WICHAI THANAPRAYOACHSAK, a Hat Yai business leader, holds a flag with the message 'Southerners join in liberating the nation' yesterday. He plans to join a coalition, including Prince of Songkhla University students, calling for the resignation of Premier

The prime minister should relinquish his office to pave the way for the rectification of flawed constitutional provisions, Democrat Party chief Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

“True constitutional amendments will not come about if Thaksin Shinawatra is in power because all the desired changes are about him,” Abhisit said.

The Constitution must be amended because Thaksin has abused the charter’s checks-and-balances mechanisms in order to pre-empt accountability for his actions, he said.

“In the present situation, all independent organisations are under the control of the government, the House cannot censure the prime minister, and the media professionals have been muzzled,” Abhisit said.

Thaksin claimed that he had done everything legally in the tax-free sale of Shin Corp but refused to allow a judicial review, Abhisit said, in reference to the Constitution Court’s rejection of a petition for an inquiry into alleged conflict of interest.

Thammasat University rector Surapon Nitikraipot said the government appeared to want to prolong rather than hasten the amendment process. “Thaksin has told the universities to study the matter, which could take a year,” he said.

Surapon said he had no idea why Thaksin had decided against speeding up the process. The charter could be amended speedily on the basis of the studies already done by the Senate and King Prajadhipok’s Institute, he said.

“It is odd that Thaksin ruled out sponsoring the amendment proposals after his government has pushed through so many revisions in the past,” he said.

The University Rectors Conference (URC) said it would ensure the political neutrality of the universities during the study. Many universities, notably Thammasat and Chiang Mai, have expressed readiness to research the issue, URC chairman Pratya Vesarach said.

“Each university will proceed independently with the financial support of the Higher Education Commission, and the URC has laid down guidelines stressing amendments that address issues rather than individual politicians,” he said, adding that the study was expected to be completed in April.