Former Thai premier wants quick cabinet reshuffle<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): Former Thai premier Chatichai Choonhavan, a key
\nleader of the six-party governing coalition, wants a swift
\ncabinet reshuffle to boost the country's struggling economy,
\nreports said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Chatichai, who leads the second largest coalition party, the
\nChart Pattana, was joined by Thailand's army chief in calling for
\na reallocation of ministerial positions in the wake of a tough
\nno-confidence debate.<\/p>\n
\"I think there should be a reshuffle as soon as possible which
\ncould have a (good) effect on the economy,\" Chatichai was quoted
\nas saying by the Thai language daily Matichon.<\/p>\n
\"Whether it is this week or not I don't know... but if it's
\nlate it will damage the economy,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who at the weekend survived an
\nopposition censure motion, is under pressure to bring technocrats
\ninto his government, which is grappling with the country's worst
\neconomic crisis in decades.<\/p>\n
Gen. Chettha Thanajaro, Thailand's nonpartisan army commander-
\nin-chief, on Wednesday also supported a quick change to the
\ncabinet, appointing \"knowledgeable and able\" ministers to help
\nthe economy, Matichon reported.<\/p>\n
Thailand has to meet tough requirements in an austerity
\nprogram approved by the International Monetary Fund, as part of a
\nUS$17.2 billion rescue package to shore up dwindling foreign
\nreserves.<\/p>\n
However, the premier faces opposition within his own party to
\nany reshuffle and a reported difficulty to find experts willing
\nto join his government, which has become unpopular with urban
\nThais and many in the business community.<\/p>\n
Chavalit, who has decided to maintain media silence for one
\nweek amid unrelenting speculation on which of his ministers will
\nbe asked to stand down, has reportedly already approached
\noutsiders about entering the cabinet.<\/p>\n
The Nation daily quoted a democratic activist who met with the
\npremier Wednesday as saying Chavalit was having problems
\npersuading technocrats, because they were wary that he would only
\nbe in power until early next year.<\/p>\n
\"The prime minister said he had approached professionals and
\nacademics about joining the cabinet, but they feel uneasy about
\ncoming aboard because the government's term is running out,\" said
\nSant Hathirat of the Confederation of Democracy after meeting
\nChavalit.<\/p>\n
Chavalit has said he will dissolve parliament in March or
\nApril after lawmakers approve new enabling laws for a radical
\nantigraft constitution, which was adopted by parliament Saturday.<\/p>\n
The first general election under the charter -- which includes
\nmeasures to cut down on the vote buying and patronage system rife
\nin Thai politics -- would be likely to follow in May or June.<\/p>\n
The 10-month old Chaowalit administration, was accused by the
\nopposition in last week's no-confidence debate of presiding over
\nunprecedented corruption in government and economic
\nmismanagement, but the premier survived unscathed.<\/p>\n
Speculation about who would take a fall from the cabinet has
\nbeen rife, with attention focused on a deputy premier from
\nChavalit's New Aspiration Party, Sukhavich Rangsitpol, who was
\nformerly education minister.<\/p>\n
He was accused by the opposition of malpractice in allocation
\nof a government contract to supply computers to the nation's
\nschools.<\/p>\n
However, interior minister Sanoh Thienthong, who is the
\nsecretary-general of the New Aspiration, dampened talk of a quick
\nreshuffle.<\/p>\n
Sanoh said that talk about a change should only take place
\nafter the premier returns from a trip to Japan next week.<\/p>",
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