Somchai seeks talks with Hun Sen, says external mediation not necessary

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he would seek face-to-face talks with Cambodian leader Hun Sen after the recent border clash near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

"I am looking for the right time to talk with him. We should have an opportunity to talk," Mr Somchai told reporters after visiting Thai troops stationed along the border yesterday.

The Thai leader echoed Hun Sen's comments on Friday that outside mediation was not necessary to solve the dispute.

"This is between Thailand and Cambodia. We should not let other countries get involved," Mr Somchai said.

Both sides have tried to ease tensions since at least two Cambodian soldiers were killed in Wednesday's 40-minute firefight.

Two Cambodians and seven Thais were wounded.

Both leaders were expected to attend an Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing next week to discuss the global financial crisis, but it was not clear whether they would meet on the sidelines.

Thailand's Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal said border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are likely to ease soon as Cambodia is expected to be more willing to enter talks with Thailand.

He said military officers from both sides have been in regular contact and have worked closely together over the past two days.

"The situation should improve. Both sides have had lunch. We have been coordinating all the time," he said.

Lt-Gen Wibulsak, however, admitted that as long as Thai and Cambodian troops are stationed face-to-face, clashes at the border are possible.

Lt-Gen Wibulsak said army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda had given him full authority under the "Chakkri Phuwadol" national defence plan to take retaliatory measures in the event that Cambodian forces fired artillery across the border.

He said Thai troops would retaliate within reason but would try to prevent any small skirmishes from escalating.

Meanwhile, a Thai soldier patrolling at Phu Ma Khua was accidentally killed by a bullet from his own gun yesterday.

Private Winyu Polpruek, who was attached to the Second Infantry Battalion, suffered a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, where he was pronounced dead.

source bangkok post

Red shirts mobilised

A group of government supporters is planning to take up arms and stage running battles with the army on the streets of Bangkok if the military attempts to stage a coup against the Somchai Wongsawat administration.

Military specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, who is close to the government, said a military putsch will be met by strong resistance from pro-government factions.

United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters and several pro-government movements in the Northeast are poised to take to the streets and fight troops, he said.

Maj-Gen Khattiya, who claims to be training UDD supporters, said Molotov cocktails would be used against tanks if they rumble through the streets.

"If a coup is staged, the 4th Cavalry Battalion [which controls 50 tanks] will be blocked," he said.

"In the Sept 19 [2006] coup, tanks rolled out, but no-one dared to fight. This time, fire-bombs will be waiting.

"There is also a chance people will lie down on the streets and block the tanks. In the last coup people gave them flowers. But if they come out now, people will hurl Molotov cocktails at them."

There have been rumours of a new coup since the leaders of the armed forces, led by Army Commander Gen Anupong Paojinda, appeared on a television programme on Thursday and called on Mr Somchai to take responsibility for the Oct 7 clashes between police and protesters. The military's move was perceived as a threat to stage a coup.

Maj-Gen Khattiya blamed military leaders for creating a climate of fear in their TV appearance, as they were dressed in full military uniform.

When asked about the UDD's forces, he said they were being trained to fight and the training ground had been shifted from Sanam Luang to a training camp.

He said there were hundreds of UDD fighters whose task is to counter the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Maj-Gen Khattiya said UDD fighters had been approached by the government and the police to help block PAD protesters on Oct 7 and Oct 13.

On Oct 7 they were asked to go to Parliament to clear the way for Mr Somchai to leave the premises after delivering his policy statement.

However, the prime minister managed to slip out on his own.

He claimed they were asked to go to police headquarters on Oct 13 to counter PAD demonstrators who threatened to hold a rally against the previous clash. However, the PAD cancelled the rally.

Prime Minister Somchai has reportedly exercised extreme caution to avoid being captured to make way for a coup.

He took a chartered flight, instead of the usual military jet, to Ubon Ratchathani yesterday to visit soldiers wounded in border clashes with Cambodian troops.

Mr Somchai originally planned to travel to a hospital in Sapprasitthiprasong camp in the province with Gen Anupong and take an army helicopter to visit Thai troops near the Preah Vihear temple on the Thailand-Cambodia border.

He cancelled his visit to Pha Mor E Daeng for a situation briefing.

A military source close to Mr Somchai said the prime minister was urged to be cautious following Gen Anupong's televised comments.

