Bangkok Post

Parinya Thewanarumitkul, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, conceded the present constitution has some flaws.

The charter has been criticised by some quarters, particularly the red shirts, as being sponsored by the military leaders who staged the 2006 coup that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

He said there is no need to rush through the third and final reading of the charter amendment bill.

Hasty moves to push for the charter rewrite could re-ignite protests by anti-government elements such as the Pitak Siam group and the People's Alliance for Democracy, Mr Parinya said.

Pokin Polakul, adviser to the prime minister, who chairs the panel studying the possibility of amending the constitution, has recommended the government move on with the charter change bid.

The panel believes the ruling Pheu Thai Party should proceed by starting with a vote in parliament to pass the third and final reading of the amendment bill.

The bill seeks to amend Section 291 of the constitution to make way for the establishment of a drafting assembly to rewrite the 2007 charter.

Moves to amend Section 291 stopped on July 13 after opponents asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether the proposed changes were part of a plan to overthrow the monarchy.

The court ruled the amendment bill should be suspended and a public referendum be held on the move to rewrite Section 291.

At that point, the Pheu Thai-led government backed away from deliberation of the bill, which had reached its third and final reading in the House.

Wirat Kalayasiri, Democrat MP for Songkhla, said Wednesday if the government proceeds with the third reading, the party will petition the charter court to rule against such a move again.

The party will also launch proceedings to impeach those who support the charter change bill, Mr Wirat said. "Pressing ahead with the charter change will shorten the life of the government."

Pheu Thai Party MP for Yasothon Peerapan Palusuk, also a member of the charter amendment panel, has said the third reading vote should take place between January and February.

Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai Surasit Jiamwichak said Pheu Thai MPs are ready to vote for the bill in its third reading.