The Sunday Times, March 4, 2007
Deposed Thai prime minister says he wants his embattled replacement to be successful
Deposed Thai prime minister says he wants his embattled replacement to be successful
LONDON - IN AN unusual twist to Thai politics, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a senior Thai Rak Thai party member are urging embattled General Surayud Chulanont to stay the course despite the rising tide of criticism.
In a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies here, Mr Thaksin said he wants the new government under Prime Minister Surayud 'to be successful'.
He urged the general to 'exert his leadership' and quell the economic and social turmoil roiling the country.
Gen Surayud is under tremendous pressure following a series of policy blunders that has forced him to promise a Cabinet reshuffle this week, after the surprise resignation of his finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.
An embittered Mr Pridiyathorn left in a huff, complaining of being driven out by unnamed parties more intent on politicking than running the country.
He also obliquely criticised the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Dr Somkid Jatusripitak, a former senior member of Mr Thaksin's Cabinet, to head an economics panel.
Dr Somkid himself quit barely a week after his appointment, adding to the sense of a government in disarray, unable to put a stop to dissent in Bangkok and an increasingly vicious insurgency in the south.
Gen Surayud - who replaced Mr Thaksin after last September's coup - has seen his popularity plunge in recent weeks. His leadership abilities have been called into question by the press. This has prompted growing speculation that he too would throw in the towel.
Observers here see Mr Thaksin's words of encouragement as having more to do with his own interests.
Gen Surayud is considered a moderate, and if he were to quit, he could be succeeded by a hardliner more inclined to step up investigations against Mr Thaksin and his former colleagues.
Mr Chaturon Chaisaeng, the acting leader of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, on Friday also urged Gen Surayud to remain undaunted by the criticism, saying his departure would hurt Thailand's return to democracy.
In his speech Democracy At A Crossroads on Friday, Mr Thaksin said once again he will not return to politics. 'I have no ambition to go back to politics. Serving the country for six years is enough for me,' he said.
He called on the European Union to stand by Thailand and help it bring back democracy.
On the likelihood of elections being held before the end of the year, Mr Thaksin said: 'The junta has publicly declared there would be an election before the end of the year. I am confident that they will keep their promise.'
Mr Amariit Singh, head of the Asia Division of Exclusive Analysis, a London-based research organisation, said many doubt the promise will be kept.
'Thaksin was putting forward a confident position because he knows it adds more pressure on people in Thailand, the Prime Minister and the military to ensure something is done,' Mr Singh said.
'He'd like to see things move faster, perhaps with the aim of having one of his people elected.'
Mr Thaksin on Friday reiterated charges that the Thai military had been trying to oust him since December 2005, and that members of the armed forces had tried to kill him at least three times before the coup.
Even though he stands accused of corruption and cronyism by the junta, he insisted he had 'acted according to the rule of law' throughout his years in power.
If there was one thing he regretted, it was 'having neglected the elite'.
Bloomberg, AFP
In a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies here, Mr Thaksin said he wants the new government under Prime Minister Surayud 'to be successful'.
He urged the general to 'exert his leadership' and quell the economic and social turmoil roiling the country.
Gen Surayud is under tremendous pressure following a series of policy blunders that has forced him to promise a Cabinet reshuffle this week, after the surprise resignation of his finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.
An embittered Mr Pridiyathorn left in a huff, complaining of being driven out by unnamed parties more intent on politicking than running the country.
He also obliquely criticised the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Dr Somkid Jatusripitak, a former senior member of Mr Thaksin's Cabinet, to head an economics panel.
Dr Somkid himself quit barely a week after his appointment, adding to the sense of a government in disarray, unable to put a stop to dissent in Bangkok and an increasingly vicious insurgency in the south.
Gen Surayud - who replaced Mr Thaksin after last September's coup - has seen his popularity plunge in recent weeks. His leadership abilities have been called into question by the press. This has prompted growing speculation that he too would throw in the towel.
Observers here see Mr Thaksin's words of encouragement as having more to do with his own interests.
Gen Surayud is considered a moderate, and if he were to quit, he could be succeeded by a hardliner more inclined to step up investigations against Mr Thaksin and his former colleagues.
Mr Chaturon Chaisaeng, the acting leader of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, on Friday also urged Gen Surayud to remain undaunted by the criticism, saying his departure would hurt Thailand's return to democracy.
In his speech Democracy At A Crossroads on Friday, Mr Thaksin said once again he will not return to politics. 'I have no ambition to go back to politics. Serving the country for six years is enough for me,' he said.
He called on the European Union to stand by Thailand and help it bring back democracy.
On the likelihood of elections being held before the end of the year, Mr Thaksin said: 'The junta has publicly declared there would be an election before the end of the year. I am confident that they will keep their promise.'
Mr Amariit Singh, head of the Asia Division of Exclusive Analysis, a London-based research organisation, said many doubt the promise will be kept.
'Thaksin was putting forward a confident position because he knows it adds more pressure on people in Thailand, the Prime Minister and the military to ensure something is done,' Mr Singh said.
'He'd like to see things move faster, perhaps with the aim of having one of his people elected.'
Mr Thaksin on Friday reiterated charges that the Thai military had been trying to oust him since December 2005, and that members of the armed forces had tried to kill him at least three times before the coup.
Even though he stands accused of corruption and cronyism by the junta, he insisted he had 'acted according to the rule of law' throughout his years in power.
If there was one thing he regretted, it was 'having neglected the elite'.
Bloomberg, AFP
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