Officers from the Air Force's Security Force Command and the police force have been sent to his house on Chaeng Wattana road to beef up security.

The source noted that the relationship between Mr Somchai and Gen Anupong had deteriorated, but the prime minister had no plans to remove Gen Anupong or any military leaders from their posts to pre-empt an attempted coup.

"The relationship between them has been totally severed. They stick with their jobs. Mr Somchai will not demote Gen Anupong. If the military want to stage a coup, let it be," said the source.

During his visit to Ubon Ratchathani, Mr Somchai was greeted by about 3,000 supporters.

However when he was asked about Gen Anupong, Mr Somchai refused to answer and walked away.

source bangkok post

PM says Porntip 'out of line' on violence

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said it was not the job of forensic expert Porntip Rojanasunan to speak out about the persons behind the order of the firing of teargas to disperse anti-government protesters last Tuesday, People Power party MP Chaowarin Latthasaksiri said Wednesday.

According to Mr Chaowarin, Mr Somchai said Khunying Porntip was assigned to find out whether teargas contains explosive substances, but she went beyond her assignment by talking to the press about the persons in charge of the order that day.

He also said that the premier is feeling tired, and that his work is loaded during this time.

source bangkok post

PM, economic ministers talk, but no action yet

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat met with his economic ministers on Monday morning to seek ways to ease the consequences from the global economic downturn, but no measures were announced.

After cancelling his trips to Cambodia and Laos, the premier called a special cabinet meeting to discuss the economic crisis both at the global and regional levels in light of the stock market falls and the slowing overall economy.

The meeting was called to prevent the prevailing economic woes from worsening by developing concrete measures to deal with the situation. Of course, no such measures were announced.

Many sides have expressed their concern over the government’s revenue collection by the Revenue Department and the Excise Department, as the target may not be achieved, adding that the country has to sort out the local political deadlock.

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat said he will propose that the cabinet develop a plan to fund tourism development.

Mr Weerasak said the plan would include cooperation with the Board of Investment of Thailand to help renovate tourism destinations in different provinces, such as Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi. He said Thailand’s tourism will be promoted heavily locally and abroad, especially in China. His plan also was only considered, not approved.

source bangkok post

Rally at police HQ postponed

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) last night announced a last minute cancellation of today's mass rally in front of the Royal Police Office. The rally was called off because of the cremation ceremonies for two supporters killed in clashes with police last Tuesday.

In training Calling themselves the King Taksin warriors, security guards for the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship trained with wooden staves at Sanam Luang yesterday. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

The decision calmed fears of another bloody clash. Police had called in reinforcements and had 1,350 officers guarding their headquarters and had sealed off the two entrances on Henri Dunant and Rama I roads. PAD supporters and pro-government supporters from the provinces were also heading for Bangkok.

The PAD's rival, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), was stationed at Sanam Luang yesterday where their security guards underwent training.

A short while before the PAD announcement, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat made a 10-minute nationwide announcement on television calling on anti-government demonstrators to end their protests, give up their occupation of Government House and clear the streets and allow his government to fully function.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul told demonstrators the planned rally would be postponed for a few days until the completion of the funeral rites for Angkhana Radappanyawut and Pol Lt-Col Methee Chartmontri.

Angkhana, 28, who died while being taken from the site of the clash at the Royal Plaza to Ramathibodi hospital, will be cremated at Wat Sri Prawat in Bang Kruai district in Nonthaburi today. Pol Lt-Col Methee's cremation ceremony is set for tomorrow.

"We just learned about Angkhana and Methee's cremations and we don't want the rally [at police headquarters] to overshadow these very important events. We want the ceremonies to be the grandest," Mr Sondhi said.

"We want today and tomorrow to be the biggest days for our late heroine and hero. Their funerals are far more important than the massive rally at police headquarters," he added.

All the PAD leaders will attend Angkhana's cremation ceremony, where a large number of PAD supporters are also expected. Chamlong Srimuang, another PAD core leader, said the PAD's leaders would set a new date for their mass rally at police headquarters tomorrow.

Mr Somchai said in his address to the country that the government needed to work out plans to cope with the looming global economic crises that originated in the United States but would inevitably expand to Asia.

Business sectors would feel the "appalling" impact of the economic downturn and the country needed to be prepared, he said.

The government must also stay in office to perform many important functions, including the funeral of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana next month, the birthday celebrations for His Majesty the King in December that traditionally uses Government House as a venue, and the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), also in December.

