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Published on March 29, 2008

"The situation now could only lead to political confrontation," Pairoj said yesterday. He was referring to the current stand-off between those in support of the government's amending the charter - which includes controversial articles such as Article 237, which may lead to the dissolution of three coalition parties including the ruling People Power Party - and those such as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who oppose it on the grounds that amendment would only benefit the current government.

"There will be violence and it will be worse than the situation leading to the September 19, 2006 [coup]," he added.

Pairoj proposed a third way, whereby the Constitution would be amended only through wide public participation, ushering in a second round of political reform.

"If we want to solve the crisis we must allow various other parties to become involved. Otherwise there will be no end to the dispute."

He said the NGO-Cord, which is the Kingdom's largest umbrella network for non-government organisations, had decided not to join the PAD because "their issue is not clear and will not benefit people's politics".

Pairoj is also critical of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's intention to amend the charter without wide public participation, which he sees as a self-serving move.

Nevertheless, he said the charter, written by people appointed by the

military junta and passed through referendum under martial law, must

be amended and made more democratic.

"Many parts of the content are problematic. Say, on the issue of distribution of income. And also on the judiciary having the authority to choose members of the so-called independent bodies under the charter, and [half] of the Senate," he said.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation