The bill, which would let communities have a say in local projects, is said to be a key strategy for long-term social development, despite Interior Minis-try concerns it might overlap with local administration bodies.

Paiboon, the social development and human security minister, and his deputy Poldej Pinpratheep have threatened to resign if the bill is dropped.

Some 1,000 villagers from community organisations na-tionwide are due to arrive in Bangkok today to support Paiboon.

Sawong Sawaengnin, of the Eastern Community Organisa-tions Network, said yesterday that the Interior Ministry misunderstood the bill and people's needs, which were to be independent and to have knowledge when someone was up to something.

Surayud said the Social Development and Human Security Ministry looked at the issue from the perspective of the public, while the Interior Ministry viewed it from the angle of regional and local public administration.

"We will step forward in the right direction to get people's participation in solving problems, according to the government's previously announced principle," he said.

The prime minister said the Cabinet had agreed to have the Council of State study the bill in detail, while related agencies, including the two ministries, would conclude how best to engage people's participation.

"We have to talk rationally and find middle ground. If we focus only on ourselves, then we'll go nowhere," Surayud said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an, chairman of the Cabinet's social agenda screening committee, said he would invite discussions with all parties that doubted the bill.

The conclusion of the talks would be presented to the Council of State, he said.

Suwat Khonpaen, of the Community Organisations Development Institute, said it had worked with the Interior Ministry to change the bill to satisfy all parties.

The changes include a shift from community organisation councils formulating development plans for implementation by tambon administration bodies to "[both parties] working together to formulate local development plans". The councils' power to scrap projects was replaced by the right to make suggestions.

Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya yesterday denied a rift between him and Paiboon; insisted criticisms were normal for democracy and said the Cabinet would make the final call on the bill.

Paiboon said he would have another talk with Aree - in a creative and peaceful manner - about the bill.

Interior Ministry permanent secretary Pongpayom Wasaputi said the ministry saw no need to have more bureaucratic organisations, as people's groups now had bargaining power and worked alongside local administrative bodies.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, backed the bill because it would lead to development of long-term democracy and reduce government power while boosting people's power.

Nopadol Kaewsupat, head of the tambon administration organisations' association, said various groups had in recent weeks expressed to the Interior Ministry their objections to the bill on the grounds it would create redundancy, disunity and misunderstandings.