DEMOCRATS HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ON CHARTER CHANGE

       The Democrat Party will review its stance over amending the Constitution after the move met with resistance from some lawmakers who threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against those who initiate alterations to the charter.
       Democrat Party spokesman Thepthai Senpong said the party has a clear stance to amend the charter on provisions resolved by the Reconciliation committee for Constitution Amendment and joint committees of whips. The party will also push for a public referendum. It will follow the wishes of the people in the matter.
       He also denied that the party had resolved to let members vote freely whether to amend the Constitution. The party will call a meeting tomorrow to decide the details of the Constitution amendment.
       Suphan Buri Senator Prasit Phothasuthon, who has been campaigning for charter amendment, said he had a list of 30-40 senators who support the amendment and he would submit the petition to House Speaker Chai Chidchob next week. He said his group supported the move to amend six articles of the Constitution in one draft but if the public referendum showed opposition to the move, they would drop the petition.
       New Politics Party spokesman Samran Rodpet said the party believed the crisis facing the country could not be healed by amending six articles of the Constitution because the political divisions facing the country ran deep at grass root and the country's high institutions. If the Constitution is finally amended, the country will see even greater division. Rival political parties also play politics by seeking political advantage from the move rather than thinking of public interest. The party will team up with the People's Alliance for Democracy to oppose any constitutional amendment.
       Secretary-general of the New Politics Party, Suriyasai Katasila, said the Democrat Party has not had a clear stance over the amendment. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva first had high ambitions on the issue, wanting to have a Constitution Drafting Assembly but then settled for a charter amendment committee and now public referendum. At the same time the Pheu Thai Party had a clear stance about wanting the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution, which is impossible unless the party successfully called for a military coup to do that.
       "If the government adamantly pushes for charter amendment, we will seek impeachment proceedings against MPs and those involved or call for public rallies against the move,'' Suriyasai said.