The legal experts working on an interim charter were figuring out the way to relate most of the people's participation in the drafting of the new constitution, he said.

After the drafting is finished, it wouldn't need the approval of the CDRM, the Cabinet nor the national assembly again. However, it was still uncertain if a referendum would be held, he said.

The new constitution must fix all the loopholes in the 1997 Constitution such as the status and existence of independent organisations, he said.

However, it would depend on the decision of the constitution-drafting council. If the council wanted the constitution to be finished quickly, it might have to use the 1997 Constitution as a guideline.

He said CDRM was putting pressure on the drafters to complete the charter as the coup leaders wanted to return to their normal positions and restore power to a civil government. The process should be finished within two weeks.

Reacting to criticism against him being appointed a CDRM legal adviser after having been a deputy prime minister in the Thaksin government, Wissanu said he was not feeling pressured. "I don't feel anything at all. I even want people to strongly oppose me [being a CDRM advisor] so I will be left alone. I'll be happy and not tired as I also need a rest," he said.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation