Democrats say the following transcript of an audio recording, broadcast on Tuesday on Blue Sky satellite channel, is House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, talking about the charter amendment and reconciliation bills to key supporters in Phetchabun on June 27.
"What I'm about to say only we have the privilege to hear. Even the MPs don't know this. Of everyone, I've talked most often with the person living far away.
When I asked to not go ahead with the third reading [of the charter amendment bill] he wouldn't listen. He didn't yell but he didn't listen.
"So I told him that in all the time we've known each other, I have analysed various political issues. Was there any issue that didn't turn out the way I analysed? He became quiet and listened.
"But as I was explaining, he tried to slide away. And when I finished my sentence, he gave no response.
"Do you know what my most important line was? It was when I told him the Pheu Thai Party's direction, as it always had been, was right. The strategy is not to play the king [in a chess game] unless it is necessary. It needs to keep the prime minister out [of sticky situations].
"The prime minister has stressed that everything is the business of the parliament. The charter is the business of parliament and so is the reconciliation bill and the third reading process.
"The prime minister did the right thing. It was right to pass the hot potato to me. What were they thinking, yanking the hot potato from my hand? What was he thinking, I asked.
"He was quiet. So I suggested we talk among our own people first. I called Khun Daeng Yaowapa. Before that, I spoke to former premier Somchai. I convinced him and he finally agreed.
"Two hours later, former premier Somchai phoned to say the party was holding its strategy committee and that Thaksin would skype in to the session.
"At the meeting the next day, the person far away did all the talking and used the reasons I gave him to influence the members before deciding whether the third reading should press ahead.
"To this minute, the Pheu Thai Party's strategy has followed those reasons.
"The next task is to avoid deliberating the reconciliation bill in parliament. I have repeated this 10,000 times to the person far away.
"I said to him he has endured so much for five years. What does another three to six months matter? On Aug 1, the reconciliation bill should be withdrawn and put up for public discussion in every square inch of the country.
"The state-run media outlets will publicise it and the population will be the shield protecting us. It will take three to six months, then the reconciliation bill will be returned to parliament.
"Let our opponents declare war, that's not our doing. We should keep in our hands the power to run the state, and proceed slowly."