The argument occurred after two newspapers published details of part of the new draft constitution, word for word and designated under various articles.

This was despite the committee urging the media not to do so, for fear of giving the public a "false impression" that drafters had already decided how the new charter would look.

"When you run details like this, the mood of the people will be that a blueprint already exists. We will listen to the people after April 19 [when the first draft is ready] and we're not going to listen now," Somkid fumed. "People like to criticise the committee and I'm rather upset by it."

A reporter for Post Today, one of the two papers accused of breaching the "gentleman's agreement", defended himself by saying he had no knowledge of the agreement because he was not present at the time.

However, the reporter then told Somkid that the public was "suspicious" because drafting of the new charter was being "done in a post-coup context".

Somkid insisted that no blueprint exists, despite being reminded by The Nation that there can be no way to ascertain such a remark, as the drafters may change any article of the new charter at whim in their last meeting.

The drafting committee's chairman said yesterday that any changes could be made until April 19, so nothing agreed prior to that was set in stone.

Somkid said he wasn't worried about the possibility of the new charter being rejected during the referendum, however.

"I think they're pretty sick and will not care for anything when cornered," the Thai Post reporter alleged.

He said that a few "power-seeking" drafters were "very concerned" that if the new charter failed, their reputation and working career with any people in power in the future would be permanently

affected.

Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation