Sorry but I'm staying : Samak

It was meant for anyone wishing the radio address to be his farewell jibe. A jibe, yes, but farewell, no. He will not resign, or dissolve the House of Representatives, or agree to a "national government", no matter what that means.

With that, our mood has run through the familiar roller-coaster ride once more - from high anxiety to sadness, to frustration, and ending with the don't-know-whether-to-laugh-or-cry sensation. If a state of emergency that nobody cared for was a joke, what about solving a deep national divide through holding a referendum that will virtually ask "Which side are you on"?

Anyway, after he decided against stepping down or calling a snap election, and after Army chief General Anupong Paochinda reiterated he would not use force to end the Government House siege, Samak didn't have many choices. The referendum idea, no matter now absurd, looks attractive to him for the obvious reason that the result will surely repeat that of the last general election.

It will be fun because legal gurus may ask if the referendum process would somehow legitimise thousands of people seizing Government House to demand political changes. If the idea finds its way to Parliament and becomes law, it will be one of the most interesting pieces of legislation the world has ever seen.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PASS THE REFERENDUM LAW?

One month at least but maybe three times longer. Once it is passed, both camps will need time to campaign. We can assume that the People's Alliance for Democracy will be allowed to stay in, or will simply refuse to leave, Government House in the meantime.

"This is a very critical crisis and I doubt we have that much time [to carry out a referendum]," Senate Speaker Prasobsook Boondech said.

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED IN THE REFERENDUM?

I'd really like to hold a contest for this one. The Constitution disallows questions that violate the charter or involve individuals or any entity. So, you can't ask "Should Samak resign?" or "Must the PAD pay rent for staying at Government House?"

WILL THE REFERENDUM WORK?

Sorry to disappoint you, dear prime minister: No way!