Withyakorn: Expecting controversy.

What's the first thing the committee will do?

We shall look at the 1997 Constitution and calculate its strengths and weaknesses in determining the electoral process or how it tackles vote buying. On some points I believe people already have ideas and some groups even want to draft their own constitution. We must support them because we are facilitators.

We understand that you may apply parts of the October 14, 1973, Constitution. Tell us more about that.

We will employ the same [democratisation] campaign as the one in 1973. The challenge back then was how to make people understand politics, elections and a constitution. Many students were alert and the government mobilised students. And it worked because the elections that followed didn't see much vote buying and young blood got elected to Parliament. But it was not sustained. I think students then were more informed than now. At present, many [university] students don't know much about democracy or politics. So we must increase student awareness first.

Is your task an onerous one?

Believe me, there will be a lot of arguments and fighting next year. I admit - it's difficult. That's because society tends to be emotional. Politicians have already accused the Council for National Security of trying to extend its grip on power instead of pointing out the good and bad of it. So, things get distorted.

Academics who are working with the CNS are also branded 'servants' of the CNS.

Why don't they look at the fact that [popular former] prime ministers like Prem Tinsulanonda and Anand Panyarachun were not elected?

The fact that I'm predicting a lot of conflict is because politicians will also be involved in the drafting process. Surely they won't agree with having a non-elected prime minister because they want to become prime minister. Even the accidental mentioning of how the new constitution should look by [coup leader] General Sonthi Boonyaratglin was heavily criticised.

So the committee is like a boxing referee urging people to use reason?

We must try to point out the good and bad of things and let the people decide.

Some think the committee is merely there to legitimise the drafting process.

Sure, there are people who think that. So we have to prove we're neutral. Thirapat Serirangsan [Prime Minister's Office Minister and long-time friend of Withyakorn] tried to assure me the government will not direct the drafting process and will give us freedom.

One thing that will prove that it is free from political power is to ensure a process of political participation takes place as much as possible.

A referendum on a draft constitution is new. But is it not just a stunt?

Before anyone marks their ballot paper, they should know the good and bad points of the constitution. That's our task, to inform the public.

If the Constitution Drafting Assembly ignores your committee's suggestions, will your work have been wasted?

It's up to the assembly to accept or ignore our suggestions. We shall present them through the news media, too, to ensure people can see them and understand if the assembly listens to us or not.

What do you believe the main issues are for a new constitution?

It should empower people and reduce the power of politicians and make it easier to remove politicians. It should ensure the so-called independent institutions are truly independent. We may have to rely more on the judiciary, like in India, where the courts examine elections.