Academics yesterday voiced concern about the threat to democracy as the government insists on maintaining the emergency decree and empowering the "unaccountable" Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES).
Thitinant Pongsuthirak, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Sciences told a seminar that foreign countries looked at Thailand's democracy as a new breed of dictatorial system.
They saw a government-appointed CRES that had absolute power to interrogate, seize bank accounts, and detain suspects, while the government insisted on continuing the emergency decree even though it said it wanted to bring about national reconciliation.
Nakarin Mektrairat, Thamma-sat University's Faculty of Political Sciences lecturer and a member of the committee to amend the charter, said the committee would decide by October whether to amend six points in the Constitution and would draft a "dream constitution".
Nakarin said it was possible the House would be dissolved by the beginning of next year, according to leaders of coalition parties and his own analysis.
Thai Rath editor Sunthorn Thasai said the country could not rely on the democratic system to solve conflicts because people were resorting to underground movements and street rallies that lead to violence, rather than solving problems through democratic means.
Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said the proposal to appoint two independent committees tasked with reforming the country would be forwarded for Cabinet approval tomorrow.
Chiefs of the two committees would appoint respected and knowledgeable members and neither committee would serve longer than three years. That was beyond the government's term, but rules would ensure they did not delay their work. The public will be involved by giving opinions on phone, starting next week.
The PM said the government had no intention of interfering in the work of the two committees but would support them both in terms of personnel and funds. He said he had discussed the reform plan that would address the country's economic and social structural problems with former premier Anand Panyarachun, social thinker Dr Prawase Wasi and others.
Abhisit said Kanit na Nakhon, chief of the fact-finding committee investigating the street chaos, had informed him he needed 15 more days to find suitable members of the committee since he would like to choose both successful and respected individuals.
Meanwhile, the PM said Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga will seek Cabinet approval tomorrow for a committee to investigate the silent killings during the war on drugs under the Thaksin regime.