Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said it was entirely the decision of the Pheu Thai Party to assign ministerial posts to anyone, adding that the soon to be government should carefully implement the policies they had promised the public.
Mr. Abhisit said if Pheu Thai planned to appoint the core leader of the Red Shirts, they would need to understand that their decision should promote better politics rather than create political stalemate.
The soon-to-be Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra should raise confidence in the people and implement what they had promised their supporters during the election, Mr. Abhisit stressed the policies concerning economy and household incomes as they would have economic consequences at some levels.
He further stressed that such policies needed to be implemented thoroughly and in a timely manner, given that this was only the beginning of the new term. Meanwhile, soldiers keeping the border safe on the Thai-Cambodian frontier had been told to be vigilant as Cambodia was celebrating the 3rd Anniversary of the Preah Vihear as the world heritage site.
The outgoing prime minister urged all Thais not to worry but to be confident that the Thai government would do whatever it would take to protect the sovereignty of Thailand. He also commented on the news regarding the transfer of the Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, Mr. Tharit Pengdit, that it had to be decided with reasons to reshuffle positions within the government bureaucracy.
Regarding the political fugitive, Mr. Arisaman Pongruenrong, Mr. Abhisit urged him to come forward if he did not think his arrest warrant was appropriately issued.
]]>According to a Suan Dusit Poll, 44.48 % or a majority of respondents stated that the Prime Minister’s announcement of the roadmap was able to partially ease the political tension, while 49.19% stated that the proposed reconciliation plan increased the popularity rating and the public’s faith on PM Abhisit. 45.78% said they did not believe that the new general election would be held on 14 November as planned as the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has yet come up with a clear timeframe for crowd dispersal and other groups still remain opposed to House dissolution.
Regarding lessons Thai people learned during the mass rally, 60.29 % of the respondents stated that the country’s economy and investments were severely affected, while 46.11% said they remained concerned over the vote-buying and political campaign rallies if a planned general election is held.
The poll recently surveyed 1,508 people nationwide.
]]>Mr Abhisit was scheduled to visit Australia March 13-17 at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Speaking at a news conference after a two-hour meeting of top military and police officers, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the committee’s resolution to be proposed at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting resolved to apply the ISA in Bangkok and in some districts of Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan.
“The security law is necessary to protect Bangkokians from any unexpected incident as intelligence reports indicate that some groups of people will blockade some official premises and the homes of key [public] figures. The planned action is deemed as violating the country’s Constitution,” said Mr Suthep who supervises national security affairs and chairs the security-monitoring committee.
The deputy prime minister urged the public to stay calm, reasoning that the internal security act will authorise more state personnel including Bangkok Metropolitan Authority officials to help police maintain law and order.
He added that the government may announce an extra public holiday during the protest given that it is necessary for the safety of the public.
The committee estimated the planned mass rally is likely to draw hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.
Acting national police chief Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert has been assigned to send police teams to talk and urge them to use public transportation or park their vehicles in designated areas without obstructing the flow of traffic, otherwise legal action will be taken against them, according to Mr Suthep.
Meanwhile, Nattawut Saikua, a key leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) challenged the government to invoke the security law, saying his group will not call off its planned mass rally in the capital this Sunday.
The UDD announced that it is mobilising at least a million supporters nationwide to join the mass rally March 14 aiming at bringing down the Abhisit Vejjajiva government. (TNA)
]]>The two-kilogramme bomb went off at a rest area, 150 metres from the site where the prime minister was scheduled to preside over a ceremony to open a Yala-Pattani highway on 10.30am.
Pol Cpl Chaiyuth Bovornsak, part of the detail providing security at the site, suffered shrapnel wounds above his left eyebrow.
The prime minister, accompanied by deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban,Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, will join a ceremony opening the Highway 418 crossing at the Pattani River, which connects Nong Chik district in Pattani and Yala’s provincial seat.
They are to observe progress in the special economic zone projects to develop five southern border provinces and to support villagers to depend on themselves under the sufficient economy philosophy.
Mr Abhisit left Bangkok Thursday morning to visit the three southernmost provinces to follow up operation of Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus project and visit security officials stationed in the insurgency-affected areas to give them moral support.
The premier visited projects designed to provide housing and resolve land issues for local residents under Thai Khemkaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus scheme at Narathiwat’s Rueso district.
The prime minister’s trip is his first since his recent visit with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to the strife-torn region in early December.
Mr Najib said the Thai government was on the right track and pledged to support Thailand In tackling the violence particularly on exchanges of information, security and intelligence.
The three southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has been rocked by insurgent attacks since 2004, claiming more than 3,700 lives. (TNA)
]]>Delivering a lecture on “Thailand Climbs Up” to top officials of the Office of the Civil Service Commission, he said Thailand would not be in a position to compete in the world community when the global economy recovers if it fails to change itself.
Because of this, it is necessary to encourage Thai people to be active, love to learn, access varied information and analyse it, and review what they have done regularly for the betterment of their living.
He conceded that there would be resistance on the part of people who lose privilege or benefit from changes.
Regarding corruption, the premier said the more anti-graft laws are enacted, the more loopholes are found.
