Pichien Amnartworaprasert announces he is quitting as chairman of the CDA’s publicity committee as he walks out of Parliament.

Political office holders will face criminal prosecution on top of a five-year ban if they conceal their wealth or wilfully file false financial statements.

"Under the draft constitution, elected office holders are slated for stronger punishment if convicted for offences relating to asset declarations," Paiboon Warahapaitoon, who is in charge of drafting charter provisions on courts and independent organisations, said yesterday.

As criminal penalties are involved under the revamped rules, asset declaration cases will be litigated under the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, he said.

Under the last charter, such cases were heard by the Constitution Court.

On the drawing board, nine justices will sit on the Constitution Court bench - three from the Supreme Court, two from the Supreme Administrative Court and two each drawn from experts in the fields of law and public administration, he said.

Separately, the publicity committee of the Constitution Drafting Assembly decided to eject its chairman for incompetence.

Faced with fierce criticism from his colleagues, Pichien Amnart-woraprasert resigned to accept responsibility for the lack of public awareness on the charter-drafting progress.

Replacing Pichien is Jutinan Bhirompakdi, who vowed to encourage his committee to take a more proactive approach to the promotional campaign.

"I have to admit that the committee was too slow and I think the work procedures were at fault, not the committee members," he said.

One problem was the committee was still unable to disburse its Bt79-million budget, he added.

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said authorities should strive for success in putting the new constitution up for a national vote.

Council for National Security secretary-general Winai Phattiyakul said earlier that the CNS could still hold a general election based on one of the suspended charters if the referendum failed.

"It's not acceptable to waste time and money for charter framing if there's no will to push for its promulgation," he said.

Chuan urged authorities to increase public understanding of a true parliamentary system.

He said the idea of limiting a prime minister to serving two four-year terms might be suitable for the presidential system but was not compatible with the parliamentary system.

He also disagreed with the idea of a non-elected prime minister, saying it could work in a mature democracy but would aggravate political instability if introduced to this country at this stage.