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Why did you take a break [from politics]?

It's not easy in Thai politics and at present establishing a party is even more difficult. Currently we are seeing bipolar politics, and I'm not good at quarrelling with others. It's hard for someone in the middle and there are a lot of problems such as timeframe, regulations, and uncertainty about the referendum on the draft constitution.

Thai politics now is in turmoil. So I have not decided whether I will return to politics. For the time being I have removed myself from politics.

Rumour had it that you were going to set up a new political party. What ideas have you come up with?

Actually I do not plan to establish a party but I have something in mind about a new party, but it will not be established in the near future.

If you establish a party, what will it be like?

If I form a party, I will not be the leader nor owner. I want to see a quality medium-sized party like the Green Party in Germany which focuses on environmental issues and has gained the trust of people. It's like a dream I wish to come true.

If the constitutional draft passes the referendum and an election takes place at the end of the year, will you join a party?

It depends on who sets up the party and what their choices are. If I choose them, they must choose me, too.

From the first, we have to see what issues will get us into politics. Then we have to look at the constitution and how we see it.

How do you see the constitution draft?

To be straight, I think the 1997 constitution is better [than the 2007 constitution draft]. I'm more confident with the 1997 Constitution.

In 1997 political problems were different. The majority of people cooperated in drafting the 1997 constitution. But in 2007 we can see lots of problems.

In its content, we can look at it as two parts. One part directly effects people. The other part is about the administrative power structure. I am interested in the first part, especially people's rights and freedom. The draft includes those rights already included in the 1997 Constitution's organic laws, so they are not so different.

But when we take a look at the administrative structure, we can see the difference.

The 1997 Constitution was designed to promote political parties' strength. But the draft is completely different. What I can see is that many small parties will be in politics and they will be hard to control. Politicians are better now but I'm afraid old habits will come back and politicians will lose their grace.

What will you do in the meantime?

I have opened a new website. The reason is, I have nothing to do. I'm out of a job, so with this at least I have something to do. Especially as I like to express my own opinions. So I should have some tool or mechanism to connect with the people of Thailand. And I think the website is something people are quite acquainted with, and the media can access it too.

This will be a kind of gateway or forum for me to utilise as a means for expressing ideas.

What else will you do to prepare to return to politics?

I'm adopting a wait-and-see attitude as there's so much uncertainty in politics right now. Until I can answer the question in my mind, then I won't reenter politics.

I've talked to politicians, academics and others about a plan to set up an institute for studies and to provide vision for the country.

The institute will work on policies and push agendas, propose them to those responsible. We will look at the work of the government and the Parliament, and keep people informed.

We discussed finance to support the institute, which is not a big deal. Another problem is how to keep it out of politics but keep it sustainable, too.

Politicians might put the policies formulated by the institute into action, but the institute must not be for political purposes.

We have former politicians, former senators and businessmen who have had enough of money and politics.

I must take a break for a while to set up this institute to support the country.