Two of the new independent Bangkok senators-elect say they would not be concerned if the Senate were dissolved after a year of political reform as long as

there were good grounds for doing so.

"I don't have a problem with that. But let me see [how things] develop first," said Rosana Tositrakul.

Kwansuang Atibodhi was similarly inclined about both houses being dissolved so that things could start from scratch. "If the reason is clear then I can accept that. No problem," he said.

Rosana warned that Thaksin Shinawatra's temporary abstention from retaining the powers of prime minister was no retreat of dictatorial force but an "offensive".

"It is not leading to any political solution," she said.

Both new senators-elect urged the public to maintain some faith in the upper house despite widespread belief that because the overwhelming majority of incoming senators have ties to big

political parties or act as their proxies, the Senate should be scrapped in order to save taxpayers' money.

Kwansuang said while some outgoing senators had a right to their opinions, it would be

inappropriate for him to talk about it.

"The Senate is about politics for the public good," he said. "The current political situation is in total chaos. The question is, what can the Senate do. We must keep on fighting. Whether we win or lose is another matter. I want posterity to know some positive sides [of Thai politics]."

For Rosana, the Senate is a tool to help better society. "While I was just a member of civil society,

gaining access to [government-related] information was very difficult. Now that I'll be in the Senate, I'll have a tool to access this information. If [the Senate] can't perform its functions I would agree to it being scrapped. But I can't judge it now and I'll need some time."

Rosana is a leading member of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy. Despite her new position, she said she would continue to play a role in the drive to oppose privatisation of electricity and other public utilities, and continue the boycott campaign against Shin Corp and Singapore goods and services.

"We work as a team [on these matters] and I'll continue to be part of it. I'll find an appropriate role [within it], however. But I definitely won't stop," she said.

Kwansuang, a former lecturer of Urban Planning at Chulalongkorn University and vice chairman of CivicNet - a middle-class urban development network - said he hoped to inject new ideas into the Senate on how the government could care for the urban poor, wisely preserve or utilise public land, and more.

"But I'll take a stand on any issues that are just and right," he said, adding that issues like the free-trade agreements, privatisation of state enterprises and press freedom will be matters that he would seriously consider as a new senator.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation