Thaksin Won't Give Up - Still Trying to Form a Puppet Government

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

_____

 

Waiting on Thaksin

 

By Post Reporters

 

The possible line-up for a Democrat-led government is emerging, but the Puea Thai party still hopes to break up this new alliance with a phone-in speech on Saturday by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

The political gamesmanship is certain to intensify now that House Speaker Chai Chidchob has called a special session on Monday to elect a new prime minister. His Majesty the King has approved the sitting.

 

The Democrat-led alliance, comprising four small parties and a powerful faction led by Newin Chidchob, has agreed in principle on the allocation of cabinet seats.

 

The Democrats have agreed to give 5 or 6 seats, including the major portfolios of transport, deputy transport and deputy interior minister to the Friends of Newin faction.

 

The faction's candidates for cabinet posts are Boonchong Wongtrairat, Supachai Phosu, Suchart Chokechaiwattana, Prachak Kaewkla and Sophon Sarum.

 

The Democrats have agreed with Banharn Silpa-archa, the former leader of the dissolved Chart Thai party, that his new Chart Thai Pattana party will retain five cabinet seats.

 

Puea Pandin, which is said to be bargaining hard, expects five portfolios. It also hopes to enlist five more MPs, from the dissolved People Power party, and will then negotiate for extra seats.

 

Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana wants two seats - energy and deputy finance minister - while the dissolved Matchimathipataya party, which is looking to re-register as a new party, has proposed switching the natural resources and environment portfolio for the commerce minister's seat.

 

A source in the Puea Thai party, formed to take in MPs from the dissolved PPP, said the party expects to take in at least 10 more MPs after Thaksin's phone-in.

 

The party has been pushing, through Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong, for Puea Pandin leader Pracha Promnok to be prime minister.

 

Natthawut Saikua, of Puea Thai, said MPs should listen hard to what Thaksin has to say. "They should also realise who had them elected as MPs in the first place," he said.

 

Pongpan Sunthornchai said the Puea Thai party and people from Puea Pandin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana will hold a press conference on Friday.

 

He claimed Pol Gen Pracha and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chettha Thanajaro have agreed to form a government with Puea Thai, after being approached by Thaksin.

 

Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban admitted he is concerned about Thaksin's planned phone-in to the red-shirt rally. Thaksin still had a lot of political muscle to flex. However, he remained confident the alliance would hold together.

 

The Democrats have asked their allies to be careful in picking candidates for cabinet posts, he said. They should all be well-respected and qualified.

 

"The goal of the formation of the government is to serve the public's needs," he said. Details of the allocation of cabinet seats would be finalised after the selection of the prime minister.

 

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said there was nothing more than the national interest in the deal between the Democrats and Mr Newin.

 

Mr Newin had warned him there would be criticism about their public meeting on Tuesday, he said.

 

"But after he decided to work with us, and was under great pressure, I thought I should meet him and deal with it straightforwardly," he said.

 

Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong stuck to his plan to form a government of national unity, saying Pol Gen Pracha would persuade the Democrat party to change its mind and join the ranks.

 

"If they want me to form a government, they should leave me to do the job. There must not be a phone-in or a red-shirt rally," he said.

 

Army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda admitted he had talked with core members of political parties over the formation of a new government. He reminded them to make decisions that would take the country forward and restore peace and order."We have security problems and society is counting on us to restore normality. Some issues have nothing to do with the military, but society is pinning its hopes on us," he said.

[PattayaMale]

Also in the Bangkok Post was an article that said Thaskin was getting another 30 days to appeal his conviction.

 

I think Taskin is loosing his grip on power, but not completely. If the government wanted to, I guess it could block the call.

 

Is it not surprising that a guy gets convicted and jumps bail but is still able to campaign? Jumping bail must carry some prison time as a separate crime.

 

His ego must be incredible. I mean having 3000 "drug dealers" killed........no trial or appeal for them..........