed the issue on Monday.

The minister said Thailand could obtain sufficient intelligence about what was being carried on ships to enable it to make decisions without any mistakes occurring which could lead to lawsuits.

The US considers this an important issue and Mr Obama thanked Ms Yingluck for Thailand's support, he said.

Despite Ms Yingluck's backing for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the other initiative raised in talks with Mr Obama, Mr Surapong said Thailand would need more time to consider the details.

The TPP is a multilateral free trade agreement that aims to liberalise the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.

"We did not say when. The United States is satisfied," said Mr Surapong.

"There are many conditions. Japan took a long time before deciding to join. But at least it is a starting point."

Japan recently joined the TPP, after taking years to consider the move amid opposition from its farmers.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the TPP takes economic cooperation among its members further than Apec is prepared to go.

For example, it expands cooperative measures to areas such as government procurement contracts and projects.

Mr Surapong said Mr Obama also invited Ms Yingluck to visit the US. The visit is likely to take place early next year. The prime minister is scheduled to visit China next month and India on Jan 26. Ms Yingluck told the president that Thailand appreciates increased US engagement with Burma and is delighted that Mrs Clinton will visit Burma soon.

"Thailand supports the democratic process that is occurring in Burma," said Mr Surapong.

"We are close neighbours. When Ms Yingluck visited Burma, we could see their genuine intentions to move towards a democratic process."

Mr Surapong said he asked his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin why Burma had decided not to proceed with the Chinese-backed Myitsone dam in Kachin State. 

"He told me the people and NGOs did not want the dam to be built because it would harm the environment. This means the Burmese government is beginning to listen to the people and this is good," Mr Surapong said.

During her visit to Burma, Mrs Clinton will also meet Aung Sang Su Kyi. Ms Yingluck told Mr Obama that Thailand is ready to help the US in its dealings with Burma

Yingluck and Thaksin plead ignorance about amnesty

Leading figures, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, appear to have distanced themselves from the government's draft decree for a royal pardon to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday.

Thaksin, seen as the main beneficiary of the decree, has been denying any knowledge of the government's push to pardon him from serving his two-year jail term after being convicted for abuse of power.

"It's at the full discretion of His Majesty," he told Reuters on Wednesday in Dubai in reference to the pardon issue.

He said he did know what the Cabinet discussed at its confidential meeting on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Bali that the vetting of the decree was still incomplete and that the authorities had not drawn up the list of names eligible for pardon.

"It's normal for a royal pardon every year before the King's birthday ... They have to work on the legal [aspects]. After that, the committee will select the names. So there are still many processes ... It's not done yet," Yingluck said in an interview with CNBC.

The Senate Committee on Monarchy Protection called on the government to review and cancel a controversial clause granting pardon to fugitives.

Senator Pornpan Boonyarattapan said there was no legal precedent to pardoning fugitives or those convicted for corruption and drug trafficking.

She said senators opposing the decree would on Monday petition the Privy Council and the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary to review the pardon provisions before submitting them for royal endorsement.

Pornpan said the committee would summon Yingluck for clarification next Friday.

According to the law on the parliamentary committee's authority, a person who ignores a summons from the committee for investigation is liable to up to three months' jail and/or a Bt5,000 fine.

At a rally in Lumpini Park, the leader of the multicolored shirts, Tul Sitthisomwong, yesterday said he would submit a signed petition at 9am on Tuesday to the prime minister at Government House when the Cabinet meets.

The group asked the Justice Ministry and all related people to stop the process requesting royal pardon for Thaksin for three reasons:

The petition for royal pardon for Thaksin is illegal when signed by an unauthorized person, as the prime minister did not attend the meeting, while never before has a fugitive received a royal pardon.

Submitting an illegal petition would put His Majesty the King in an awkward position and if it were rejected, some people might feel offended, Tul said.

A fugitive who has not shown any sorrow for wrongdoing and conducts himself in a way that threatens the country does not deserve a royal pardon.

The People's Alliance for Democracy will on Monday hold a rally against the draft decree reportedly aimed at securing a royal pardon for Thaksin.

PAD spokesman Parnthep Puaphanpong posted a message on his Facebook page that the yellow-shirt movement would stage a rally in front of the Council of State on Monday from 10am to 6pm.

The Cabinet has approved a draft decree to seek royal pardon for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday. Thaksin's opponents claim the decree's criteria would make the former prime minister eligible to receive royal pardon for his two-year jail term.

Democrat Party deputy spokesman Mallika Boonmeetrakul circulated a letter urging the Privy Council to oppose the decree.

The House Committee on Reconciliation, chaired by Matubhum leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin, made clear at its first meeting that the proposed pardon for Thaksin was not part of the process for mending fences among rival camps.

Sonthi said his committee would rely on the report of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission to guide its work.

Committee deputy spokesman Nakorn Machim said the pardon issue was under the government's jurisdiction without any linkage to the legislative branch.

Deputy Army chief General Dapong Rattanasuwan said the military had no involvement in the pardon issue.

"All military leaders are busy assisting flood victims," he said.

Talks to settle Khlong Hok Wa barrier row

The Flood Relief Operations Command and City Hall will hold talks with residents from Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district today to solve a dispute over the Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier.

Offerings gladly accepted - A monk wades through floodwater during an alms round in Pathum Thani. PHONGTHAI WATTANAVANITVUT

The three-way talks follow the demolition of a 70-metre section of the sandbag wall by angry Lam Luk Ka residents on Thursday in a bid to drain floodwater from their area.

The breach caused floodwater to surge into areas in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

The incident later turned violent when a small bomb was thrown at a group of Sai Mai residents while they were fixing the damaged sandbag barrier.

Deputy city clerk Sompob Rangabtook will represent the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in the talks with the Lam Luk Ka residents, which is scheduled for around midday at the Big C superstore near Khlong 4 canal today.

Mr Sompob said the BMA has asked the Lam Luk Ka residents to send six representatives to the talks.

To prevent a possible confrontation, other residents from Lam Luk Ka and those from Sai Mai were urged to stay away from where the talks are taking place.

The deputy city clerk said Lam Luk Ka residents had demanded the authorities lower the height of the 6km sandbag barrier to allow more water to flow from Lam Luk Ka towards Bangkok.

"As far as we know, the residents want to see the water levels in both Pathum Thani and Bangkok not exceed more than 40cm," Mr Sompob said.

See also: Nonthaburi residents demand sluice gates be opened

Lam Luk Ka residents also demanded that the Phraya Suren sluice gate be opened wider to speed up water flow from Pathum Thani into Saen Saeb canal.

Mr Sompob said the BMA had already complied with that demand by widening the sluice gate from 40cm to 1 metre.

Water levels in Khlong Saen Saeb and at the Bang Chan intersection were quite high yesterday probably due to the widening of the sluice gate.

Froc deputy spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen yesterday said police were investigating Thursday's explosion at Khlong Hok Wa.

Pol Gen Pongsapat said witnesses told the police that they saw a man, believed to be a Sai Mai resident, on a motorcycle ride onto the bridge and throw an object into the crowd which resulted in a small explosion. Police hope to identify the man soon, he said.

He said police would summon four people injured in the blast for further questioning and were urging anyone with information to contact police at Sai Mai Police Station.

He said 200 police officers from the Border Patrol Police and Metropolitan Police Division One were sent to the scene to control the situation and to prevent further violence.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok's Min Buri district, Wassana Phongpheng, a spokesperson for Samakkhi Khlong's Song Ton Nun residents, has warned people in her area are becoming increasingly angry at a lack of assistance from authorities.

She said her community is where floodwater from Khlong Sam Wa and Khlong Saen Saeb meets before flowing in Khlong Prawet.

She said around 270 households have had to put up with high floodwater for more than a month.

Authorities need to pay more attention to the plight of people in this area, Ms Wassana said. Residents will have no option but to take action to make their voices heard if authorities ignore them, she warned.

Thaksin 'unaware' of decree bid

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is at the center of an uproar against a government-proposed decree widely seen as being enacted primarily to pardon his jail term, said he had no knowledge of the move.

Speaking from his Dubai base late on Wednesday, Thaksin said the cabinet was discussing the annual pardon of convicts which forms part of His Majesty the King's birthday celebrations, not a special amnesty.

Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail in 2008 for abuse of power to enable his then-wife Potjaman na Pombejra to secure a land purchase on Ratchadapisek Road.

Asked if he thought he would be included, he said: "I don't know. I don't think so. No one knows, because it was a confidential meeting. It's at the full discretion of His Majesty [the King]."

