Academics see a political Dark Age approaching with the draft charter likely to be snubbed by the people.

The junta and its government may need to prepare for a way out if the constitution is rejected by the referendum, political scientist Anek Laothamatas said yester-day.

Nowhere is there a plebiscite held for a constitution as no constitution can satisfy the demands of all sectors of society, said Anek, an associate professor and member of the Thammasat University Council.

"For example, I believe that at least 2 million people will vote against the constitution if it doesn't declare Buddhism as the national religion," he told a symposium on "Thailand: Post Old Ginger I" held at Thammasat.

Asst Professor Somchai Preechasilpakul also believes the charter will be given the thumbs down by a lot of people who disagree with the coup.

"I would suggest the drafters write the constitution just to lead to the election and leave it to the new government to write a [real] version," said Somchai, dean of law at Chiang Mai University.

Assoc Professor Ubonrat Siriyuwasak warned people to get ready for whatever happens if the referendum fails.

"Many people have begun to see that almost six months after the coup. Nothing has been done for the public good, but rather for sharing benefits among people involved with the Council for National Security and the government," she said.

However, she does not want to see people seeking alternatives by calling for military or royal intervention like last year.

Historian Charnvit Kasetsiri drew commonalties in the September 19 putsch and the coup of October 1976.

"The coup 30 years ago was started because they feared the communists, and the coup on September 19 last year was started because they feared the Thaksin regime. But the coup-makers have no plan apart from seeking power," he said.

"I believe that the constitution will flop in the referendum and society will face a political tsunami in the near future," he said.

The CNS has to spend Bt2.3 billion on the coup and constitution, which benefits only the 360 people who are working for the National Legislative Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, the Constitution Tribunal and the CNS itself, he added.

"Compare that to the government funding that Thammasat received for this year. The university spends the same amount of money for the salaries of 1,400 lecturers and about 5,000 staff, and for the cost of educating more than 30,000 students," said Charnvit, who was once a Thammasat rector.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation