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Facing an onslaught from 30 senators during yesterday's general debate in the upper house, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej tried to turn the tables by seizing the opportunity to deliver an hour-long counter-attack and a defiant confirmation that he will not resign despite mounting anti-government protest.

"To do that would be crazy," Samak said.

The issue of Preah Vihar temple along the Thai-Cambodian border dominated the debate yesterday, followed by the proposed amendment of the Constitution and the perceived threat to the monarchy.

The premier became visibly upset after only the second Senate member - Kamnoon Sittisamarn - spoke, and decided to deliver a counter-blow that included a personal criticism of Kamnoon.

Samak labelled Kannoon's criticism of the premier and his administration as lacking in maturity, referring to the senator's accusation that he was not respecting people's politics as expressed via the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gathering and was not defending the national interest on the Preah Vihar issue, among other matters.

Kamnoon said the government should not take pride in itself too much, "as countries like Cambodia, many in Africa and soon Burma, do have elections but not good politics".

Samak did not wait long to shoot back.

"If you're a rookie, not try to boast too much," said Samak, referring to Kamnoon, an appointed senator. "If you have never been a party leader, don't even try to tell me you know better," he said.

Samak singled out Kamnoon as being related to the PAD and someone who was first appointed to the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), so the public should keep that in mind, he said.

"Do you think politicians are stupid? Do you know who this senator is and where he comes from and how he made it here, or whether he's elected or appointed?" Samak said of Kamnoon, who until his appointment to the NLA was an editor at Manager Daily newspaper, which was founded by PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

Samak attacked the PAD for "propagandising" the public over the Preah Vihar temple issue, by saying his administration is ceding Thai sovereignty in allowing Cambodia to have the Hindu temple registered as a Unesco World Heritage site.

"Haven't you notice that the flag that has been flying over Preah Vihar for the past 46 years is Cambodia's?" said Samak, adding he felt it was a pity that people had been misled into feeling hatred against this administration.

On the proposed amendment of the Constitution, Samak defended the need to do so by saying the electoral rules were tampered with in the junta-sponsored 2007 charter in such a way that Thailand now has 74 appointed senators, which is "awkward".

He said elected politicians had been undermined by the junta under the charter, and that the junta-appointed Constitution Tribunal's decision to disband the Thai Rak Thai Party and 111 party executives was an act of "political murder".

"So if we don't amend it, who will? It will be amended if the chance arises, not for us but for the future," he said, adding that the amended charter would not be applicable to the current administration.

On the alleged threat to the monarchy, about which Kamnoon accused the administration of doing nothing, Samak countered by saying there is no credible threat of any group wanting to form a republic, but that the issue has been used as a propaganda tool.

Kamnoon said those wanting to see Thailand turn into a republic were the same people that support Thaksin.

"Do you think there are people thinking of turning the country into a republic? And do you think Thai people will allow that?" said the PM, adding that he is a true royalist though he reserves the right to criticise some Privy Council members if they do things that are inappropriate.

As for the 29 blacklisted websites deemed to have libellous content against the monarchy, Samak said it was the responsibility of the police to handle this matter.

Other senators who spoke after Samak, such as Narumon Siriwat and Vichian Kanchong, were not satisfied with the premier's explanation about Preah Vihar, saying the government needs to do more to clear up the issue.

Vichian said many members of the public had become "confused". Narumon said it was the government's duty to make the matter clear.

Some expressed dissatisfaction and disillusionment that most of the Cabinet members left soon after Samak had finished his one-hour talk, leaving the senators "to talk to themselves".

"So what good will it do?" said one senator.