Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will today discuss the constitution draft with leaders of all 44 political parties, as a gesture of goodwill amid conflict over several unpopular sections.

Surayud's role at Government House will be limited, as he has no role to play in the draft, but his first meeting with party leaders should help to ease the political pressure.

Before meeting the prime minister, representatives of the Democrat, Chat Thai and Mahachon parties will meet to air their positions on the new constitution.

Controversial issues include the method by which MPs should be elected, whether senators

will be elected or appointed, whether there should be a national crisis committee and whether Buddhism should be made the state religion.

"We agree with a proposal to have an election to get three MPs in one zone. We don't mind if we are going to do away with the party list.

"However, each party will have its own opinion," said Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon.

Chat Thai Party deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said yesterday that his party, the Democrats and Mahachon had not yet received a letter of invitation from the prime minister to attend today's meeting. He also wondered whether members of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) would also attend to get feedback from the parties.

He insisted that Chat Thai would like the Council for National Security to spell out which constitution it would introduce in the event the draft is rejected in a national referendum.

General Thongchai Kuasakul, a leader of the movement demanding Buddhism as the state religion, said the demonstrations in front of Parliament would be stopped, because of fears a third party may exploit them.

But the Buddhist movement would not stop campaigning away from Parliament, he said.

Charan Phakdithanakul, deputy chairman of the CDC,

said drafters were trying to resolve this delicate political issue. He feared that including Buddhism in the constitution might lead to further domestic conflict.

Meanwhile, Palang Pandin Thai Party leader Likhit Dhiravegin expressed readiness yesterday to form a new alliance with two former prime ministers, Chuan Leekpai and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, designed to boost his chances of joining the next government.

Likhit said he met Chuan in Trang on Sunday and would talk with Chavalit at his party's headquarters in Bangkok today.

"I told Chuan that I am ready to support him if he wants to intervene in a political crisis," he said in reference to the speculation that Chuan might resume leading the Democrat Party should incumbent leader Abhisit Vejjajiva be penalised for electoral fraud.

"I also plan to welcome Chavalit as my party's adviser, although I believe he will soon form a new party. I am willing to become his ally," Likhit said.

He said Chuan and Chavalit were both political veterans who would always wield influence on the political landscape.

Likhit dismissed news reports that he wanted Chuan to lead the Democrats once again, saying he would not interfere with the internal affairs of another party.

He said he aimed to be an ally of Chuan and Chavalit but would not seek a party merger.

Likhit was speaking in the wake of last week's unveiling of a plan by Matchima Group leader Somsak Thepsuthin to form a new party under the leadership of former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Somsak and Somkid have made it clear they are in the race to form the next coalition.

In regard to today's meeting

of 44 political parties at Government House, Likhit said his party would raise six questions on unclear charter provisions.

His party opposed the revamp of the constituency electoral process and found no justification to reduce House seats from 500 to 400, he said.

He said the clause on the national crisis panel seemed vague and should be cut, adding that he disagreed with the appointment of the Senate.

He said he opposed a clause on granting immunity to the power seizure and that he wanted Buddhism to be declared as the religion "coexisting" with Thailand and not as the state religion.

Ong-art, of the Democrats, said Likhit's remarks would not have an influence on how the Democrats charted their future course.

"My fellow Democrats are grateful to Likhit for showing his support for Chuan, although we do not know his true intentions," Ong-art said.

The Democrats have deemed it too early to speculate on a new alliance or the candidates for

the premiership because the drafting of the new constitution had not been completed, he said.

He said his party would use today's morning meeting with its two former opposition allies, Chat Thai and Mahachon, to form a joint stand on the constitution draft.

The three parties' views will be submitted to the prime minister in the afternoon, he said.

He said his party was concerned about provisions on the appointed Senate and on the national crisis panel.

Meanwhile, Panthep Klana-rongran, chairman of the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), said his agency would like to be given the power to directly prosecute politicians without having to wait for a plaintiff to file a charge first.

"We would like the new constitution to give this power in line with the NCCC Act," he said.

Political Desk

The Nation