Former Thai PM calls for unity amid crisis
Former Thai PM calls for unity amid crisis
BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's respected elder statesman Prem
Tinsulanonda appealed to the opposition and the nation yesterday
to rally around beleaguered Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to help
the country weather its chronic economic storm.
The former premier, a Privy Councillor and close aide to King
Bhumibol Adulyadej, urged unity among political adversaries and
the support and confidence of the people for the government's bid
to end the crisis.
"If we want our country to get back to the old situation, we
must not separate the prime minister, ministers or whosoever, we
have to all be on one side," he said.
"We must stop everything that can damage or divide us and
particularly (we should see the) prime minister as the
representative of all the Thai people," he said.
The plea came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
approved last week a US$16.7 billion rescue package to bail our
the country's embattled economy.
The deal means a period of tough austerity for Thais which is
likely to be widely unpopular.
Prem made his call as the government came under increasing
fire from the opposition and big business for its handling of the
slump which has seen scores of finance firms suspended while the
stocks and currency markets have plunged.
It came just three days ahead of a parliamentary debate on the
economy and three weeks before a crucial no confidence motion
which could see the nine-month-old government fall.
Analysts said the comments of Prem -- who top politicians see
in times of crisis -- reflected top-level concerns that political
instability could further jeopardize the economy and undermine
measures to correct it.
Speaking at a news conference at his Bangkok home to mark his
77th birthday, Prem called on the public to show courage during
the "painful" period during which the government will apply IMF-
supported austerity measures.
He told guests, who included the prime minister, senior
military leaders and captains of business and industry, that the
country would weather the serious financial drama.
"It has happened before so Thai people have to cooperate to
solve this problem successfully," Prem said at the early morning
briefing which was broadcast live on national radio and
television.
"We should therefore not worry about this problem, we just
have to be confident that we will solve the problem successfully.
"The Thai people must have confidence in the government's
measures and must cooperate and have the courage to fight the
crisis," he said.
"It will be necessary for all Thai people to feel the pain
and everybody should try to be a doctor for this pain," he said.
The IMF package calls for tight austerity measures to be
imposed on the country in a bid to bring Thailand's accounts back
into the black.
But analysts say that public and business confidence in the
IMF measures and in the government's ability to implement them is
crucial if the country is to see a relatively quick economic
recovery.
"The call by Prem seems to indicate how crucially the top
authorities feel the proper implementation of sound economic
measures is, and how important they feel political stability is
for that to happen," one analyst said.
The opposition and businessmen have slammed the government for
its handling of the crisis amid repeated calls for its
resignation.
The IMF, which is expected to unblock an initial $3.9 billion
to bolster Thailand's flagging foreign exchange reserves, has
reportedly said the economic crisis had been heightened by
political squabbling.