He said the limit of two government terms does not apply in Thailand, as some governments last only three or six months.

Pongpol said the Kingdom should follow the lead of countries that set the terms of ministers at five years and forbid their running for re-election.

He also voiced opposition to Article 19 of the interim constitution, which bars those who were members of political parties over the past two years from sitting on the Constitution Drafting Assembly. He said it is unfair to impose such a ban because more than 20 million people belong to political parties. Only ministers should be kept from sitting in the assembly, he said.

Pongpol was speaking at a seminar organised by the King Prajadhipok Institute entitled "Constitutional Reform: Comparative Perspectives".

The Democrat Party yesterday was lukewarm to the idea that Cabinet members should be allowed to serve no more than two terms.

Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon, speaking at a weekly press conference, said the more important point was how to screen politicians so that they get into power honestly, fairly and without vote-buying.

In that case, he said, people would judge whether to let them continue to be in positions by voting for them or not.

Speaking at yesterday's seminar, Withayakorn Chiangkul, a lecturer at Rangsit University, criticised government policy for lacking economic reform.

He said it should have taken the opportunity to impose tax reform, land reform and trade reform because elected governments are unlikely to pass such legislation.

Rossana Tositrakul of the NGO Anticorruption Network proposed that the public be offered rewards for tipping off officials on corruption cases to encourage public participation.

Justice Ministry caretaker permanent secretary Charan Pakdithanakul floated a proposal that senators not be elected, saying the elected senate system has failed to become a strong institution for checks and balances.

"When the government is strong, it can influence and interfere in the elected senate, causing failure in its check mechanism,'' the permanent secretary said.