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The September 2006 military coup will not be the last because the constitutional amendment proposals are a political time bomb, former Thammasat University rector Charnwit Kasetsiri said on Thursday.

His was speaking at a forum on “The way out of social, economic and political crisis” organised by the university.

Mr Charnwit also said the failure of the old political party to win the hearts of most people through its populist policies amounted to a second political time bomb.

“The country is likely to face a political tsunami as there is no solution to the social, economic and political problems”, he said said.

He was concerned that there could be a state of lawlessness in the country because the Preah Vihear dispute with Cambodia, which should have been put to rest five decades ago, was being used to provoke political conflict.

Mr Charnwit suggested four solutions;

1) Create a sense of unity between the grassroots and the middle and high classes in Bangkok and other big cities.

2) The 2007 constitution should be rewritten to ensure a true democracy.
3) The monarchy must be enshrined as the country’s highest institution to prevent it from being exploited for political gain by any particular group.
4) The military, civil and and justice arms of government must be free from political interference.

If these four factors did not materialise the country would never escape the continual upheaval, he concluded.