Constitution Drafting Assembly chairman Noranit Setabutr, second from right, presents a bouquet of flowers to National Legislative Assembly speaker Meechai Ruchuphan during their meeting at the Parliament yesterday. Noranit and his two deputies discussed

The Council for National Security (CNS) had asked the NLA to select a representative to be a charter writer, and NLA members voted for Prasong on Tuesday.

CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday the CNS would name a judge-advocate to sit on the panel of 35 charter writers in order to have the military's point of view reflected in the new constitution.

"I will reserve one seat [of the CNS quota of 10] for a military officer, to be chosen from among the judge-advocates," he said.

The nine other charter writers would be selected on the basis of their professional groups in order to balance out the 25 named by the Constitution Drafting Assembly, he said.

Prasong is one of those nine, but when asked about this, Sonthi said he had yet to review the NLA nomination.

Sonthi said the CNS wanted the 35 charter writers to come from diverse professional backgrounds to ensure a well-rounded basic law.

Earlier, there was a rumour that Prasong expected to be both a writer and to be supported as chairman of the drafting team as well. And it's possible he may get that post.

A close aide of Prasong voiced support yesterday. NLA member Praphan Kunmee said Prasong was suitable for the position. But, he said, it depended on the 35 drafters, who will pick a chairman by themselves.

Praphan noted that Charan Phakdithanakul, a charter writer under the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) quota, was also suitable to be secretary for the group.

Prasong refused to make any comment himself.

But some members of the NLA criticised the selection of Prasong. NLA member Wallop Tang-khananurak said: "It was unusual that the CNS asked the Assembly to pick [a drafter]. I just know that after the NLA speaker asked the panel whip to consider someone. However, I told them that we should vote," said.

Meanwhile, politicians backed the 25 charter drafters selected by the CDA on Tuesday and said they expected the 10 writers selected by the junta would be well qualified.

Chat Thai Leader Banharn Silapa-archa said he admired the 25 writers, and would propose 10 suggestions about the new constitution for the drafting chairman shortly.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the 25 drafters came from a variety of fields. But he wanted to wait and see the 10 others picked by the junta.

Abhisit also urged the government to outline its positions on the new constitution. "Which constitutions does the state support? They should clearly tell the people," Abhisit said. He said the 1997 charter should be picked.