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.