Civilian PM 'may be retired soldier'

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Bangkok Post

September 26, 2006

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Civilian PM 'may be retired soldier'

 

A draft temporary constitution for Thailand's interim government to serve the country has been completed and is expected to be submitted for royal endorsement this weekend, the head of the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) said Tuesday.

 

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said a draft containing 39 articles was to be viewed at its final stage Tuesday (September 26) by a group of academics and other civilians specially invited for this matter before being forwarded to His Majesty the King either on Saturday (September 30) or Sunday(October 1), he said.

 

Gen Sonthi provided no details of the interim charter.

 

The military leaders pledged to hand over power by Oct 3 to an interim civilian government which is expected to govern the country for about one year under the temporary constitution.

 

Asked whether the council still believes that the prime minister must be a civilian, the coup leader said the word "civilian" has varied definitions, and that it can refer to a military officer who has retired from military service.

 

The CDRM chief neither admitted nor denied a speculation that privy councillor Gen Surayudh Chulanont, former army commander, is one of the strong candidates for the post of prime minister.

 

Gen Sonthi said the CDRM would make its choice based on the democratic principle of a majority vote.

 

But the prime minister will have full authority in choosing the 35 cabinet members, with no involvement or interference from the CDRM, he pledged. He affirmed that the interim government will be free from military Council influence, and that the Council has no intention to dominate or control the new government.

 

During the one-year rule, a new constitution will be drafted and a general election will be held after that to return sovereignty to the Thai people.

 

The coup leader said also that the council is keeping the public need in mind, so that past mistakes are not repeated.

 

As the interim government will run the country for a comparatively short period, the prime minister should be someone who can respond well to the problems the nation is currently facing.

 

The new premier must have outstanding qualifications including known honesty, a readiness to rebuild a deeply divided society in a spirit of reconciliation and unity, and most importantly, being acceptable to all sides.

 

Asked whether in the meeting with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda on Monday the chief privy counsellor had contributed to selecting the prime minister, Gen Sonthi said his meeting with the

nation's leading senior statesman had nothing to do with this matter. (TNA)