Thai PM calls meeting amid reports of rift

Thai PM calls meeting amid reports of rift

BANGKOK (Agencies): An emergency meeting of leaders of
Thailand's shaky coalition will be held today, amid reports that
the second largest party could bring down Prime Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh

Fears of a rift within the government are growing ahead of a
no-confidence vote this month against Chavalit, who is under fire
for his handling of the country's economic crisis.

The premier, who called a meeting for late today, is nervous
that the Chart Pattana Party, led by ex-premier Chatchai
Choonhavan, may pull out of his six-party coalition, the Bangkok
Post said.

Chavalit, who has also faced criticism over his position on a
new draft constitution intended to crack down on political
corruption, will face the censure debate Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.

He called the coalition meeting to be sure all parties,
particularly Chart Pattana, would support him in weathering the
economic and political storms, the Post said.

A spokesman for Chavalit's New Aspiration Party confirmed
there would be a meeting of coalition leaders to discuss the
political situation and the no-confidence debate.

But the premier played down the importance of the meeting and
reiterated that he would not call snap elections.

"I will not dissolve parliament because our country has no
more time. I don't care what happens to me, but our country is
important above all else," he told a gathering of rural
supporters farmers at government house in Bangkok.

Speculation of a rift grew last week, when Chart Pattana
leaders met the main opposition Democrats. Chatchai was also
granted an audience with Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej to
discuss the economy.

Chart Pattana had also put the squeeze on the premier during a
key parliamentary debate, pressuring Chavalit to declare his
backing for the radical constitution draft.

But on Sunday, Chart Pattana deputy-leader Korn Dabbarangsi,
moved to dispel talk of a pull-out and expressed confidence the
premier would survive the censure debate.

If Chart Pattana's 52 MPs ditched the coalition, Chavalit
would lose his majority in the 393 seat house of representatives.

The party's secretary-general, Suwat Liptapallop, said
yesterday he had reassured Chavalit that Chart Pattana was not
making political overtures to other parties.

In its no-confidence motion, the opposition has accused
Chavalit of bringing the country -- which has been forced to seek
a US$17 billion rescue bailout through the International Monetary
Fund -- to bankruptcy.

The vote comes on the eve of an historic parliamentary vote on
Sept. 27 on the new constitution, which includes measures to
fight vote-buying and money politics.

Chavalit, who faces strong opposition to the charter within
his own party, would have the option of dissolving parliament
before the vote, if the no-confidence debate goes badly for him.

Meanwhile, rumors of takeover have fluctuated with the
worsening of the current crises, and the military has taken the
unusual step of issuing a statement saying troop movements in
Bangkok this month were no cause for worry.

The first of 3,000 troops the army plans to move into Bangkok
for a military ceremony were to arrive in the capital yesterday.

Senior army commanders pressured Chavalit last week to back down
on his opposition to a draft constitution aimed at cleaning up
political corruption partly blamed for a national economic crisis
felt throughout Southeast Asia.

Thailand has long been prone to military coups. The army has
generally kept out of politics since the last military government
ended after bloody street protests in 1992.