Thailand is chairing the 10-member group. Thai people need to show unity among themselves, pay respect to the royal institution and show the country's readiness to host the Asean summit, he added.

In response to calls for his resignation, Mr Somchai said he would neither resign nor dissolve the House unless those options would lead to a political solution.

He also expressed sorrow for the fatal crackdown on demonstrators last Tuesday and said some demonstrations breached the law and his elected government had to be answerable to the public and enforce the law.

The government already formed two committees. One panel will quickly find out the facts surrounding the Oct 7 incident and the other committee will work out ways to compensate affected people and damaged properties, including those affected and damaged before last Tuesday's unrest.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul had been appointed to chair the committee to rehabilitate the victims, and Preecha Panitchwong, a former Supreme Administrative Court judge, was selected to be the chairman to probe the violent crackdown last Tuesday

source bangkok post

PM faces ouster

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda became the latest public figure to join a chorus of calls for the government to show responsibility for the Oct 7 crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters which left two people dead and more than 400 injured.

Yet, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has persistently resisted the calls, although he said last week that he would consider a response at an appropriate time.

Obviously, the embattled premier wants to buy time to delay his decision to show responsibility until an investigation into the tragic event by an independent truth commission is completed.

But time may not be on his side. Instead, it is running out fast. The prime minister may be forced to stand down, not because of a military putsch or because of a Constitution Court order to dissolve the People Power party on electoral fraud charges, but because of a verdict of the National Counter Corruption Commission, which is due tomorrow or Thursday, relating to a decade-long malfeasance case against the prime minister.

To sum up, the case was brought to public attention in 1998 by a chief judge of a panel of the Criminal Court. It referred to the auction of a plot of land in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani conducted by the Legal Execution Department under the supervision of the department's deputy director-general, Manit Suthaporn.

It was alleged Mr Manit had not properly performed his duty for failing to demand 43 million baht in tax from the successful bidder for the land deal. Also, Mr Manit had returned the 70 million baht deposit posted by the bidder to the land owner after the first auction was scrapped following the bidder's failure to come up with the money to close the deal. It was discovered afterward by the NCCC that Mr Manit had received 10,000 shares as a favour in return for services rendered. Mr Somchai was then deputy permanent secretary for justice and Suthas Ngernmuen of the Democrat party was then the justice minister.

Instead of being complimented for his whistle-blowing by his superiors in the judiciary and the Justice Ministry, the intrepid judge, who had no business whatever to do with the deal or with the Legal Execution Department, received threats, intimidation and even offers of bribes to have his case withdrawn. Unperturbed he pressed on and a probe was finally ordered and headed by a vice president of the Supreme Court who also worked under heavy pressure.

The probe was completed two years afterward with the Legal Execution Department, instead of Mr Manit, being faulted for the failure to claim the 43 million baht land sale tax for the state. The probe panel also recommended that the case must be followed up to ensure that someone be held accountable for the tax loss.

The case was then swept under the carpet and Mr Manit was promoted to deputy permanent secretary for justice whereas Mr Somchai was named the permanent secretary. Disappointed by the negative response from Mr Somchai, the judge decided to take the case against both Mr Somchai and Mr Manit to the NCCC.

It wasn't until the Surayud government took power in 2006 that the NCCC finished the probe against Mr Manit, who was faulted with malfeasance in office. He was eventually fired without any pension in the same year by Gen Surayud's government.

But the case against Mr Somchai who was accused of negligence of duty for his failure to follow up with action against Mr Manit is still pending with the NCCC. A sub-committee headed by Klanarong Chantik has already completed its probe into Mr Somchai's role and has made a recommendation to the NCCC board which is due to deliver its final ruling this week.

The timing of the verdict could not be more appropriate given the growing chorus for the embattled prime minister to show responsibility for the Oct 7 bloodletting.

Instead of a coup to force political change which will further exacerbate Thailand's faltering image in the international community, the NCCC should provide a better alternative solution. And there is no reason for the NCCC board to postpone its crucial ruling.

If faulted for gross negligence related to a graft case, the only penalty to be meted out is dismissal from service. As such Mr Somchai's qualifications as an MP will be in doubt in accordance with Article 102 (6) of the Constitution. And since he is an MP, his status as prime minister will be in jeopardy too.

source bangkok post

PM calls on national unity, cooperation

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Sunday called on all sides to reconcile and work together to address the national problems and be prepared for the potential economic crisis.