In Thailand, the controversial decree prompted about 1,000 people to gather outside Lumpini Park on Rama IV Road in opposition to the move.

The rally — the first mass political gathering since last year's red-shirt protest ended in a bloody crackdown was called for by an anti-Thaksin group led by Tul Sithisomwong. It began at 5pm and lasted about one hour.

Inside the park, another group called Siam Samakkhi, or United Siam, also gathered to oppose the decree.

Dr Tul called on the demonstrators to gather again on Monday to submit a letter in opposition to the decree to the Privy Council. After that, they will rally at the Government House on Tuesday.

He urged people across the country who disagreed with the decree to sign their name to a protest letter and submit it to their provincial governors.

Dr Tul claimed the government was issuing the royal decree with the precise specifications and goal of helping one person — Thaksin.

He said the government could have used the content of the royal decree issued during the Thaksin's tenure in 2006 but didn't.

Instead, it sought to modify the criteria for people who would benefit for the royal pardon.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a royal decree seeking clemency for 26,000 convicts to mark His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung chaired the meeting as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister, paid an overnight visit to Sing Buri to meet flood victims.

Kaewsan Atibhodi, a former constitution drafter, said at the Lumpini rally that Ms Yingluck should have vetted the pardon decree before tabling it for cabinet approval, instead of letting Mr Chalerm handle the matter.

He urged the ministers who approved the decree to return it to the cabinet and separate the royal pardon decree into two parts: one for the 26,000 prisoners and the other for Thaksin alone.

"The government should not hold the 26,000 prisoners as guarantors [for the passage of the decree]," he said.

Sopboon Srimuang, a state official who joined the rally, said she opposed the decree because she thinks the government is trying to deceive the public.

"Thaksin should not be entitled to the pardon because he fled the verdict.

It was not suitable for the government to issue the royal pardon decree at this time, when the country is still battling with floods," she said.

Meanwhile, the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy will rally against the decree on Monday, PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said.

Mr Panthep said yellow-shirt supporters will rally against the "law for Thaksin" in front of the Council of State Office from 10am to 6pm on Monday.

Details of the rally will be released at Baan Phra Arthit on Saturday at 11am, he added.

"The rally isn't a move to pressure an exercise of the royal power. We are opposed to the cabinet's undertaking which undermines the rule of law," he said.

Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Friday called on Ms Yingluck to refrain from provoking another political crisis by pushing ahead with the proposal.

The decree would be like rubbing salt into the national wound and would damage the government's credibility.

"It depends on the government and the prime minister. There is no problem if they follow tradition," he said.

Mr Abhisit said there are established criteria for a royal decree seeking royal pardon for convicts, which do not cover those on the run and those found guilty of corruption offenses.

The Democrat leader also urged the prime minister to make clear the government's stance on the issue.

"Don't be elusive like [deputy prime minister Chalerm Yubamrung]," he said. "Why does the government have to make changes?

"I think we all know who stands to benefit from them."

The army, meanwhile, has reserved its opinion on the pardon issue, saying it is a political concern, not the military's.

"The army chief wants the army to focus its resources on helping people affected by the flood," said First Army Commander Lt Gen Udomdej Sitabutr.

Army Commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has declined to comment on the issue.

Unaffected Bangkokians should help clean up canals

Water expert Chawalit Chantararat, who is also executive director of the TEAM Group, is calling on residents living in non flooded parts of Bangkok to help dredge waterways and unclog drains in flood ravaged areas.

TEAM Group is a conglomeration of environmental consultants.

According to him, the level of Chao Phraya and Ta Chin rivers is going to drop significantly for four hours daily until Thursday, and that everyone should take advantage of this low tide period to direct runoffs to these rivers.

"In order to do this, we need to dredge canals and remove garbage from clogged drains first," he explained.

Chawalit also recommended that relevant officials open canal sluice gates fully during the low tide period.

"In Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay district, water should be directed from Bangkok's Natee Canal to the Bangkok Noi Canal," he said.

He said that if the clearing effort worked, the level of Mahasawas Canal should drop and the Borommaratchachonnanee Road should be open to traffic next week. 

He added that though the flooded areas will not be dried out immediately, they should provide visible results.

Chawalit said people should take inspiration from the residents of Samut Sakhon's Ban Phaeo district, who got together to drain flood waters from their area.

Meanwhile, a channel is being dug up along the Bang Nam Jued Canal to help ease flooding in the border shared by Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. 

The Bang Nam Jued Canal links the Phasi Charoen Canal and Sanam Chai Canal, which direct water into water retention areas.

Located near Rama II Road, the Bang Nam Jued Canal only has the capacity to move 4 cubic meters of water per second. 

The new channel, which will be about 100 meters long, will be equipped with several pumps and should be able to push 15 cubic metes of water per second.

Bangkok Residents Clash as Anger Over Thai Flood Intensifies

Residents on Bangkok’s outskirts tore down levees protecting the inner city from flood-waters as anger at the Thai government’s response to the four-month-long crisis intensified.

About 2,000 people from Pathum Thani province north of Bangkok destroyed 70 meters (230 feet) of a sandbag wall in Sai Mai, allowing water to seep in, and later clashed with residents of the northern district who tried to rebuild the barrier, Jate Sopitpongstorn, an adviser to Bangkok’s governor, said today.

“It’s a big concern because there is such a large amount of water yet to come in,” Jate said by phone. “They have suffered for a month and they see that Bangkok has a better drainage system and think the city should take more water.”

Efforts to save Bangkok from floods that swamped thousands of factories north of the capital are trapping polluted water in districts outside the levees, stoking tension between residents. 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government also faced criticism this week for pushing for a royal pardon that may benefit her brother, exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, rather than focusing on flood-relief.

The government is discussing an amnesty that may apply to Thaksin, deposed in a military coup five years ago and convicted in absentee in 2008 to two years in jail. 

Details of the decree aren’t finalized and won’t be made public until it’s approved, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday.

‘Gross Mismanagement’

“The attempt to actually try to come back in this manner is going to destabilize what has been an improving political climate in Thailand, notwithstanding the gross mismanagement of the recent floods by the government,” Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party, said yesterday.

Representatives from the People’s Alliance for Democracy plan to submit a letter to the Council of State on Nov. 21 opposing the amnesty bill, spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said by phone today. 

The group mobilized tens of thousands of people when it seized Bangkok’s airports for eight days in 2008 in an effort to drive Thaksin’s brother-in-law from power.

The military has received greater public approval in handling the floods than the government, according to an Assumption University poll that surveyed 1,478 people in Bangkok and its outskirts from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. 

Three-quarters of respondents in an Oct. 30 poll of Bangkokians by the same organization said the administration’s relief efforts were inadequate.

Death Toll

In Bangkok, authorities are maintaining a network of levees, canals and sandbag barriers to protect the city from floods that have already killed at least 594 people since late July. 

Water is still more than 2 meters deep around some factories in Ayutthaya province, 78 kilometers (48 miles) from Bangkok, Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said earlier this week. Yingluck has said parts of the capital may be flooded until January.

The construction of new flood levees on Bangkok’s northern outskirts has caused water levels to recede in parts of the city, including around the Chatuchak weekend market and the Central Plaza Ladprao shopping mall, which reopened today after a three-week shutdown because of flooding.

Bangkok authorities have asked the police to help prevent further clashes between residents near the flood barriers.

“The situation is risky because some people have gone to try to fix the dike to protect themselves,” Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said late yesterday on his official Facebook page. 

“I don’t want it to create clashes between Bangkok and Pathum Thani residents.”

Any flow of water into the Sai Mai district may threaten the Bang Chan industrial estate in eastern Bangkok, Jate said. 

Bang Chan, 15 kilometers north of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, contains 91 factories, including an ice-cream plant operated by Nestle SA.

“If the barrier in Sai Mai has a problem, it will affect Bang Chan right away,” Jate said. “The amount of water has already increased.”

Govt takes dangerous path

A secret Cabinet meeting, shockingly missed by the PM, debates amnesty decree, seen as a ruse to secure a pardon for Thaksin while the country is plunged in battling its worst floods.

Who says the timing was bad? With the Yingluck government's rating threatening to nosedive, will "later" be better than "now"? 

In other words, if you were the prime minister, being attacked left and right, the most controversial thing you wanted to pull off should probably be done while you still could.

And the floods would make it difficult to mobilize street protests. To add to that, there's a pressing deadline issue as well. 

His Majesty the King's birthday anniversary is only about three weeks away. It's now or never for Yingluck Shinawatra, or Thaksin Shinawatra to be exact.

