Former Thai premier wants quick cabinet reshuffle

Former Thai premier wants quick cabinet reshuffle

BANGKOK (AFP): Former Thai premier Chatichai Choonhavan, a key
leader of the six-party governing coalition, wants a swift
cabinet reshuffle to boost the country's struggling economy,
reports said yesterday.

Chatichai, who leads the second largest coalition party, the
Chart Pattana, was joined by Thailand's army chief in calling for
a reallocation of ministerial positions in the wake of a tough
no-confidence debate.

"I think there should be a reshuffle as soon as possible which
could have a (good) effect on the economy," Chatichai was quoted
as saying by the Thai language daily Matichon.

"Whether it is this week or not I don't know... but if it's
late it will damage the economy," he added.

Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who at the weekend survived an
opposition censure motion, is under pressure to bring technocrats
into his government, which is grappling with the country's worst
economic crisis in decades.

Gen. Chettha Thanajaro, Thailand's nonpartisan army commander-
in-chief, on Wednesday also supported a quick change to the
cabinet, appointing "knowledgeable and able" ministers to help
the economy, Matichon reported.

Thailand has to meet tough requirements in an austerity
program approved by the International Monetary Fund, as part of a
US$17.2 billion rescue package to shore up dwindling foreign
reserves.

However, the premier faces opposition within his own party to
any reshuffle and a reported difficulty to find experts willing
to join his government, which has become unpopular with urban
Thais and many in the business community.

Chavalit, who has decided to maintain media silence for one
week amid unrelenting speculation on which of his ministers will
be asked to stand down, has reportedly already approached
outsiders about entering the cabinet.

The Nation daily quoted a democratic activist who met with the
premier Wednesday as saying Chavalit was having problems
persuading technocrats, because they were wary that he would only
be in power until early next year.

"The prime minister said he had approached professionals and
academics about joining the cabinet, but they feel uneasy about
coming aboard because the government's term is running out," said
Sant Hathirat of the Confederation of Democracy after meeting
Chavalit.

Chavalit has said he will dissolve parliament in March or
April after lawmakers approve new enabling laws for a radical
antigraft constitution, which was adopted by parliament Saturday.

The first general election under the charter -- which includes
measures to cut down on the vote buying and patronage system rife
in Thai politics -- would be likely to follow in May or June.

The 10-month old Chaowalit administration, was accused by the
opposition in last week's no-confidence debate of presiding over
unprecedented corruption in government and economic
mismanagement, but the premier survived unscathed.

Speculation about who would take a fall from the cabinet has
been rife, with attention focused on a deputy premier from
Chavalit's New Aspiration Party, Sukhavich Rangsitpol, who was
formerly education minister.

He was accused by the opposition of malpractice in allocation
of a government contract to supply computers to the nation's
schools.

However, interior minister Sanoh Thienthong, who is the
secretary-general of the New Aspiration, dampened talk of a quick
reshuffle.

Sanoh said that talk about a change should only take place
after the premier returns from a trip to Japan next week.