• 
• 

Published on April 16, 2008

He said Articles 237 and 309 were the two crucial aspects that the government wanted to amend in order to ensure the ruling party survives a threat of possible disbandment due to electoral fraud. Another goal is for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to escape the wrath of the Asset Examination Committee, which was created by the junta and recognised by Article 309 of the charter, he said.

Prasong said more time should be given to the current charter, which passed a referendum organised by the interim government.

"The question is, when should it be amended and for whom? What's wrong with the 2007 charter? It's like they want to overhaul the whole engine while the engine hasn't been put to work and they do not know where the engine's problems lie," he said.

Prasong defended the 2007 Constitution further by insisting that all previous 17 charters in Thailand were penned as a result of coups d'etat, one way or another.

He added that the current charter also passed a referendum, in which 14 million people voted to endorse it. Some 10 million voters rejected the charter, while martial law was still in effect in many provinces.

Prasong claimed that any "political trap" set by the charter was not aimed specifically at Thaksin or its allies, but was for all corrupt politicians.

Given the situation and looming protests, Prasong - a close adviser of the People's Alliance for Democracy - warned that the administration would last only months,  possibly even weeks.

Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Thepthai Saenpong expressed similar views about possible bloodshed.

The Nation