Giving a public announcement on the state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) television channel on Sunday at about 8.40pm, Mr Somchai said it is alright for people with different ideas to hold gatherings, but they must be within the legal framework so they would not violate rights of other people.

He said the government is democratically elected, and therefore, the government has to be responsible for its people and the parliament. The government continues to adhere to the constitutional monarchy, he added.

The premier said he felt sorry for the violent clashes between the police and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters on October 7, in which more than 400 people were injured and two people were killed.

He said the government has set up two independent committees responsible for investigating the violent activities and aiding the injured from the incident last week. He believed the investigation would not take long, and its result will be revealed to the general public clearly.

Besides the problems relating to conflicting ideas and politics, the prime minister called on the Thai people to reconcile and be prepared for another crisis – the global economic crisis.

According to Mr Somchai, although the crisis began in the United States, Britain and Europe, it could also hit the Asian economy because it plays an important part in the global economy. He said it could affect investment and employment sectors in Thailand as well as prices of local agricultural products.

The premier said Thailand once encountered an economic crisis in 1997, and it is now necessary for all sides in the country to be prepared to handle another economic downturn to prevent it from worsening.

Thai people must join hands in preparation for the royal cremation ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana in November and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday anniversary on December 5, the prime minister said.

In addition, he asked Thai people to unite as the country will host an Asean Summit. He said Thailand must show its readiness and unity to foreign countries, and called on the PAD to leave Government House and the streets where the protesters gathered for the country’s benefits and honour.

Referring to the rumours that the prime minister will resign or dissolve the House of Representatives, Mr Somchai asked public members to use their discretion and common sense to prevent themselves from being misled.

He insisted he will not resign and has no plan to dissolve the House of Representatives because he believed such acts would not solve the problem.

However, the premier said he is ready to step down, if the country clearly benefits from it.

It is important for all sides to jointly find ways to end the problem, such as setting up a constitution drafting assembly to improve the charter, the prime minister concluded.

source bangkok post

Democrats demand that Somchai resign

The Democrat party on Sunday demanded that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat step down to show responsibility for last Tuesday's fatal street clashes, the failing economy and what the opposition calls the shaky democratic system.

Bangkok MP Ongart Klampaiboon said Mr Somchai, also defence minister, must show responsibility for the "three crises" especially after Friday's remarks by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Anupong Paochinda, who urged the government to take responsibility for last Tuesday's police crackdown on protesters backed by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Gen Anupong's remarks have caused an uncertain atmosphere and there is no guarantee that the military will not stage a coup d'etat, said Mr Ongart.

Two persons died and nearly 500 others were injured in the clashes as police fired tear gas at protesters trying to block the government from parliament.

Mr Somchai must accelerate his resignation decision before the "three crises damage the country, himself and all of us," Mr Ongart said.

Mr Somchai has stated several times that he will not resign.

Concerning criticism that the Democrat party was irresponsible for its boycotted of parliament, Mr. Ongart said members of his party decided not to attend the meeting because of the clash in front of the building.

If that meeting had been postponed, the clash could have been averted, he said.

Democrat assistant to the secretary-general Thepthai Senpong demanded that coalition partners resign, to isolate the ruling People Power party (PPP), which cannot control a majority in the Lower House.

The PPP must have evaluated that the military would not stage a coup and, therefore, the coalition government cannot be toppled, and divisiveness has spread among the people throughout the country, according to Mr Thepthai.

Democrat's shadow deputy prime minister Kasit Pirom urged the government to disclose where it bought the weapons used by police last week.

Mr Kasit, who is a former ambassador to Washington, also urged weapons suppliers including the US, Russia and China to impose stricter measures in selling their weapons. He said it is now proved that these weapons are used for killing people in the country and "not for defending the country".

source bangkok post

PM promises independent investigations

There would not be anyone from the government in a committee responsible for fact-finding on Tuesday's riots, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Friday.

Mr Somchai said that an outsider is being approached to chair the committee, but refused to reveal who the person would be. He, however, insisted that the person will be politically neutral.

On the calls for him to resign or to dissolve parliament, Mr Somchai said he is willing to listen to all criticism, but added that he would think what is the best for the country.

source bangkok post