Unless the problem was solved, it would fuel burdens in the future, but if it is addressed, Thailand will be able to climb up proudly, he said.
Asked how seriously the current political situation would impact the “Thailand Climbs Up” slogan, he said politics is a key factor to the country’s development.
Many countries are watch to see whether Thai democracy will stride ahead, or retreat.
“This government pledges to neither violate the basic rights of its people nor use violence against opponents,” Mr Abhisit affirmed.
“However, in a country where the democratic system is adopted, no one can claim that the majority of people are unable to shape the law,” said the premier. (TNA)
]]>The performance of the Government is published in 2 books entitled “6 Months, 100 Measures, Millions of Happiness” and “A Story by the Fence.” During the press conference, the Prime Minister will emphasize the Government’s determination to increase the nation’s happiness.
The press conference will last for about 1 hour, and will be divided into 5 parts, including solutions to the economic crisis, confidence and image restoration, unity creation, foundation for future development, and solutions to urgent problems including swine flu.
The PM and Cabinet members will also talk about problems of the Assembly of the Poor and the land reform.
]]>Mr. Satit said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would be the person who would present the statement. The exact time and other ministers who would join the session were being identified, he said. He added the government would also inform the public of its plans to be implemented in the future.
He asserted that the statement making was aimed to ensure the people of the government’s determination to solve the country’s economic problems and to ease the people’s hardship.
]]>Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated on his weekly talk show “Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit”, that the country’s economy has seen signs of recovery, especially in industrial confidence, which has moved uptrend in the second half of 2009 and peaked in June. This is due to skyrocketting purchasing orders as projected quarterly by government agencies and the surveys conducted among the three prominent industrial agencies including the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries and the CEO Forum.
The Prime Minister elaborated that the country’s economy has been visibly recovering as the Finance Ministry could collect revenues and related taxes of 200 billion baht during the past few months despite the earlier projection and target of 300 billion baht. Despite such improvements, the government is still implementing planned economic policies to create confidence.
]]>The premier however said the police chief had proposed two possible solutions to ending the conflict regarding the probe into the attempted killing of the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in April.
Gen. Patcharawat proposed delaying any police reshuffle until the new police chief takes office because he doesn’t want the reshuffle to affect the probe, the prime minister said.
“The police chief also told me that he will take leave for an overseas mission for one month starting from next week,” said Mr Abhisit. “I think this is a sufficient timeline for the investigative team to proceed and finalise the case.”
The premier said the proposed solutions to the Gen Patcharawat saga are best way out of the current conflict, while insisting that there are insufficient grounds to indicate that the commissioner was the obstacle to investigating the Sondhi case.
The premier, however, did not name an acting police chief, saying that he and his team were researching the legal aspects.
The premier commented after meeting Gen Patcharawat earlier in the day amid rumours that he will be transferred to an inactive post in response to the complaint of deputy police chief Pol Gen Thani Somboonsap heading the investigation team that his task encountered difficulty as information had been leaked by unnamed police officers.
Mr Sondhi, key leader of the People’s Alliace for Democracy (PAD), played a key role in campaigning to oust prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, culminating in the coup of September 2006, survived a serious attempt to kill him in an April 17 ambush.
The PAD leader revealed Thursday that the killing team comprised 13 military men and one police officer. He said some officials in the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) helped plan and carrying out the attempted killing, saying that “these people have a close ties with the old power clique.”
The court earlier issued arrest warrants for two non-commissioned officers for their alleged involvement in the attempt on Mr Sondhi’s life.
The two suspects still at large are identified as Pol Cpl Worawut Mungsanthi, assigned to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) and Sgt-Maj 1st Class Panya Srihaera, a non-commissioned officer from the Army’s Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri.
However, on Friday assistant police chief Pol Lt-Gen Assawin Kwanmuang said that he had discussed with the investigation team and had been informed that Cpl Worawut sent a letter to Gen Thani, explaining that was not involved in the incident as accused.
“Pol Cpl Worawut said in the letter that he had contacted a go-between to take him to surrender to police,” said Pol. Lt-Gen. Assawin, “I also guarantee his safety if he surrenders to police, but if he does not, I can’t guarantee safety for him.”
The assistant police chief added that he had been informed by Pol. Gen. Thani that no more arrest warrants can be issued during this period as earlier said to the media.
He reasoned that police still have not found the impounded car and there are not enough eyewitnesses and circumstantial evidence. (TNA)
]]>In his speech for the University of Wisconsin alumni, the Prime Minister said the Government had been operating at the fullest extent, adding that national recovery would depend on collaboration from all sectors.
Mr. Abhisit stated that the issuance of the first and second phases of the economic stimulus packages would certainly help economic recovery. He said that the measures would help more than two million people to be employed within three years. He said this would be in line with other welfare measures for children and senior citizens and infrastructure development.
The Prime Minister added that the Government would conduct these policies along with quality reform, saying that this would be a very great change. Besides, he stated that the Government welcomed suggestions from all sectors to readjust its operation, citing that he wanted everyone to take part in moving the nation out of this crisis.
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