Thai politics may continue to be trapped in a vicious cycle as there may be another power struggle before the referendum on the new constitution, which is slated for later this year, anti-coup leader Sombat Boonngam-anong asserted yesterday.

Sombat, who led the thaisayno.com campaigns against the coup and the junta-sponsored constitution, and his allies staged a rally of about 2,000 people well into the night at Sanam Luang, railing against the junta and the Surayud Chulanont government, which they regard as "self-serving" and anti-democratic.

"There may emerge another 'hero' who stages a coup and it may occur before the referendum. It's unfortunate that the people may not get the chance to determine the future of this junta by themselves," Sombat told The Nation, citing the deteriorating economy and continuing political divisions as factors.

Nevertheless, the campaign to oppose the junta and the new charter now being drafted will continue, and the group has gathered 3,000 signatures of citizens who have pledged to reject the new charter, including some 500 who registered their intent to reject it during yesterday's rally.

Sombat said the group plans to approach public figures and ask them to publicly oppose

the charter right after its first draft is completed on April 19.

Even if there is no coup, the referendum will likely end in rejection, Sombat predicted, adding that local people will probably resist moves by the Council for National Security to persuade them to vote for the charter.

Sombat claimed that the charter that is now being draft is visibly pro-elite and that some drafters unashamedly advocate continued elitist rule over Thai society. "I thought they wouldn't say it publicly but some are doing so. There appears to be an or-ganised attempt to push the

charter in that direction," he said, citing the recent move to support a possible non-elected prime minister and an appointed senate.

"They regard the masses as ignorant," he said.

Amongst the few television news cameras at the venue was one from the newly resurrected People's Television, or PTV, which was set up by former senior Thai Rak Thai MPs.

 The growing challenge for yesterday's protesters, who are all against the coup, appears to be how those oppose ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra will deal with those who support him.

Sombat defended pro-Thaksin groups that joined the rally with his group, which is anti-Thaksin, saying it was their right.

"I opposed the wrong rationale that monopolised the struggle against dictatorship. But in addition to the pro-democracy forces, those who are pro-Thaksin have the right to struggle. Those who think otherwise should tell me why not," he said, admitting however that they would keep the focus on attacking the junta and try not to either praise or attack Thaksin.

Chanakarn Phundeamwong, a co-coordinator of the September 19 Network Against the Coup, which will organise a separate protest and march against the junta later today, admitted having to face a similar challenge. "We stick with the principle of not talking about Thaksin, be it positive or negative," she said, as the group also tries to muster as many protesters as possible.

Today's rally is set for the residence of General Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of the Privvy council.

Pro-Thaksin placards and banners were displayed at Sanam Luang yesterday, as those who attended the rally recognise that they have a common enemy, at least for now.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation