Reforms is a multi-faced beast

Reports of King Prajadhipok Institute's (KPI) Parliamentary Academic Support Office agree-ing on Monday to lead a study to make way for constitutional amendments and political reform - with Suchit Bunbongkarn as chairman - have put the topic back in the spotlight.

While some may feel they've heard the term too often lately, Between the Lines hopes people don't get bored with it just yet. In some ways, this term can be considered so new it's not really understood.

Political parties all talk about it, but what it means has been really vague.

Many observers agree the definition depends on who uses it.

The yellow shirts (People's Alliance for Democracy) might say political reform is anything that keeps former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his 'regime' out of power. Indeed, political reform is for them "New Politics" that many souls are searching for.

But for some red shirts, political reform can't happen without the lifting of charges and penalties against Thaksin.

But politicians banned after their parties were dissolved by the courts in recent years have not been able to agree on anything but the return of their voting rights.

Meanwhile, opposition Pheu Thai Party MPs might say their version of political reform is in line with proposed ideas for a "Reconciliation Act".

What a pity these ideas are so so widely divergent! Pheu Thai is also busy preparing for a censure debate, so we cannot expect a concrete meaning of political reform from it right now. However, the party's MPs have said "political reform" is just an attempt by the government to buy time for its leaders.

On one hand, "reconciliation" might sound like something the Democrats would say, but it could say national unity is what would make its govern-ment stable and long-lasting.

The Democrats won't agree to allow their bitter opponent Thaksin back in the game.

As straight as he is, Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong said yesterday he did not care about political reform, no matter what it is and what good it might yield soon. National unity must be the priority, he said.

As long as some groups dis-agree on the process, Suchit's panel or anyone else won't be able to stop problems, he said.

Former leader of the Chart Thai Party, Banharn Silapa-archa, said he also did not believe in Suchit's panel.

Meanwhile, business people say they want reform that stabilises politics. If that can happen, the conditions in the country should get better and divisiveness subside.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier a referen-dum on political reform could be a waste of time and money.

Nevertheless, according to the motto "politics is every-body's business," we think people should take part in defining Thailand's political reform.

Although we're not sure who has that motto ...