What the Thai public know as of now is that there was a closed-door discussion on Tuesday among certain ministers and high-ranking officials. 

At that meeting, the government pushed for some special clauses for this year's amnesty to mark the King's birthday. 

Those clauses, which reportedly would qualify people convicted of corruption and drug trade for the amnesty, would mark a break from tradition and certainly would be scrutinized for possible violation of the charter.

What happened on Tuesday was mostly shrouded in mystery. The secret Cabinet meeting was not chaired by Yingluck, who happened to be "stranded" in Sing Buri because the helicopter that had taken her there during the day was allegedly not well-equipped to fly in the dark. 

Assigned to chair the Cabinet meeting on her behalf was Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who happened to be the government's front man spearheading moves to seek amnesty for those affected by years of political turmoil.

The draft amnesty decree must be vetted by the Council of State, which faces the unenviable task of plugging any legal loophole, especially when it comes to the Constitution that prohibits making the laws for any individual. 

The Council of State also encounters the challenge of overcoming the highly sticky point about Thaksin never serving a single day of his two-year jail sentence.

"The pardon issue is confidential although I can say the government will not do anything illegally [to rescue Thaksin]," Chalerm said yesterday. 

He side-stepped a direct question on whether the Cabinet had approved and forwarded the draft decree for royal endorsement. He only said there was no conclusion drawn on the issue.

According to Chalerm, Yingluck did not plan in advance to be absent from the crucial Cabinet meeting, although her presence would have put her on the spot.

Chalerm's claims were countered by still-unconfirmed reports that Government House had sought a "two-day" service of a military helicopter for her trip to Sing Buri.

Issuing the amnesty decree would be just clearing the first obstacle. Once the decree is in place, there will be the issue of how to put Thaksin in the scheme. 

To sum it up, the whole process involves the Justice Minister forming a panel, comprising more than 20 members, to recommend the scope and details of the pardon, the Cabinet finalising the draft, the Council of State vetting any controversial provisions, and last but not least, the government deciding who will be the 26,000 convicts who will benefit.

Chalerm declined to say whether the pardon would be applicable to Thaksin, although he lashed out at an unnamed Cabinet member for leaking the news about the secret meeting to the media. 

He said he was in no position to speculate on the issue because the granting of pardon was the exercise of royal power.

He said the government would comment on the decree only after the provisions were enacted and enforced. "The decree for pardon is not entirely under the government's jurisdiction and the final outcome might not be in line with what the government said at a time," he said.

Under the Criminal Procedural Code and legal precedents, past cases of pardon applied to convicts serving time in prison. The pro-Thaksin camp has argued there is no law banning the pardon from being extended to those who have been convicted but have eluded punishment. 

It will be up to the Council of State to make sure controversial provisions wanted by the Cabinet won't embarrass the government or become a legal time bomb later.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok and a number of Cabinet members reportedly said they would await the royal discretion on whether to grant a pardon to Thaksin rather than force the royal decision on the issue. 

In the draft proposed by Pracha, those eligible for pardon would include convicts aged more than 60 with less than three-year jail term and no prior offense.

The Cabinet decided to delete certain clauses enforced in 2010 in order to extend the pardon to those convicted for drug trade and corruption.

Reports about the upcoming amnesty overshadowed the flood disaster, with opposition MPs, critics and anti-Thaksin elements in the social media in a major uproar. Demcrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the opposition would not condone the hasty and suspicious move to help Thaksin elude the law. 

He and other opposition MPs warned that letting Thaksin walk free despite his continuous contempt for the Thai justice system that convicted him would set a destructive precedent. 

"A pardon should only be granted to those who are incarcerated and show remorse," Abhisit said, insisting that the government was about to undermine the rule of law by granting pardon to a convict like Thaksin who refuses to serve time or show remorse.

The opposition will do its utmost to object to the Thaksin pardon, he said, threatening to block every step of the pardon process.

Law lecturer Kaewsun Atibodhi said the government had seriously erred by trying to seek a pardon for Thaksin who is a fugitive. 

He said he was puzzled why the government would want to pardon convicts on corruption and trafficking, offenses deemed Thailand's biggest problems even when Thaksin was PM. 

Pardon is an issue under the sole jurisdiction of the government, he said, reminding Cabinet members they might face impeachment even though the judicial and legislative powers could not stop them from pardoning Thaksin.