Thai opposition leader warns of mass protests

Thai opposition groups may organize mass protests if the government puts constitutional reform procedures on the fast track, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday, the Thai Rat newspaper reported. "The government should not seek amendments to the country's Constitution as a priority," he said. "Opinion polls show that 20% of the population supports the plan and 20% are strongly against." The poll showed that many people were worried the amendments could provoke political violence. Most of the respondents wanted the government to concentrate more on economic issues than amending the constitution. Vejjajiva suggested the government's policy was intended to whitewash former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a point Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung immediately rejected. Chalerm said it was necessary for the Pheu Thai Party to amend the constitution as a matter of urgency because the 2007 charter was the product of the September 19, 2006 coup. The government plans to amend Section 291 of the 2007 constitution to set up of a 99-member constitution drafting assembly. When completed, a draft constitution would go to a public referendum, Chalerm said. Abhisit asked Chalerm whether the amendments were intended to grant amnesty to Thaksin but Chalerm said no constitution could be amended to grant amnesty to anybody.