Today the drafting subcommittees for independent examination organisations and courts, as well as the panel for political institutions, will meet to report progress.

Tomorrow, the subcommittee for political institutions led by Charan Pakdithanakul will meet leaders and representatives from political parties, including Thai Rak Thai, Democrat, Chat Thai and Mahachon, to discuss the charter drafting.

The issues to be discussed will include the House of Representatives and the Senate, the constituency allocation, how to vote and how to count the votes. The panel will meet again on Wednesday.

Reaction to Somkid's appointment

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member Akapol Sorasuchart will today file a motion demanding an explanation of last week's appoint-ment of former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak as economic envoy.

Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy, which campaigned against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, will meet at Manager Group headquarters tomorrow to discuss its reaction to the appointment.

NLA members to discuss airport

Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of the NLA's special committee for Suvarnabhumi Airport issues, will summon Tortrakul Yomnak, chairman of the airport's tarmac inspection panel, to give information tomorrow.

Bannawit's committee formerly suggested that the airport should be closed if its runways and taxiways were damaged. However, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont insisted that the airport remain open so as not to damage international confidence.

Tortrakul's information might affect Bannawit's committee's decision on how the damage should be fixed.

Tribunal resumes its hearings

The hearings for the electoral fraud cases against the Thai Rak Thai Party, the Democrats and three smaller parties are still in the spotlight. In the month since the Constitution Tribunal's first hearing on the cases, Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats appear to have been braver in commenting outside of the court. Although the hearings continue until April, and the two main defendants had said they would sit back and let the tribunal operate, their executives have been unable to contain themselves and have engaged in fierce sniping attacks outside court.

The hearing for the case related to Thai Rak Thai resumes on Tuesday and the hearing for the case related to the Democrats continues on Thursday.