Their move came amid mounting pressure from academics and activists that the two cousins be removed on the grounds they had once served in the Thaksin administration, although they had left the government long before it was deposed last Tuesday.

The two had been named as part of a working group of legal experts led by former Senate speaker Meechai Ruchuphan, which was appointed by the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM).

The interim charter is expected to be completed before this weekend.

Borwornsak told reporters yesterday he would prefer to pursue his academic research, and vowed never to become part of any group of advisers or panels appointed by the CDRM. This would also apply to a national assembly and a constitution drafting council, he added.

"I will reject any proposal to nominate me," he said, adding he had stopped attending meetings of the Meechai team from yesterday.

Borwornsak said his original intention had been to help with the drafting of an interim charter. He said he became involved with the process after being approached by Meechai and CDRM leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

Wissanu, a deputy prime minister in the previous government, also did not attend yesterday's meeting of the CDRM's legal advisers. A source said he had decided to quit the panel.

In early June, Borwornsak, who was then Cabinet secretary-general, left the Thaksin government and was ordained as a Buddhist monk for a short period. A few weeks later, Wissanu resigned as deputy prime minister.

Both of them had been law professors before joining the Thaksin administration.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation