More than 62 per cent of the respondents saw an improvement in politics, compared to 24 per cent who expected no change and 10 per cent who believed things would get worse in the next few months, according to results of the Suan Dusit Poll released yesterday.

The survey was conducted on 4,191 people around country between Nov 5 and yesterday. 

Council for national security

Report to outline reasons for coup

The Council for National Security will distribute by the end of this month 21,000 copies of a white paper to explain its reasons for staging the coup, CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday. Some 20,000 copies would be printed in Thai and 1,000 in English.

Yesterday's CNS meeting also discussed the selection of the 115 members under its quota to the National People's Assembly. The CNS didn't select the members alone but let other organisations - including the National Human Rights Commission, National Council of Women and National Council on Social Welfare - help decide, he said.

Social security office

Bt2.8-bn IT project 'not lawful'

An investigation by a Social Security Office (SSO) committee has released an initial finding that a Bt2.8-billion information technology project for the SSO was not lawfully approved and should be scrapped.

The SSO's fact-finding committee found that approval by secretary-general Phairoj Suksamrit just after the coup was not within the realm of his legitimate authority, an SSO source said.

The panel, headed by former attorney-general Komain Phatthara-phirom, recommended the decision on whether to continue with the project or scrap it rested with the Labour Minister. But it warned scrapping the project could subject the SSO to a civil lawsuit for compensation of as much as Bt100 million by the contractor awarded the project.

Responding to yesterday's Cabinet decision to transfer him to the post of Labour Ministry deputy permanent secretary, Phairoj said he had no problems complying with the transfer order and welcomed Surin Jirawisit as his successor as SSO chief.

Party dissolution cases

Court to set schedule tomorrow

The Constitution Court will tomorrow start hearing the five party dissolution cases, secretary Paiboon Warahapaitoon said yesterday. The court will schedule and set a timeframe for the trial and decide whether to hear the case separately or as one case.

The court may also decide to broadcast the trial. The court's directives stipulate that the trial is open for the public, Paiboon said.

The Thai Rak Thai, Democrat, Progressive Democratic, Pattana Chart Thai and Thai Ground parties are charged with electoral offences in connection with the April 2 election.