This is despite opposition from some drafters who urged that the process be transparent.

"On April 10 we will hold a meeting for only 35 drafters," said Prasong yesterday, as the committee began its six-day out-of-town meeting in Bang Saen, Chon Buri.

"Journalists understand this," he added.

However, many of the two dozen or so journalists covering the meeting were not convinced of the wisdom of the idea, given the growing mistrust over the drafting process and the allegation that the new charter may enable the military junta to hang onto power beyond the election scheduled for December.

Pisit Lee-artham, a drafter and spokesman of the committee, said the reason for the closed-door meeting was to let the drafters express themselves freely and without constraint.

It is not even clear if the public will ever learn who voted for what as the vote is likely to be cast in secret. Issues like whether to leave room for a possible non-elected prime minister and community rights are but some of the controversial issues to be decided secretly.

When asked by The Nation how such a non-transparent process could be justified to the public, especially when it was endorsed by no less that the chairman of the committee himself, Pisit replied: "I would not presume to speak on behalf of the chairman."

Reporters suspect that certain drafters may be told to vote on certain issues or make a U-turn on other issues they may have expressed sympathy for in public.

A number of reporters also agreed it could not be beneficial to the drafters themselves, given the sensitivity of the process, which is under the auspices of the junta itself, and that all drafters are either directly or indirectly appointed by the Council for National Security.

Yesterday's meeting resolved to introduce a controversial new article allowing future governments under a state of emergency to unilaterally "revise" and "adjust" the annual national budget as they saw fit, although they would have to report to Parliament without delay.

Drafter Thongthong Chandrangsu expressed his reservations, saying granting such authority "is too much" considering that some areas of the kingdom might always be under a state of emergency, like the deep South at the moment.

Others insisted it is "necessary", and Pisit said the public should not worry because the government would have to report to Parliament. However, the new article does not empower Parliament to reject the revision or adjustment.

Drafter Sriracha Charoenpanich exercised his last-ditch oratory skills in an attempt to persuade fellow drafters to leave room for a non-elected PM come Tuesday, when the secret vote takes place.

"Look at heads of political parties today ... and please try to ask if any has the ability to lead the country ... I can't see which direction the nation will head in. What is undemocratic about allowing MPs to select a person from outside the ranks of MPs as prime minister?

"This cannot be wrong thinking - but for the fact that you want to follow the popular trend of the public who oppose it."

But drafter Anghana Neelaphaijit reiterated her opposition to the proposal.

"I still think the prime minister must come from elections. I don't want us to reject those elected by the people: we should allow Thai politics to take its own course.

"If the prime minister is an elected MP, it guarantees that power remains in the hands of the people."

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANG SAEN, CHON BURI