Political rivals to rally today for and against change

Constitutional amendment seems likely to bring the political conflict back to the boil, with supporters and detractors of the move expected to gather today when Parliament begins its deliberation of the bills seeking changes to a charter clause to allow the formation of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

The red shirts, who are key supporters of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, and the multicoloured-shirts group, which opposes attempts to change the charter for personal benefit, plan to gather separately in front of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), after its long political seclusion, yesterday issued a statement opposing the ruling coalition's attempt to rewrite the Constitution in a way to allow "parliamentary dictatorship by evil political capitalism".

The PAD called on its supporters from around the world to join a rally to call for "big political reform" on March 10, with the location to be specified later.

Parliament is today set to begin its two-day deliberation of three separate amendment drafts proposed by the Cabinet, the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party.

Udomdej Ratanasathien, the chief government whip, said both the supporters and detractors of constitutional amendment had the right to hold peaceful gatherings.

"We [parliamentarians] have our duty to do, and we do not get involved with anything that is beyond the control of Parliament," he said.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed support for a proposal by the Law Reform Commission that parliamentary consideration of the charter changes should be postponed, so as to wait for the amendment drafts proposed by civic groups, including the red shirts.

A lengthy period is required for verification of the identities of the several thousand proponents of the civic groups' drafts.

Abhisit, who is also the Democrat Party leader, said no political figures had explained why the amendment process should be expedited.

A group of 50 senators - including Surajit Chiravet, Somjet Boonthanom, Kamnoon Sitthisamarn and Rosana Tositrakul - yesterday called a news conference voicing their opposition to the establishment of a CDA.

They said that allowing such a body to rewrite the charter freely would be tantamount to overthrowing the 2007 Constitution, drawn up after the 2006 coup.

The senators said the unstated goals of the charter changes were to weaken the existing independent organisations and the judiciary, which together serve as a checks-and-balances mechanism against the administrative branch of government.

Surajit said his group called for all three drafts to be withdrawn to allow greater participation from the public in the political reform efforts.

Rosana said the constitutional amendment was an attempt by certain politicians to influence all three branches of government - the legislature, the administration and the judiciary - and to whitewash the wrongdoing of a certain former prime minister.

Meanwhile, PAD leaders met yesterday morning and later called a news conference about their response to the constitutional-amendment efforts.

PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan, reading out a statement of the group, said the drafts by government politicians were aimed at replacing the entire Constitution with a new one that would "allow Thailand to come under the grip of parliamentary dictatorship by evil political capitalism".

The two main goals are to "whitewash the wrongdoings of the political-party owners and their cohorts, and to strengthen their power grip for total control of the country", the statement said.

The PAD said the group viewed the ruling coalition's amendment as an attempt to overthrow the charter, which is an illegal act against the Constitution.

In a related development, the Sayam Prachapiwat (Siam Reformation) group yesterday called for establishment of a committee to reform the administrative and judicial systems to ensure reconciliation and a sustainable solution to the political conflict.