The clock is ticking on the 180 days allowed for charter drafters to produce a "permanent" constitution.

Members of the 35-person core drafting committee are trying to ease these concerns. They say channels for feedback and consultation will remain open for the next six months.

And, 18 million copies of the draft charter will be published and distributed ahead of the referendum scheduled for August.

"The limitation is the 180-day [rule]. Right now the process of listening [to people's opinions] is only superficial and cannot be used as a basis [to shape the new charter]. If we can't do it the other way round, the media and the people may accuse us of fooling them," CDA member Uthit Choochuay warned.

Other CDA members speaking at yesterday's weekly assembly said the 180-day rule was not only a hindrance to true public participation but artificially imposed.

"The 180-day rule is creating a pressured environment and we may trip over ourselves while running to meet it," Seri Nimayu said.

CDA public participation coordinating committee chairman Chermsak Pinthong said it would take a week to appoint provincial sub-committees to seek public views for the charter.

He said finding representatives in the pro-Thaksin-Shinawatra North-east had proved "an uphill battle".

"It's becoming a problem," he said.

The former senator said it was important to receive qualitative input from people across the country and produce it in tangible and scientific ways that can be referred to.

"If people who support [drafters'] views are bussed in then local people may say why don't you guys just draft it by yourselves? But, if we truly listen then the people will feel they own the new charter.

"If you can't be flexible about the time-frame and handling public input then I can't do it for you," he told the charter writers.

Chermsak suggested a "road map". He added the new charter must limit government authority and increase citizens' rights and liberties.

Core drafting committee secretary Somkid Lertpaitoon assured the assembly public participation was a high priority.

"Otherwise it won't be the people's constitution but the constitution of the charter drafters. We will continue to listen to the public until the whole drafting process is over," he said.

A first draft is expected by April 19 and a revised version by June 10.

A questionnaire covering 20 issues will be distributed to gauge public opinion. The issues range from the number of members of Parliament, elected or non-elected prime ministers and how long can they serve to censure debates and the fate of proportional representation.

A point-by-point comparison with the 1997 Constitution and the new charter will be published, Somkid added.

Despite these assurances at least one CDA member said many rural people were unaware of the CDA and its role and others remained ignorant of how to participate in the drafting process.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation