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Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still firm on his opinion that a public referendum should be held before amending the charter, his lawyer and close aide Noppadon Pattama said.

Mr Noppadon said he personally believed that with strong campaigning more than one half of eligible voters would turn out to vote in the referendum, which would consequently reduce conflict in society.

He said the government was still of the opinin that a public referendum and amending the charter in the entirety was the best way out.

Amending the charter section by section would go against promises given to the people before the last election.

Thaksin agreed with the planned public referendum and amendment of the constitution in the entirety because it was the government and Pheu Thai Party's policy, Mr Noppadon said.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said after a meetng of a Pheu Thai committee for public relations and campaigning for a charter referendum that from the results of various opinion polls the party was confident more than one half of eligible voters would turnout to vote.

It was the responsibility for all concerned to explain to the people to make sure they understand that the amendment was actually not aimed at altering Section 309 or helping anyone in particular, he said.